The 9th of February, the anniversary of the passing away of John Wernham

The 9th of February, the anniversary of the passing away of John Wernham DO, feels like a fitting moment to pause and acknowledge a place that carries a remarkable strand of osteopathic history. The former premises from which John Wernham worked, and which is now being offered for sale, has been woven into the life of osteopathy in Britain for over half a century.

Established as an osteopathic clinic in the late 1940s, in the austere years of post-war Britain, it was here that John Wernham practised and taught. In October 1954, the Institute of Classical Osteopathy, then known as the Osteopathic Institute of Applied Technique, held its inaugural meeting within these walls. The building continued to serve the local community for decades and later became the birthplace of the Maidstone School of Osteopathy in 1984, which was subsequently named the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy in recognition of his influence and teaching.

For many connected with the ICO, this building holds deep personal memories and emotional significance. It represents shared history, friendships formed, and a lineage of teaching that shaped generations of practitioners. Although the decision to sell the property is not directly connected with the Institute of Classical Osteopathy, its place in our collective story remains meaningful and enduring.

Buildings come and go, but the ideas, principles, and standards forged within them endure through people and practice. On this anniversary, we remember John Wernham not only through bricks and mortar, but through the living continuity of osteopathy that he helped shape and pass on.