DR Patrick Grove, while looking for premises for his research centre, took time out for lunch for beer and sandwiches at the White Lion.

That was to prove the catalyst for the following half a century plus of achievements at The Grove Centre, formerly Amersham Laboratories originally set up by Dr Grove in the 1940s.

Those achievements were recognised last month when The Grove Centre was named an Historic Chemical Landmark by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for its pioneering work in the life sciences as a major centre for the development of the medical and industrial applications of radioactivity in the UK during the past 60 years.

Today the centre is part of GE Healthcare, following the sale in April 2004 of Amersham plc to the General Electric (GE) Company for $10 billion and which brought together GE's medical imaging equipment with Amersham's medical diagnostic and life sciences businesses.

Former Amersham Laboratories employee and RSC member, Dr John Maynard, retold The Amersham story to guests at the February 17 event, highlighting the application of its products such as kits with glucose labelled with carbon 14 to look for life on Mars in the 1960s.

Dr David Giachardi, chief executive of the RSC said: "Work undertaken at the site in the 1940s played an important role in the war by making advances in military aircraft luminous instrumentation.Since then, in the war on cancer and other life-threatening conditions, the site continued to contribute by initiatives from which countless numbers have gained benefit.

Sir William Castell, GE Healthcare president and CEO said: "The Grove Centre is a site that has not only a great scientific heritage, but also a rich national heritage," adding that the focus for the future was very strongly towards personalised healthcare.

"We can improve the quality of life and the proficiency on how healthcare is delivered," he said.

The event also marked a return to the site for Amersham Mayor Dr Davida Allen where she had worked for seven years in the 1950s.

"It has always been in my blood. I am quite delighted at the recognition. We recognised the value of each other but did not know were in the forefront of something," she said.