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A COMPILATION OF MEMORIES FROM THE PEOPI,E OF MELKSHAM AND SURROUNDING DISTRICT. INCORPORATING MELKSHAM HOSPITAL FROM 1868·1991. Melksham Cottage Hospital ESTABLISHED 1868

I! MELKSHAM HOSPITAL 1895

Open to Melksham and the Neighbourhood. £2.00 • •

/ /

0SMA. IT'S THE NAME OTHERS FOLLOW.

<>d d'"""ll" .,...... Osm• mo ol!m th< w;dc,t ""ii' of produas ...Wbk .and .. b.d«m quality and cany ~ Btitifih Suncllrd k.ittmJ;rits tJW\ any ocht'r rnanuf.taWTr tn tht 6eld. So it's oo '9io'Ondrr Oun;1; continues co bd the \vJ;y. Osma ---{wav1n )

WAl1!1' 8lJ•()jHC"'<>OUCfSl!lollf(0 PllRSOHAG[ WAV_( ttlH'(NHi\M. Wllrf>Hlll( SHI);.,,.,. lf\fl't!l)hf (1>41) 11'1• 111 lh(:l tU111 (/l.l 024 9 U)2:86 • • l 3 bed ward for men on the HriJt Door and three INTRODUCTION separate rooms for women on the second Ooor This book is a collation of memoritt from with board room and staff accommodation the J>Mple or !itelksham and the surrounding below. The first patient wat admitted in District to )1elk,sham Hospital. a.s a tribute to November 1869. The rttOrd show that the its achievemcnu from 1~1991. and all the establishment was lurnithtd al a eost or wonderful people • past and pre.sent who in t62.t7s 5d and annual expenses were some way have contributed to its pre1ent estimated at !120.00 including the salary of an sucuss. unqualified nurse. P.telkshan1 Hospital is a purpose built •18 bed 'The Ho.<;pit.al flourished and with the Community Hospital situated in Spa Road And passing of somo 2.f) years the need for new was 01>onod by the l\1arquis of Bath on 27 July pre1ni.ws wa.a soon RPJ>rtrenL and due t.o the 1988, progrC!..!J$ing from a modest. 4 bed generosity of the late Mr George White of Cottage HOJpit.al on a s it~ on the South Side of Whitley a n.,w building now the s ite of Lowbourne and wa_s established a.s: a hosµilll !lfelk.sham Labour Club was started in 1895 that was intended to receive only those and opened shortly af~rwards ror the benefit patients who could not be treated in their own of the residents of the town and disLrict. home or be moved a..ny d.ist.antt. Extensions and improvemenu were made 1'1elktham Hospital bas t0ntinued to expind amongst whic:h were: with the generou.s help and .support of the 1908 a new and modern operating theatre local community and surrounding O~trict. 1913 a new upper noor to provlde a better League or friends. LocaJ Bank.!, Industries. Traders. and Catering Groups - which tlill accommodation for •tart. exists Lodl.y. 1921 an ex·army hut provided new male MclkshAnl Hospila1 is today a Communily ward nccommodation also a new Hos1>ilal t hat proudly projects 11 const.nnt. k itchen wal\ Added. caring. hn1>I>)' ramily atmosphere with a dedicated •tall lh•l respectrully lollow t ho steadf11t. .and expert. guidance of the P"U6nt. !t1atron. P.trs Ruby Rosewarne, in po.st 1inte 1!174. With very be.st. wishes for iU ~ntinued IUtteSS.

MEMORIES AS CONTRIBUTED BY MEMBERS OF OUR

LOCAL COMMUNITY EX-ARMY J/UT WAS A Mf:NS WARD DURING JIU·tlll WAR Alma. Balaclava, Inkerman and all it.a usociaUon1 with Florence Night.inga1e were still vivid in the minds or the town.-people of 1929 two new wards provided and opened by ~telktham when some t.en years later in \,he the Lord Lieutenani the .Earl of Radnor high aummer of 18$8 - June 2$ to be pret:ise 1931 X-ray apparatus provided and skilled - a public mteting was held in the Town Hall ma.uage facilitits ..lo con.sider the propriety of establishing a The average number of cases treated for Cottage Hospital at ~telksham with the object the first few years was 30 by 1he early 1930'$ of affording Immediate a nd erric:.ient 1urgical some 350 in·p:nient..1 and GOO oui...paLitnt.s were as,istanoe Lo accidents and urgent eaies or treate00rer clttsse& to make small merely w receive patients who cou1d noL annual contributions against tbe time when properly be he•led •t their own home and they or Lheir ramllies might require tould not for any reason be moved any treatment.. distanc~. Substriptions of 150.00 were Enormous voluntary help ••as given, promised at the public meeting. Carnival proceeds were donated to the The Cottage Hospital was No. 4 Lowbourne hospital. gifls of newtpapers. comestibles etc: now the Newsagents owned by lttr 0 J were also made. A Ladies Linen Le.ape Pidgeon - formtrly BolweU - and provided 11 provided bed and table linen. The Harvest +N~•W8 H~~~,~~?d~~moio WJoio* standards well above those required by low. These standards are safeguarded by inspectors from the Registered Nursing Home Association. Blue Cross Nursing Homes offering a high standard of care and comfort in luxurious surroundings. For short or long stay periods.

Goatacre House Nursing Home Telephone: G-d-.Goobat.tliRSllllW. 0249 76464/454/463

Dunstan House Nursing Home Telephone: l.Dblltoil,c.lit,lliRSllll~ 0249 816928/812537

'BLUE CROSS' THESiGllfW AliETTER + NURSING,._,,_ __ HOME.....oc-_ Fcslivlll Girl.s llt schools al.!io went to the Contributions from S lratt.on Son & hospilal. Moad l,tcl 5s.2d. 1910 The rirtL carnival held in aid or Lhe hospital P::::L:[l!i~-;;:;:;:: ~H~

In conjunction wilh the hospital small ment ion might here be ml\de t hat as early as 1915 Mr r.1nf{RS (on nc:tiv4• scrvic4)) resigned 1005 t he ncicd for n Oistriet Nurse was ius spolntcd, National J-l enlth Sorvitc took over this d uty. Egg Sunday ror l hc first time brought In 1934 a magniriccnt legacy Crom the late in ~ills of 894 eggs ~trs l..udlbw Urugcs provided some 1200,000 (out or which 1n ambulance was bought 1914· 1918 \Var - A l:arge number of wounded immediately) for the eslabUshmenL or the soldiers including Australian :and New p~sent building in Spa RMd - by far one or 7.e1l:anders were treated. the most up-to.date hospital5 for a town or this siu in the g:eneral 1rea and &hi.s wu offirially 1919 l)r l.eigh joined Medim We.ill~. a t03Ch comp11ny. if 1 got pcoplo Conlpany brought in .£8.2s. 11/id and together could w~ h:tve co3ch w4~ekends:. so l 1'he Chnrlor-0:d S<>ciety or Phys;othorapy

* RADIO CONTROLLED * Melksham Physiotherapy Clinic Agenis for Bodmans Coaches )lrs S.t:. Jone•, M.C.$.P .. S.R.P. s· 29 Sandridge Road · Telephone. MELKSHAM 702059 704584 .

COLI STOllE JOHNSON REMOVALS& SUPPLIES CONTAINERISED STORAGE * Very Comperi~ ~ates * SOUTHERll LTD * Free E.stimotts * ARE PLEASED TO BE ASSOCIATED * Any Oistonce * MELKSHAM 704216 WITH MELKSHAM HOSPITAL

T. GREEN. METALS J. &. K. TAXIS Scrap Metal Merchants SPECiAL PRICE AIRPORT RETURNS Best Prices Given PUBS* CLUBS Wt 611r Cfo111llftrcloJ VtAkh-t. llNUi. C~r. Uod. Sffllp Office and waiting room at the lrtnt •ltd all Nllfl·f•~u M•14'4. Sear Hotel Car Park Also ~li.abl• skip t'ont.al nt-r ntvke, (ad«)' dttrt.ntt, I .f Seoter mini bus now o\'O'itoblt Prompt ffA.h p&)'mtl!ll. pl.UH ring 1,11 a11ytlmtt T he Willows, 8'btol Road, Alling-ton, Ttl: C.1'ip~nh&111 (02,t) 652611 Tel: 706716

CASCADE DRINKS VIC & HELEN HOLDEN LIMITED ARE PLEASED TO BE Merlin Way. BowerhiJJ Trading Est.ate, ASSOCIATED WITH Melksham, Wilts. MELKSHAM HOSPITAL AND Tl'lcphone: Melksham 708842 'fl·, or 704734 WISH THEM CONTINUED Supplier$ of li1inerol.s, Beers, SUCCESS FOR THE NEXT 12 Ci.def' and '1fole'8 Bitter -···-··.. MONTHS

~~ ~; Ormond Lodge .... REGEMCY AAUAC ~~ Nursing Home • HOTEL #1 A Total Concept in Nursing Care Comfortable and attractive fam ily hotel -~ . with full a la carte restaurant ~Q Are pleased co be associated with :. ·:~; Melksham Hospital . •"'-" 10112 Spa Raad, Melkshom SN/2 7NS .-.?:Weston Road, Bath, Avon (0225) 421265;~ 0225 7029711705772

MORTIMERS CAFE SHOP Found Inside Mortimers Fruits hop Meals - All Day Coffee - Tea Everybody Welcome 29·33 Avon Place, Melksham started with s peedway lo and . The knocks came on t he door at home and at work asking ir I could get. a coach to hear t he stars at the Colston Hall or at t he " Hippadro1ne, also weekends at Blackpool. mostly 2 coaches ror that. Some who used to come-on t he trips round partners and some got married, 1 was invited to 2 or 3 or the weddings which 1 went. to. one is a home carer now. It mllde a happy time ror one and a lJ. Blackpool was t he ma.in outing ror the lights. Contributed by . ~1rs Annie Pugh, Pre.stntly a Day·Care patient at ftfe lksham Hospital . ' ..... ••• IVAN GODSALL PRONT RIGllT As a boy I attended St t.1ichacl's School and JVA N G0DSAl4 WITll lfOSPliAI, CAT OUTSJDF. I used to walk down Church \Valk to Mclksham llOSPJT11l, ISPA ROAD! liospit.·d - which was then on the site of the Labour Club - to have my lu nch. ;\iy mother worked at t he hospital at the time as a domestic but. changed roles and unifornl at. lunch time to help serve Lo t he patients I continued to do this even when the hospital moved Lo it.s present sil-0 in Spa Road right up to the t ime when [joined t he Armed Forces to go to war in 1945. During the war I s lept a.t the hospital in ract I s lept at l he hospital more often than I did at home. I remember Matron J ones and Casualty Sister, Sr Salter. a:nd Matron Beaven who eventually moved into a £lat in a Spa House which was inbetwccn the reading rooms (now Orchard Estate Agents) and lwo big private houses which have since been demolished. ARTICLES The Spa s hop used lo be a bank ca11ed Capital and Counties Bank wit h a big Cedar REPRODUCED FROM tree in the vicinity. The District Nun>es quarters were in the ~ame vicinity and 2 1876-1877 nurses lived thcro one wON! a brown uni£orm and one wore blue. Pidgcons Card S hop was the first hospitaJ in Melksha.m and next to it Tbc Kcl\thu:r. Cott.age Hoepit.e.l it ~lith«i maio.11 on was Manning I.he Drapers and a hardw

1. n.e patletlW art t.o .bo7 lbe onlen of the lhtioa ectia1 .., lM ~ ol tJi. lffdial OACltrL

11.UJ<. 'ENTIRE. t . f'Wnit..,.. M&. ._ .,_,,. U. ROll!pltal withoct u oniet t- &o. U. M..u.J

Fto11t • • •• F1ou.r t oa.. 7.' r 1tic1111.a whoo olfciad ~•t. raa7 of I.he l-l.111.cs o( I.ho llM'IC or btl\;lft '11(-•-.clY'C'll intlS'lbrly er tadoccoU'f, thaU bo <•pclled, ....t .h.:1.11 "°'be rwdaaitt.o:J widwu a:i. cspmc AA,U.l.lc fu\IM.r t.t M 'l*i&UJ onlettd hf U.C :.Co!ical Wlkt ,,.. lllio C....itt.ct:. O:ecv, ... &...... U U\tL ~------=-::::::=~:::::::::='=------' KPrl'OllE OP CASES TREATED. . "-.., °'!"""• "'' " - ...... ,., 1m.

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No. Sox. •Ago. A.sm;ltod. Jojwy or Dit0&$0. Reoulte. I I!'" -- ~ I!~ 1 F. 48 24th Oct. 1876 Conge.Uon of L11Dg< ...... 19thDec.187G Relieved •• 67 2 M. 12 1st November lnjuxy to Knee ...... 19th Deoembr. Cured •••• 49 s F . 18 4tJ> Novembor Compound Frac-ture of Fingtr. . l st.DecCmber Cured •••• 28 4 F. u 28thNovomber Ulcerated Tbroa·,t .... , ... , . , . 6th Decembor Cured •••• 8 6 M. 24 4th Dec.moor Hydloot1e Open.non .••••••••. 2Sn!Decombr. Cured .... 20 6 F . 18 h t 1an. 1877 Epil"P'Y ...... : ...... 29U.1an. 1877 lltliCTed •. 28 7 M. 17 lit Januuy .• Hcomoptyaia ...... 29th 1a.oury Ralieved •• 28 8 F. .50 3nl January .• Debility ...... 7th March .. Relieved .. 64 9 F. 7 6th Jenuuy •• A- ...... 2rul Febrnuy Relieved •. 29 10 l!. 12 15th1anuery Wound ...... 12th llarcb .• RclieTed,, 67 11 Al. .54 23nl 1anuary Amputation of Finger ...... , . 7th March .. Cured •• •• 44 12 F. 65 2nd April •. •• Sumtroko ...... 30th April .. Ralieved •• 28 13 F. 20 10th April .. mc818tlon of Tbroot . . ••••••.• 17th April .. Cured •••• 7 14 F. 34 13th April . . Dura.itie ••.••.•••.••....•..• 27th .llay... . Cured .... 45 16 F. 26 16th April .. Anccmia ...... , Htb .llay.... Relieved •• 29 16 A!. 19 15th J u.no • . C<>ntu.aion ...... 13th.July.... CUJt Fracture of the J.'otella ...... 33 22 M. 22 30th August Ulc.rottd Legs ...... 32 23 M. 24 8th Septembe Incipient Pbthi«ia ...... 6th Octobor •• RtilCTed •, 29 24 M. 43 I Oth Septem~ Ca.rbunole ...... mhSeptemb CUI

762 BALANCE SHEET wr:i.J>pcd around lt. we just.stood and st.arcd at each other for a few seconds then suddenly 1868 184-18•· lOd 1988 Prices 12677·43p burst out laughing, we could both see the funny side ot the situation. me with a patch 1900 t2l8·10•·0'hd over one eye and him with a b;tndage on hi.$ 1988 Pric•s U88S.92p linger. unfortunately Matron came along just 1918 t 'f26.ll.. l0d al that point and I'm afraid &he did not think il 1988 P·ritt~ 1:12.682-411p • ·a.s v1try funny al all and I got a ticking off for laughing al a patient • things were strict Budget 10< 1988 so WGS.838 and ~rious in those days. Balanu ShttU converted to 1988 prices on One day someone brought in some \Vhit.e the Ccnuner)' of ~tclksham HOiSpit..at L.illies and uked me if I could 1'1.ke them down to the womtn'• ward, I wu half way to the ward wiih lhcm when ?t.!atron · f\li.M J ones• ••• stopped me and .!iernly t.old me lhat \V hit.e LETTE R OF SY MPATHY TO MRS l,.illic& wore 'NEVER 10 be t:tken into the MANNINGS, MEMBER OF STAFF wards' and l wa1 10 go a nd put the1n in the 1'.1orhtary and I ecrttilnly h:ul no desir~ to go in • FROM MATRON TRANTER 1958 there now. but. in those days you did what you Mrs Mannings then came under wt'!ro told whether you liked it or not go l West Wilts Hospitals Committee nervou81y st.arlcd to n1nke my way towards not BDHA. the r.1.ortuary walkin~ as: s lowly a-& ( could, 1 could feel myself gradually getting paler as I Dear Mrs Mannings goL nearer LO the ~1<>rtuary by the time I I would like to express my sinoere reached the door I wa$ 11$ white as the Lillies sympathy with yO\l and your family in your in my h:.nd.s. 1.s [ stood by the door willing sad lost.. f\t y thoughu go out t.o you at this myself lo open it, 1'1r Edwards. the gardener. time. saw ml' and tame across to me. 1"11 always It will be in order if you wish to retu?'n on rt:mcmber hit kindnes.s to me on that day. he Wedne:tday next &larch 26th. ealme-d me down. assured me 1ha\ 1here •·as nothing to be afraid or and actually came into t.ht- ~torluary with m ~. eve11 then 1 put the Lillies down ai. quickly as I eould and got out of there at fa s1 as my legs would take me. There was anothfital on his daily rounds ••• and this J>Articular day I was H~lening Lo the !IOUnd or his familiar bell. Sr Salt.er . who had a Contributed by rather forblddinl( 11 ppearanec · approo,ched me Mr• Belty lllbberd ~UHi A,11id 'Mis8 Lewi~', 'run out and buy three 2nd Ret:cptlonlst at P..t elkaham Hospital on its ice crc111ns'. I touldn'L bolfovb my ears. I never present Kile · the fir11t Receptionist went on to e n\'i~a ged her as t he sort. of person t hat would beeomt • nur11e. buy nn ieo cream, I went Lo buy t he ke creams and when I returned s he 5aid 'now here's one I was 14 years old when I started work at for you'. 'now l'm going up lo the ~fa.iron's rial ~1 e lksham Hospital . on its present $ile · I was you go and hide yourself behind Out.Patient.s the 2nd Re

., I

Nd moving orange spoirks caughl in the FROM MY WINDOWS turbulente or a Circ. Indeed. the Harbour i.s I h.a\•e juit arrived in Port Stanley, Falkland alighl! Islands: now, being the end of September I shall continue looking through the 1991. Though Spring is not far a•ay. the windo.,~.-s for the large itt burg .,.,,hkh is vteather is still very \Viotry indeed. ~fy six current11 floating from the Antarctic towards month.t stay will be spent in a mobile home, us: but at prtstnl, visibilil)' is severly limi~ fro1n which I have magnificent. views. by a .snowslorm and I can only see the A pair of Upland geese glide past leisurely wa.shing·line! seeking :.'I f3ndin1t site whilst :1 numl>C'r of Cont.ri'but.ed by crimson brC11$tCd f\1ilitary Starlings 11erc:h on Angela Baber. t he windbreak fence and sing wildly to aLlr.'tCL Falkland l sl1nd~. Sept t 991. m~te1 •1 nd proclaim their territories. As l ga-ic from the West \Vindow, I can see • •• l\lount Tumbledown. Two Sisters and \Vireless Ridge, made famous dur1ng the 19d2 One o( my mosl vivid recollections of eonnict with Argentina. Looking from the aitelksham Hospital wa1 when I was :1 patient North window, on the hillside acrosJ the during the 50's.. I wl.! admin.ed on 12 Dee for a I Harbour is insuibed the names or four ships minM operation. I look rather a long ti.me lO - Beagle, Baracouta. Protector and come out of the an.aesthetic but when I Endurance ...Beagle .. and -aancout.a.. cruiaed eventually did .starL to come round I could around lhe Islands keeping law and order hear the choir sin1e·ing - this was the during the 1890's. H.~1 .S. ''Protecl(lr" was a customary annual Carol Service (or the targcl·towing vessel which wa.i convcrlcd to patients - but as I WAS •till in a bii of a haze I :1n Antarctic Ice-Patrol ship, but was r-0 placcd began to t hink that I was in h e~ven. well what in 1968 by fl .~t.S. '·Endurance··. Endur1~nee else could I think, Lhorc I was hair way w~s due to b~ withdrawn in t he 1980's but between reality and dreamland and this very during the 1982 conrlicL played an in1portant heavenly sound dtlftlng in from s~mew h ere role in the retaking or South Georgia. out or t he blue or so it seemed t.o me al the However. she has ju.st been withdrawn dut lo iime. hulJ-wtakness and will be replaced al the end Another o( my memories connected .,.,•ith of lhe year by a chartered Norwegian veucl the hospital iJ when I 1aw an advertisement in "Polar Circle.. lO conlinue palrollintt tht the \\1ilt.shitt Times atking f« volunteers for Antarctic. Sout-h Georgia. and the r ..lk1ands. the Red CroM to help r'Un a weekly nurse.ry On the hill above Gypsy Cove st.and• an old clinic. and I became involved in one of the first Naval gun - a remnant of t he second World groups to help Oistri<'t Nurses to weigh and \V:ar•• register babies just oJttl'lcket ship); "Egeria" (u bttrciuo Spac Shop. containlnj( c:cmenl which sprung n leakO: t ho Contributed by "Thellum" lwhich hlld trouble rounding Ca1)e ~trs Hill Horn when overloa.dtd} and the .. Lady EliuMth" in \Vhalebone Cove. \Vhen the 1e:1 is rough, the white horses • •• could well be a million swimmers each creating their own effervescence in a ratt to I "'as born in Sandy Lant, ~r Chippenham. reaeh the end of the Harbour. Two mount.ains bul ~tlksham was nt\ltr far out of our minds dominate to the North. ~1ount Lowe and beeause we could always smell the rubber Twelve o· clock }\!ounlain. Quite oft.en, a misL burning from lhe Avon Rubber Co. During the roll.s on from Lht.§e mountains and thence 1914 war my (ather was in the Armed Forces across the Harbour. A ship is moored just and C was at hon'I C: looking Aft.er my mother. I across the Jlnrbour through lhe Narrows (Lhe remembct an incident townrds the end of the cntrt'lnce rorined by 1'wo Points. Navy Point war when my mother t1nd I caught t ho nu and Engineer Point). and t heir h1unch is virus in Lhe (irsl epidemic of nu. I W:).S nctu3lly producing an enormous bow-wave :..s it ruts recovering from the virus - I remember it across to the "floating-dock", When ship• oire was a beautiful day and I was sat out in the moored al this doc.It. it night. the area i1 a garden - suddenly the ~1elksh.am hooters ma" of (airy·lights - sprinkled with ~reen. began to s.ound to announce the end or the ~ and orange. The effect i.s doublitd with war. I ran inside lo tell my mother that 1 their reOeclions in the mildly agitated watert. thought the war had ended. she was so f!xcited The Hrtne spectacle is inle.rupted only by she put her airdipn on and ran down to the gvU1 swooping around io the upper limits of village church to ring the bell to spre#d the the glow. At a di.st.ance they appear 1.8 1t1owty good news lo the. villigt-41.

• A rt.er the war my molher used to hire a \Y hen I 3nswercd my telephone one day a pony a nd tr:.p during the summer holidays to voice 3Sked me H I would contribute lake u.; lo Devlies ~1arket it was our special something for inclusion in a book about trea.t and I used to look rorward to it, but when Melk~ham ind round about. I repUed t hat I we got lo Dunkirk llill we had to get. out. :ind suppose rest or the anyOM in the to"•n who had never even heard way up tht hill. of it. Upon thinking about it the population of l\telksham mu1t have chsngect considerably We event~lly movtid lo \Vhitley and I lived there for 40 ytiart before moving into since I left Spenttrs in 1966. In common ,,.,·ith .so many rir,ms ii was 'taken over' and beatitnl loft a lasting nnd affec tiQn~te memory of caring nnd kindnc.ss thtll is still evident. were n bit late in gettinK gritLed and when lodtty a.s l myself ht\\'O had occasion to ~oi n g by bus wo hnd to push th~ bus away experience. front the curb in order to get iL going again rrom Lhe l.acock bus slop nnd jump on it again Contributed by <1uic.kly bcrorc il gol up speed. Mrs \Vllli•m• Up until the War broke out the cleanliness ••• or the river made it a joy for bathing and in the summer we used orten to go to the bathing place on the left hand side of the rive.rend or I re.member ~1tlk1h:1.m llospital whe.n iL ,.,.as Scotland Road from wh~re one coukt also hire on the tile of tM Labour Club and Sister a rowing boal. Ala.$ the river changed almost Beaven wa1 tMre then and when ~1tlk.sham overnight v.•htn serious pollution was caused HospiUI was built on iLS present s.ite my by the Chippenham sewage works being husband and I were in\'olvtd in the group of unab~ to top(' with the "invas:ion· of troops and people who tLarttd the buy a brick scheme we evacuees durinpt the \Var. Fish slock.s were were very proud to be part of the ttam 1hal killed and in due: t0uf$(l: an epidemic or were helping Lo cstabli.sh our new up·to.Oate poliomyf'lili1 broke out ~nd river bathing lost hospital. Al Lhnl time most of t he fu nd r3ising its 1>01>ulnrlly. carried ouL by the various orKanisations in the town concentrated 01'1 the hospilitl and the t enjoytd workinJC ~L Spence rs but when Lhe people would rcgubrly donate such it.ems as l,:icock sub·postmaster retired and so1neone food. ncwdpapcr•. ct..e. Sr \VashbQurne was t he w:is needed to tAke Ct\'O r the task Cweig hed up Si1't.cr Tutor then nnd tit is!i Jones was t he ull th(! 1ldvantagcs of working at home. no hfat.ron, I remember Mrs Roscw11rne. present buses to wait ror, being in L-acoek all the time Matron, as a S i.:.ter. and bein1r nble lO t.lakc n gtt>ater part. in village I was born In Broughtol'I G ifrord and moved lire. and hnndcd in my n ot.le~. I held the posl Lo ~telksham when I got married in 1934. we for nineteen years be£ore I decided to retire. had a l~adies and Gents outritters which is Vi.sitars to the village often ask "what on now Hodges and we al.$0 ran Children.s and earth I.I thert to do in Lacoc.k". There att many babies shop whit-h i.s now owned by &tr organisations for those willing lo take Compel. Chemist. part: th• church and it"s :tssociatt?$. the sehool I have bffn a patient in ~lelksham Hospital and its various «10Up5. 60 Plus. Women's several times and have always receh:ed Institute, t.tothers· Union, Playgroup. Mums wonderful t~atmtnt from lhe s•.aU who " 'ere and Toddltrs. Brownies. Guides, Cubs. always ver7 frirndly and auentive, but I think Garden and Allotment Association. darts. my mott pleasant mf'mories of ~telks ham cricket, football and such. Many events. Hospital are of when the- nurses used to live in l"SpttiaUy musical, IN- held al La.tock Abbey and the Christmas party which was held which was once lhc home Qf \Villiam Henry regularly every yer.r which we used to att.c-nd fQx-Talb-Ot who invented Photography and £or and t horoughly enjoy. \\re are so lucky to havt­ much or whose work t here is now a museum. such o IO\'ely Con1munily Ho1ipital with s uch Lncock's existence tan be lraood back t..o kind :ind dedicaLcd stnrr. l sincerely hope that Saxon thnot when it consisted of 11 few Mclksh:tm HospiLR I will continue to flourish dwellings on lho hnnks of n s nHi.ll stream and and grow. the nnmo comes from lhe Saxon 'Lac.uc' ••• nlcanil'lfC little &treiam . In the thirteenth century t he Abbey was Village Hall the annual fair is also helping local 1 rounded a.s :i nunnery, when many workers -Organisations and charities fol'" t hey all pay a ., came here aCter the had finished working on s mall fee for a s paee for a s t~'l ll a nd then keep Sa.lisbury Cathe.dral and there i.s still someone their profit (or themselves. living near who can trace his tt n ce~try Gradually over t he past century, with the baek lQ t hat time. Some local people can trac:e growth or t he popularity or t.he motor car and there family t.rees back to the 17th C&ntury. later t ho s upermarket Lacock has been More workmen called (or more dwellings and reduced to only one grocer with post office and with the growt h of t he woollen industry oft licenc:e plus the National Trust. Gift shop, a Lacock grew into a busy town nnd from t he craft s hop, a Coldsmith and Silver.smith's. and thir teenth cent ury until the eighteenth a pottery. I n l961t there was an event w hich eent.ury it prosperred a.nd held 3 weekly mu.st havo bc0n one or the grealc$l blessings matket and a t hree-day fail'" at ·st. which could have been bestowed on Lacoek. it T ho1nas tide' in October and at one tin1 e a w3s t he year in which the Lacock By-Pass population or 1700. With the decline of t he came into being. before which all north to wollen industry Lacoo.k had many poor people south. and vice \'Qrsa. l raffic passed t hrough and a workhouse was built. in 1833 but in 1861 the \'illage by way or \Vest$tl'"cet.. T he volume it was closed and the poor a nd destitute wcl'"e of traffic now using t hat road has grown sent to Chippenham to the building we now beyond all earlier imaginat.ion. Now we have know as St. Andrew·s Hospital. n1so a mini by-pass which takes through traHic In L840 Laeock had 41 t r. This short. road has been oa.mcd 'Hither \Vay' bakers. grocers. coal merchant, mtlson. because the field through which it has been plumber, glazier. malster, brewer and hop cut used to be known ns Hit her Cow Field. merchant, plasterer a nd tiler. boot and s hoe Lilcoek is <1uite a sb·..cablc parish with about 1nakers . wheelwright, carpenter, chairmakcr. 1100 parishioners. The railway halt was closed blacksmith~ . rniller.s, tailor, s addle a nd many years ago but t here is a large harness makor, draper. beer retailers, many community Jiving near by and other farmers and later i n t he century there were commu nities are LO be round at Nott.on. also a farrier, hurdle maker, statiOti.€lr and Reybridgc. Bowde1l Hill, \V ick Lane, and at fancy goods. gravel merchant.. own police Lack ham. fornlerly a i}r-ivate c,state and one of constable. a nd public vaecinalor and the rive manors or Laycock. but .since the last undertaker. war. durlng which time it ·was inhabited by 'rhe houses in t he village are very varied in members or t he a nnc:d forces, it has become a design, t he oldest 14th century and t he newest well known College of Agriculture a nd building, the Village hall, was built in 1890. Enterprise. PracticalJy a.II t he houses in t he \tillage Laycock residents have had t he pleasure of belonged to the Tolhol lamily of "mod·cons' as from t he 1920's. electricity but in 1944, having realised t hat doing au having been brought in in the mid 2o·s and t he necessary repairs would be an imposs i bl~ water. g3,s and sewage system being inst.ailed t~.sk for her, the owner. t he late !\1iss Matilda during t he 1930's . A gl'"e:i.t. change from h::iving Talbot. gave t ho Abbey and t.he village into to pump water from n well (lovely. s parkling t he care of the National Trust. \Vhen house$ dear cold water at. all times). and rro1n having became e mpty priority consideration is given a flickering candle to light ones way up 3 dark to people with Lacock family connections garden path to t he one. two or even t hree before letting them to 'outsiders' thus helping se.ater I.a va.tory. with it's bucket of a shes to maintajn a village commu nity. instead or a chain. There Wt!l'"O two typ('S, vault which wll$ emptied when though fit and T he Village H'all was built. by the the bucket ''ilriety which was emptied onee a 'Oddrellow's' organisation but about l969 they week by a gentlema.n going round fairly late at gave t ho Nat,Jonal Trust. t he opportunity to night with an outsize bucket on wheels. Rath.s b\1y it. and lease it to t he Parish Council (or use were usually taken in rr-0nt. or the fire with as a Village Hall with the provision that the wa t~r heated in the old 'copper' after the Parish Council s hould maintain t he interior in family washing had been done. The copper good condit.ion. At t hat time it was badly in having been heated with household rubbish. need or 3 great de.al or work being done to wood and the odd bucket.of cool which was set bring it up to a n acceptable standard and in light. to an hour OI'" two before the w::ishing order to st.art fund·l'"aising it was decided to could be started. revive the- Village Fair. In 1969 it. raised 1946 Co11tributed by • and it has been an annual event ever s ince, Peggy Butler. Chippenham being organised by a Village Fair committee. The hall is one of whieh can be j ustly proud and J)Ow includes a n extension consisiing or a ••• room a little smaller t han the main hall and good s torage spaee. As well as fund!> (or the "JAMES" h-1el(1&- QI !!etLs-itl/1( Once upon a tinlc there was n lillle boy calJed 'Jame.s'. lie wa.s very sad because he didn't like school, and each morning wheo h~ mother woke him up he always asked her '"ls it llQ.f;/tafMd eQIKIKal(t~ .school today mummy?.. and she would reply . ..Yes it it, now hurry up or yov will be b.te"'. James 1lowly got dreJffd and r:ame down· Contribut~ by stairs looking quite sorry ror himsetr. and his Alan \\'f')'mouth mother told him to "'c:heer up"', if you don't go L~al(ue or f'riend .. Committf!t' ~f em~r to school and learn lots of things you "'on't be a clever boy when yo1.1 grow up:• ..Oh , alright­ Ask~ 10 write a br'iflf artide on the history .s.aid Jame:s. and he set ocr down the ro:1d. on or the work or lht1 friends of ~felksham the way he met 101.s or boys and girls hurrying Hospital nnd Community seemed simple pa.st him, J3mcs just took his time and at la.st enough. th11t was unlil t rcl"disc.'ilrtl hild c-Ontihuted to its place with the othe rs. Everyon e: was very amenities. quiet as t ho Hend tencher began to s peak. "Now children tO·dnys n'Jsembly is going to be 1\ rminK mys4•lr wilh :t pot tcd history. I ~e l diJrcrent. as the s un is s hining so beautifully. l uh-Out lryin~ l11 pul into !l f4'w p~ragraphs 3 1 have decided lo tnke you all to the sea.side for yea r~ work hy and for th._. contn1unily. the day. what do you think ortharr· and all the It soon hf•came obviou~ that so many people children. including James, shouted "Hurray! havt been involved that there would be a Jlurrayr·. grave danJCC'r or leavinlC' someone or some The children filed smartly into the yard in or,l(:anisation out - so lhere are no references pairs, and then came a bi« roach to take lhem to either-·· ju~t please attept th:.t the Fri~nds on the journey, which only took over 1 hour to are extremel) KrAlC"ful to everyone ••ho has gel lher~. Whtn t~y arrived the sea looked made il possible for them to make the so lovely. with the blue waler and the white !lignifinnl C()ntribuhon~ to tht amenities al waves just rippling. James coukl not belie"'e il thr llosp1lal O\rC"r lM past 31 rears - since all ¥i'as true. at he had never ht-en to 1he sea·side the individual~ and Or${ani.sations who had before. He had great fun playing on the s.and. previously helptd tht Hospital g-et IOKelher to making sand castles with other boys and girls. form:illy launch th4• Le:i~u<' or Friends. the paddling in the water. and they all had a A Lour oft ht' flos1>itat !iii le will e;onrirm that donkey ride too. Then it was lime io eat, the around virtunlly rrv('ry C'Orner you will find an teachers clapped their hands and the children :imcnlty 11rovlded :i1 s ome stage by t he came u1> in turn to get. a pic·nic each. all Friends, bf' ii ~' 11iccc of equipmenl. or :l pre J) ArOft•t' in th.- $treet •·hen rundo ..Your a bil late- Jamet. you're dinner is almost raiJintc it 1nyth1n-1t to 1(0 by. cold." and James ju.st totd her or his wonderful supri.se all ht wanted to do was clean his teeth \Yhal i.t probably less "-f'll kn°"n is ••here and ha\!t a wa.1h and 11:0 to bed, but before he th(' bulk or tht- money ill(tually tomtt from. went he looked at hi.s mother and said "'1'm so and t~ way df"C"i~ion .. ar.- re:ached about pleased you madt me ftO to school today and I prO)l'<'I.!' to fund. will never want to miss tven one day again:· Nf'W 1de31 IU'<' ~bviously rare - this book That happy Summer's Day proved to be a 1x-ini;: one o' the.'! <'x«·plions - :tnd lhe F riends great change in James' life. h:tvt• t-0 rely bn'lieully on tried and trusted Thi.II 11LOry h1 11 been eontributed by an ex· rund r:dsinK method.;, patient In Lht'J l1op4!! th1l it will help other Throu~ h out lhC' Prlf'nd.s history the G:,rden parentt who may experience the s a.n1 e P:1rty - or ll o~1>ita l t'C'tc as it is popularly problem with s tarling t1rl1ool - knvwn - h11 s heC'n the mri;or rund·raiscr. in ~frs F_! 1\1 Burl.On. 1960 for cxrunl)IC!, t h \1 (irsl (C'le where records ••• an• avnilnhh'. t l29 1as 7f> J>rofit wus made • inflation makes comparison pointless wit.h t he All f\1embers arc entitled to tlttend t he 199 1 figure being or over .£3600, exoepl to say AG~t and are ~b l e: t.o nominate: Members. or that over t he years the Friends have been be nominai..ed. ror the Committee. The OHicers extremely grateCul to t he many individuals or the Priends are elected at the AG~1 a nd organis3tions who come together each annually. and t here are tt rr:1ngements fo r ex· year to make the Fote so successful - and officio Com1niitee ~1embers to be elected to naturally t-0 all the t>eoplc who come along and represent the various views of interested so generously s upport it. or~n i s.ations. This might. also be an appropriate moment To !!Um up. and begging to answer the to record the Friends lhanks Lo t he member$ question "\\lhal are t he :tim.s of the Friends'! ... or both the Hospital's Starr. a nd t he various I was somewhat surprised to find t hat my healt h authority employees who also make· a favourite definition was to be found in the major contribut ion both to the Pete itself. and \'ery first set of Objectives and Rules lo the \'arious rund-r:tising errort.s throughout Corinulated in 1955 by the FC1u nder ~1embers t he year. Their cHorts do not go unnoticed and of l he t.hon League: or Priends ir the ~l e l ks h nm are greatly appreciated. Hospila1. They read:. T he Friends have also been extremely lucky 1J To mobilise. encourage. foster and over t he yeari:J in receiving donations from maintain the interest or t he public in the appreciative patient.s. and. parliculnrly in patients und the support or the work or the recent years. many bereaved families ha ve f\t clks ham Hospital ... nominated them to benefit from donations in iii) To provide funds for the purpose ... of lieu or rlowers in memory or loved ones. This is supplementing in s uch a 1nanner as the pnrticulnrly poign:.nt as one consider$ that League thinks fit the resources or the hospital even at a time of g-reat s tress and sadness ser\'ice . people actually re:lncmber and support the work or the f'riends. v) To provide a link between t he Melkshnm Hos pital and the community which it serves. As well as support.ing the Fet.c. many Jocal organisations make: either regular or special t t hink those words sunls it all up one-orr donations or grants. a nd obviously t his benutifully as t hese aims are as relev~nt today is a \'ery weJcome source or income. as they \\'ere them. and hopef~tly tend to lay dead t he political point often made when Cund· Throughout thC F riends histor y. r.:.ising. that funding the needs of the health Membership has always been a difficult and Jie r\'ice should n"t have to rely on charity. as lime consuming exercise. A recent innh,ative though this \\'ere some modern day Jeaflet dro1> invit.ing people Lo 'consider phenomenon. becoming a Member of the F riends .... ' met with considerable s uceess. but a glance The F riends or Melksham l tospita l :tnd through the ri1 inui..e Book s howed that this Community do not fu nd t he Hospital. they brilliant. 'new· idea had a lso been successful in provide amenities fo r the palient.s which for 1970. So m.ueh ror originality! various reasons could not be made available through th~ normal fu nding processes. and A big thank you to O\'eryone who has joined h:t\fe done so wit h great distinct.ion formally the Friends this time, and also to all the people Cor 3J ye~rs. but efrectively t hroughout the who have given so much lime to eollect.ing Hospitals history. subscriptions over t he years - it i.s certain that your efforts have: not been wasted. \\le llre- doing our best lo imprO\fe health <:are faeilitits in the area ... \VHY NOT JOIN All deeisions about the funding of projects US! Contact the Hospital ror inrormatior1. are made at Quarterly ~tcetings of t he Committees. who on a three yearly basis. are elected at the ACM which is held in January each year. Obviously the ~1atrori and her staff ••• have a major input into any proposals as t hey are more awa re of the needs or the 1>atients. but t he final decisions on runding is down to the Com1nitWe. In years the F'ricnds have added ·and recent Tht. Handbook •·u prt!J nol rn.a':e 11ny l't'COO'lfl'ltrwlatklM M l(I th(l fit 11t» of t he a dvf'ttber.s apphtil'l!l ht tM& h.an4botul Publi<-:Hi-OM rin.ancfo.l rc:str3int.s threatened ground it. 1111d M~t itOI bo rtptod\.\«'d withOl\lt th.,. written Applications £or financial help can be made permi-»)(M'I ol t he p11bli3htr3. through t he J<'" riends or the Hospital. P8 • MU• 91•11 • 26 J first.. 1tt:1rled At 1'telksham H<>SpitaJ at 12 years old. serving Leas Lo Lhe patients on Sat/Sun arternoons from St John's Ambulant(: and I had to get all my hour$ signed for by Lhe S r on th~ ward. rrom 16-18 years l wa.s a pre.nursing cadet and lived in. in the Nursing Home. I worked on the )1en.s Ward a nd in Casualty and Theatre and earned 16.00 per month. In 1957 I left Melksbam Hospi~I to commence my training al 1he ~1 e tropolit.an Hospital. Kingsland R~d. London for 3 ye.ars v.•hcre 1 bec:ame a Staff Nurse. I then emigrated Lo Au!Jtralia for tt0.00 and after a few ye.art returned t-0 ?ttclks ham Hospital in June l979 as parl·time Staff Nurse on the F e1nalc Ward. I became S ister on th~ ?l.1en's V.'ard in October 1979 and continue today. A final word from Sr Brown Senior Sh1ter at ~1elk8ham Hospital

CARTOON ORAWN BY Sr. 8r-owa tPre·N•rt ing: S ludtnl) 19SS·S6 A MEMBER OF STAFF - EARLY 1980's

v1s1.,...0R.~

.,,, ,."'ta ""'""" 2 -ro I\ BCO FolO. 3~ 110\I ... El\c.I( .. ou« ~s~"'.. l ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Pinal Credits In compiling this material it has been my History of ~te lksbam Hospital contributed by great privilege to meet. so m3ny kind and ~tril R Rosewarne - present 1ttatron and si1\core people who so willingly contribut-ed Ch•irman of L·cague of Friends. t reasured photographs and memories. I eonsider myself truly honoured to have had Collated by Lillian Holland - St(.tttary to the opportunity to walk down memory Jane ~tatron and member of League of Friends wit h so many fascinating people with a wealt h Committe.e. of stories to Lell. Very s pecial t hanks to a ll who have kindly •••••••••••••••• given I heir time ~nd tak(ln Lh(I t r ouble to sort throug h memorabilia which has been generously donated in t-he hope that in some way this would cOntribute towards the continued success or the hospital for 1'1clksham Ho.<>pital i.s the peoples hospital and holds a very special place in the h eart~ or so many people with a com1nunity spirit Lhat.. is overwhelming. The material included has been kept where possibl~ t.o t he i;tyle or its original form. to help presentation. because this book. as intended, has been a community project. ------······------

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MRS ROSEWARNE (PRESENT MA'rRONI WAS A PATIENT H€RS£1,F IN IVAN KEIR WARO, M£[,K$HAM HOSPITAL ~1ldwfve5 employed by Nurs-fng At1t1oci1t.lon not Council. Bottom right, tiltting down - :\trt Hiit GO ye1rs old

l.ad1 K•thlee.n Stanley at Opening with Chairman of the l.•ague of Friends &tr. C. F. Andrews Or. I. C. Keir and Matron. Mia t. Tranter talldag C.O a Clri CuWe Helper

A picture donated showing evenUI at a fundral1lng day A plthlr~ donated shawIn • queuing for b• rga1nJ• on a Iun dr•1 •.s1n,g dat

Newtpaper Article 1900 MELKSHAM HOSPITAL 1991 Thu photo donated/rec by ANTON J. GREOFF. THE SPREE. CHURCH STREET. MELKSHAM Newapaper Articles 1955 & 1956

FOREST TAXIS GREENACRES REST HOME Prompt, Friendly Service to HOME FOR THE ElDERl y Melksham Residents NN~ S~oking. local & long Distance RELAXED & HOMELY ATMOSPHERE ig t lubs. Airports etc, Pre-Booki~g CLEVELAND GARDENS, ST THOMAS ROAD 24 hour service (0225) 76<4935 TELEPHONE: MELKSHAM 705453 Enquities fO Mrs R 8 Vine: ,._ SHAW HOUSE * Privately owned Residential Home * • 24 hr attcnd~ncc by qualified staff noted for their friendly, caring service • Centrally heated throughout • Maximum security with full fire precautions • Long or Short stays • Personal supervision by owners For furllier details please contact Mr. j . Spikes (0225) 706707 Shnw House. Shaw. Mclksham. Wilts. • • • HIGHFIELD HOUSE THE MELKSHAM RESIDENTIAL HOME FOR T ANDOORI ELDERLY LADIES 66 LOWBOURNE. MELKSHAM FINE INDIAN CUISINE 0'1'15 704544 SEATING UP TO 50 Opening Times: Every Day from 12noon lo 2pm and 6pm lo Midnighl Caspa Furniture Ltd For Lunch or Dinner ARE PLEASED TO BE Wheelchair Fari/itie$ A vaiki.ble ASSOC IATED WITH 26 C hur~ h S tri>1'l, Mi'lksham MELKSHAM HOSPITAL AND (off ~foi n lligh ~l rt•('l, opposite T J .C.) W ISH THEM EVERY SUCCESS 0225 705242 IN THE FUTURE • Melbourne House Nursing Home • ff:m. P~1 ··no Only • • V H>ordo"t' 1~ C opodist • Pet & Ga rde n • l4h C •"'~ & Ath t10 To Al * BalA Roatl. I>• 1-l:t·._ n ·111_.. ;,..• S.\"10 21\8 Supplies 031W 726116 I 3 Fore Street GARAGE Trowbridge 'Ill' '• ON THE HILL Wilts l.q. CR\ !'TON'S M IO\IATI-: COMES TO TOWN ~. . ': Tht hln• .. Coiri1p11ttf•>C"ll I 11t"f OM.pWl\Ut Ju1-.ii Tel: Trowbridge ~ ' -.fn1f()llf/ ,.,.._..~'"' , rHL MOT C(NTAf w.-m.J.V WAlf 763989 MHKSHAM 7026•8 'te prO()efbtS ol fvt:nine Primrose Oil and Its use In 01e trtatm('nt of a wide ra:ice of eot1dlttOt11 fl'om TO BE Rheumatoid Arthtltls, Di.\bettt,. , Eczema dllO PMf ASSOCIATED WITH He1rt Dtseast (Ind Vascular problemt., We make no claims but ifyoo areonot ot them1ny t~ w'-0 betlel\t from ta.kine Evenlnt Pt'lmrost Oil MELKSHAM )"Ol.l w1ll .,.,1t11 to u~e advan~ ol our \P«.lal prlcts As SC>tdllisc ~iers wt are able IO Olftf )«1 1 ao. f\.11 MM' HOSPITAL SOOmcr.ny-.UOMiltS" ..GIA. ....tl'la ~-..E. .. -.....o1_ __10,.... Of J111$1 l9 SS A~ ~couldcost £lS0tmote 1111 """YttQ4 Olltrrts.. ~dltect and Oil Olill thf ~ AND WISH THEM ...... , M W ...... C: b - --W-l!IO ~ C---.- # tt"""'""" CONTINUED ..llf'tn l~~

I encloJC £ ...... , for -····· poKksol Evenlnc PtlrnrOSfO•I SUCCESS FOR Name ...... , ...... THE FUTURE. Address ...... M ...... M ......

...... -~...... - ...... s,. .aft 6S !!Iott ' JO'°"'•rlbOOM#lllp.KO. t11t11 H•rl,)fli H··•llfl faCUOST lf.l4'> Si Otlf. PS002 _ ~~ad- Bllto\ _S L60U lf'I0.1IMl14. \lli~f'~PO N)lOlft to.. , :11

~,SAMPFORD HOMES '~ PRIVATE NURSING AN D RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY REGISTERED WITH COUNTY COUNCIL