Memories from 1948

I have been hoping to interview June Gregory since I first discovered her at the PALs desk. I was taking my leaflets around early on in the residency, chatting to anyone who would listen and was delighted to hear that her memories went back to 1948. Early in 2009 I sat with her at the desk and taped a fairly long interview with her which I hope to use in the final work. It will be installed in the link between Outpatients and Riverside connecting the past with the future.

June's earliest memory of the in connection with UHL was as a very young child of her mother falling off the bus on her way to visit her father who was in the hospital with a reoccurring duodenal ulcer. "Surgery was not what it is today and he was in and out of there constantly for very long stays. The wards were very long and he used to refer to the sister as 'Hitler' as she was greatly feared by staff and patients alike and ran the ward as a captain would run a ship. There were always long queues for people to visit and you had to collect a chit from a window before you could come in. There was also always a flower seller outside.

Anaesthesia

After meeting with Les I had an appointment with Francoise, a consultant anesthetist. I was very surprised to hear that 60% of all hospital activity is underpinned anaesthetics which includes A&E, Theatre, intensive care, acute and chronic pain.
It is a largest department in every hospital..

Meeting Les

In the first week of January I finally got to meet Les and discovered that he had worked for the NHS for over 30 years. Matron Bell had just left when he first arrived so he had no first hand memory of her. He mainly worked at Hither Green. He had indeed seen many changes over the years and told me of the time before they had lifts fitted at the hospital and people came downstairs from the operating theatres on stretchers carried by the porters. He also told me of the porters whose job it was to stoke up the fires which burnt in the middle of the wards. Almost unimaginable as you walk around the new Riverside building.

Making the Final Works

Having decided on the final subject for the work which is probably Matron Bell I need to think about how it will look and the final presentation. I am still attached to a number of the images and have been playing with them in the studio and at printmaking.

Electro-Biomedical Engineering - EBME

This is currently the form of the ward named after Matron Bell. I talk to Milton who is very generous with his time and tells me what happens in this little known but vital part of the hospital. He remembers a Matron Bell who was one of the younger nurses pictured in the 60th Anniversary copy of the In-House magazine. She was there when Milton first began working at the hospital many years ago. She was also held in very high regard. Milton suggests I come back early on a Monday or Tuesday and meet with Les Rooks who has a very long service record at the hospital.

I have also discovered that the Matron Bell's secretary for 25 years was called Mary through the Downhamonline community forum. I created a thread on Matron Bell which led to a discussion on 'coddled eggs'....
http://www.downhamonline.org.uk/

Still Seeking Stories

I'm in Ravensbourne Block looking for Sapphire and Bell Ward. I have arrived at a quiet time and have chance to speak to Patsy in Sapphire. This is the wards for surgical pre-admissions and she very kindly explains what they do and how things work. It is very interesting to hear it from the other side having recently been a day patient at Kings. All I can remember is being a bit scared then waking up when it was all over.

Patsy met Matron Bell in 1988/87 when Bell Ward was opened. It was perhaps her first or second day working at the hospital and she remembers it being very busy. Matron Bell had long since retired but everyone came to meet her from the Chief Executive to the porters. She was clearly a highly respected figure within the hospital and greatly loved. Matron Bell would also have been known beyond the hospital itself. It must be mentioned there was also free food and drink.

I later went along to Bell Ward which used to be the 'Falls' Ward and now houses EBME. I discovered that Les works there and has done 31 years service and may know something Matron Bell.

Looking Back

Decided to take advantage of the quieter roads and drive around the old hospital sites. There are of course much changed with Hither Green now a large housing estate. I was surprised at the narrow lane, which led to the site of Syndenham Children’s Hospital. It is now two large stucco houses, which are now private homes.

Grove Park seems quite run down. A large building with broken windows seems to be home to some families. There was a young boy shouting from the window for me to get off his land – it was like something out of Dickens. The site is also houses a GP Surgery and neighbours a rather fancy health club.