The Anglo-European College of Chiropractic celebrates 50 years of chiropractic education in Bournemouth this year. One of the busiest outpatients clinic in Europe, the college has taught more than 700 students.

Chiropractic was first practised in the United States in 1895 and came to the UK in the early 1900s. The British Chiropractors Association was formed in 1925, however it wasn't until 1965 that a group of European chiropractors opened the AECC.

As the cost of property in London was high Cavendish Road in Bournemouth was chosen for the college. The first graduating class consisted of just two students and then slowly increased in popularity. A second building was purchased in Cavendish Road, but by the mid 1970s, more space was needed.

The college bought a convent in Parkwood Road following a merger of Catholic schools and moved to their new premises in 1982, using the old chapel as a library and the noviciates house as the teaching clinic.

Four years later a research department was set up and it was the first school in the field of complementary and alternative healthcare to offer a degree in 1988.

Diana, the Princess of Wales, became patron and honorary fellow of the AECC and visited the college in 1991. A year later her memorial fund awarded the college nearly £50,000 to set up its first rehabilitation centre.

The new purpose-built teaching clinic which was opened in 2009, carries out 50,000 treatments every year. It is also home to £1million revolutionary upright MRI scanner, one of only five in the UK which was officially opened earlier this year by AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

A special timeline has been commissioned running the length of the main stairwell of the college and there will be an Alumni party on September 26.