The first five years (1984-1989)

May 1984 - Dr Vicky Clement-Jones decides to "kick cancer out of the closet" and to create an organisation that would combat the conspiracy of silence that surrounded cancer at that time and provide "information, practical help and advice" for cancer patients and their families and friends.

31st October 1984 - Dr Vicky Clement-Jones holds first Working Party meeting of BACUP (as it was then known) at St. Bartholomew's (St. Bart's) hospital. BACUP stood for the British Association of Cancer United Patients and their families and friends. She is elected Chairman and Honorary Director. Dr Maurice Slevin is elected Deputy Chairman and Prof Tim McElwain is elected Chairman of the Medical and Specialist Advisory Board. In addition to Vicky Clement-Jones and Maurice Slevin, Prof Kenneth Calman becomes a founder trustee.

3rd December 1984 - The first BACUP Steering Committee Meeting was held in The Dean's Conference Room at St Bart's Hospital. The members were Peter Belchamber, Prof Kenneth Calman, Prof Anthony Clare, Dr Vicky Clement-Jones, Dame Mary Donaldson, Prof Tim McElwain, Derek Reynolds, Dr Maurice Slevin, Elizabeth Sturgeon, Janette Weir, Dr Peter McGuire, Ray Whitfield and Dr Peter Wrigley.

May 1985 - BACUP moves into first offices on the third floor of 121/123 Charterhouse Street with Vicky and a skeleton staff. One year lease donated by the Special Trustees of St Bartholomew's Hospital. Yvonne Terry appointed as the first BACUP cancer information nurse. The balance of money held in the BACUP account was £26,102.06.

1985 - Dame Mary Donaldson (Former Lord Mayor of London) becomes President of BACUP.

October 1985 - BACUP is launched with four cancer information nurses on the telephone line. Vicky heads up the very successful publicity campaign and becomes a well-known media personality. Vicky's British Medical Journal article "Cancer and Beyond" is published to coincide with the Launch.

1986 - First issue of BACUP News is published. BACUP has a staff of eleven. Annual running costs are estimated at £250,000, most of the money coming from the general public. Tim Clement-Jones becomes trustee. Cancer Information Service answering 60 enquiries a day. Concern expressed that the Cancer information Service is overloaded.

Prof Tim McElwain replaces Prof Kenneth Calman as trustee. BACUP nurses help 20,000 people in first 15 months. BACUP's first annual report is called "Breaking the silence on cancer". Pat Lamburn joins Executive Committee.

1987 - BACUP opens its Jersey branch. Vicky Clement-Jones flies over for the launch, one of the last events she attends before her death in July 1987. Maurice Slevin takes over as chairman.

November 1987 - Memorial Service for Vicky Clement-Jones in St Paul's Cathedral. A moving address given by Prof Tim McElwain.

1988 - The British Medical Journal publishes an analysis of the first 30,000 enquiries handled by BACUP. The statistics show that BACUP is filling an important gap in the information needs of patients and those close to them. David Poole and Carolyn Faulder join Executive Committee. Olivia Dix becomes Chief Executive.

May 1989 - BACUP launches the freephone telephone information service, which enables anyone to contact the nurses without incurring the cost of the telephone call.

1989 - Tim Clement-Jones suggests using "Helping People Live with Cancer" as the BACUP strapline. Princess Alexandra agrees to become the Royal Patron of the charity.

BACUP is now helping more than 22,000 people a year with its national, free and confidential information service. Cancer nurses are taking approximately 80 calls a day and replying to about 20 written enquiries. It has produced a range of more than 30 different booklets on the most common cancers and other cancer related topics. The nurses are supported by a library with more than 3,500 cancer related documents.

• Brief history continued 1990 - 1999