The development and growth of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Britain against a background of escalating need for postgraduate courses within their society is outlined. The structuring of postgraduate medical education under government sponsorship with the inception of the National Health Service is described; and its evolution over the past 20 years.The main substance of this article grew out of tape recorded discussions between the author and Dr. John Hunt, President of the Royal College of General Practitioners; Dr. Patrick Byrne, Director, Department of General Practice, the University of Manchester, and Chief Examiner RCGP; Mr. Donald C. Bowie, FRCS, Regional Postgraduate Dean, The British Postgraduate Medical Federation, the University of London; Dr. J. S. K. Stevenson of McKenzie House, Edinburgh, Scotland. Some additional comments are based on extracts from The Royal Commission on Medical Education 1965-68 Report (Todd Report).