It has been a feature on 12th May for notable landmarks to be illuminated in blue (the colour designated for ME) in solidarity with all those affected. In 2022, Perth was bathed in blue for the night, 2023 was marked in a similar fashion by landmarks in Glasgow, and last year Inverclyde answered ME Research UK’s call.
International ME Awareness Day 2025 has been marked by the cities of Aberdeen, Cardiff, Belfast, and Gateshead by turning iconic structures blue in honour of those affected by ME.
Thanks to Lord Provost David Cameron, Aberdeen City Council’s HQ at Marischal College was illuminated in blue on 12th May. This historic building (owned by the University of Aberdeen) was constructed from 1835 onwards and was formerly the seat of Marischal College and the University of Aberdeen. In fact, it is the world’s second largest grantite-built building after El Escorial in Spain. It is also fitting that a former University of Aberdeen building has been illuminated to mark 12th May as the late Dr A Melvin Ramsay was an Aberdeen University alumnis having graduated MA (1923), MBChB (1926) and MD (1939). 2025 is a key year, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1955 Royal Free outbreak which is a seminal episode in the history of ME. Dr Ramsay investigated the outbreak, presented papers on it, and wrote extensively on the subject, and some would say is the founding father of research and understanding of the disease.
