Heatherwood Hospital Early 1930's

• Sick ex-service men and the U.S. Fund.

  The maintenance of a man and his family while he is suffering from some temporary sickness forms an important part of the funds work. During the past year some 49,506 men have been assisted in this way. The provision for convalescence after a definite illness renders a man fit to return to his normal occupation, and the fund assists in this respect. The work at Heatherwood Hospital at Ascot is an epic in itself, and the committee of management is to be congratulated on its breadth of vision in looking to the future of this wonderful establishment.
  Extract Western Times 28/03/1930

  Comment:-A comment as part of a report by the British Legion in Devon

   

• The Disposal of Heatherwood

  Personally I have felt the wisdom of the United Services Fund in arranging for the further, use of the Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, by transferring it and its wonderful work to the LC.C. (Bee 10th annual report of the United Services Fund, page x). But apparently one of the Metropolitan branches has raised an objection, and there should be some fun. Please realise that Heatherwood has been, and remains, a wonderful institution for the treatment of surgical tuberculosis amongst children of ex-Service men, and its continuance must prove a great asset to the State. We all love the children, and if no more of the kiddies of our old comrades require treatment, we must thank God, and pass on the opportunity to others. There's my sentiments. Heatherwood Hospital, if no other, will always reflect the greatest credit on this marvellous fund. The two outstanding cases of last year were. first that of a boy suffering from infantile paralysis complicated by a mass of extensive and widespread deformities, who, prior to admission to the hospital. had never walked, though he had reached the age of 15. This boy, on discharge, was able, with the aid of appliances and crutches, to get about with fair ease. The other was also a boy suffering from fragilitas osmium. A hereditary bone deformities disease, On admission, he had 18 fractures of various bones. After treatment for these multiple deformities. and his general condition, he was able, with the aid of appliances, to walk about with comparatively little risk of further fractures. The United Services Fund may ever think this institution with pride.
  Extract Western Times 17/04/1930

  Comment:-A comment as part of a report by the British Legion in Devon

   

• Women Legionaries, Sectional meeting of British Legion local branch

  It was decided that the Annual Outing on June 2nd should start at 8 a.m. and not at 9 a.m. Miss Breton, who was most enthusiastically received, gave an interesting address on the work of the Legion. She said that the Legion stood for three things Comradeship, Service and Remembrance and she stressed mostly the service, telling of some of the things that were being done at Preston Hall, the Poppy Factory, Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot; how families were being trained to fit them for that life and then being sent to Canada, with many other good works for the benefit of the ex- Service men too numerous to mention. She asked for support for the S.E. Area Council, and spoke of the splendid work of the Chairman, Lady Edward Spencer Churchill. The speaker also made a special appeal for the ex-Service men in South Ireland, for whom g
  Extract Observer & West Sussex Recorder 21/05/1930

  Comment:-A report by the British Legionaries Women in Chichester.

   

• Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot

  Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. Children of ex-service men suffering from surgical tuberculosis are treated in the fund's admirably-equipped institution of 136 beds, Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. While, in the main, admission is restricted to the one type of case, other forms of crippledom are received from time to time as occasion permits. Cases to the number of 160 were admitted to the hospital during the year, and out of a total of 154 in which the diagnosis was confirmed, 137, or 89 per cent., were discharged, either with the disease arrested or else materially improved in health. The report makes it clear, however, that in some instances it is only by prolonged treatment, that these results are secured.
  Extract Diss Express 03/04/1931

  Comment:-An extract from the USF 11th Annual report.

   

• British Legion Poppy Achievements Related at Ystrad Mynach

  The speaker also dealt with convalescent homes; tubercular treatment in its quiescent stage. A specialist declared the latter to be the best in the world. £3,000 a month was spent on that scheme. "Heatherwood," Ascot, is the greatest home, in the country for children suffering from the dread disease. Even when our fund is dead "Heatherwood" will live, because we have an undertaking with the London County Council that they will take it over.
  Extract The Express 07/11/1931

  Comment:-An extract from public meeting about the work of the British Legion and the USF Fund.

   

• Hythe British Legion (Women's section).Sewing Parties

  The Tuesday Sewing Party held its last meeting of the session on Tuesday last, when the clothes made and collected were despatched as follows:- 9 bed jacket and 17 hot-water bottle covers: Heatherwood Hospital for crippled children (at Ascot) run by the United Services Fund of the British Legion, pairs of bed-socks, 3 woolly hats, 3 pairs of mittens, 3 woolly jackets, 2 pairs of socks and 7 vests. to This sewing party will meet for the next session on Tuesday, January 19, at 2.30 p.m., at the Legion Hut, St. Leonards Road. More members are asked to help.
  Extract Folkstone Herald 12/12/1931

   

Prince George Duke of Kent

• Royal "captures." cripple's Royal

  Prince George's name added.
  from our own representative. Gobowen (Shropshire).

  Prince George laid the foundation stones of two extension schemes in the great colony of cripples here today. He also allowed himself to be added to the list of royal" captives" made by Philip Champ, a 2-year-old Cockney cripple. Philip, while a patient at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, had previously met several members of the Royal family, including the Queen, Princess Mary and Princess Pat.
  Extract Sheffield Independent 23/01/1932

  Comment:-An extract from public ceremony of laying the foundation stones for a new centre. The word "cripple" is not used today.Disabled is a much more acceptable description.

   

• Unemployment benefit Norwich ex-soldier fined for false representation

  A fine of 21. with £3 3s. 10d. costs, was imposed on Daniel Carr, an ex-soldier, 44, Ketts Hill, at Norwich Police Court, on Wednesday, for making false representations to obtain unemployment benefit at Norwich, on June 19th.
  It was explained by Mr. B. H. Durrant, prosecuting for the Ministry of Labour, that the false representation concerned Carr's son, for whom benefit was paid for some time.
  Everything would have gone on quite all right but for the fact that the boy became 14 on June 25th, 1931, and consequently, under the education regulations, was required to remain at school until the end of the following term.
  As was usual in such a case the Labour Exchange communicated with the boy's school, and then learned that he bad been in an ex-servicemen's juvenile hospital since May, 1929, and that no contributions were being made towards his maintenance.
  Evidence was given that in June last. Carr received benefit for himself and dependants. The secretary of the committee of the Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot, which is for the children of ex-service men, said a boy named Godfrey Carr, was admitted on May 4th. 1929, and was still there.
  Towards his maintenance his father had paid 41s. to cover the period from the date of admittance to September 24th, 1929. Defendant then got into arrears. and when approached said he was out of work, and in these circumstances it was decided to waive the contributions.
  Charles R. Betts, investigation officer for the Labour Exchange stated that when interviewed Carr said the reason he did not report that the child was living with him was because the nurse told him it was not necessary; he had paid what he could. The amount Carr had obtained in respect of the boy was about £10.
  Defendant denied it was anything like that amount. He had received no advantage from what he had drawn, for the child, who had cost him in extras far more than 2s. a week. He had done nothing to defraud, and only failed to report the full circumstances regarding the boy, because, he understood it was not necessary. Defendant's wife said they had sent parcels regularly to the boy while he was in hospital.
  Carr, who said he had been out of work for three years, was ordered to pay the fine and costs at the rate of 6s. a week.
  Extract Independent & Journal 23/01/1932

   

Ordnance Survey Map Segment 1932

This year a new survey map was published detailing the changes since the previous one in 1909.

• British Legion Meeting Londonderry

  Your committee were also instrumental in sending a child of an ex-Service man to Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, for the purpose of receiving special treatment unobtainable on this side, and you will be glad to know that this child, who was previously thought by many to be incurable, is, from the medical report, now on the road to an early and complete recovery.
  Extract Londonderry Sentinel 13/02/1932

   

• USF 12th Annual Report

  £6,000,000 Spent

  More than £6,000,000 has been expended during the United Services Fund's twelve years of existence. This fact is revealed in the twelfth annual report of the Council of Management, which shows that 112,127 individual cases were assisted during the year ended September 30 last. at a gross expenditure of £378,736. Specialised treatment provided at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, for children of ex-Service men suffering from surgical tuberculosis continues to show remarkably satisfactory results. Out of a total of 176 discharged during the year 78 per cent. left with the disease arrested.
  Extract Daily Mirror 08/03/1932

   

• British Legion Westminster

  Women Of The Legion

  Lady Edward Spencer Churchill will preside at the annual conference of the Women's Section of the British Legion in London next week, and the Princess Royal will distribute the various awards of the year. The President of the Legion, Admiral Earl Jellicoe, intends to visit the Thursday session and to address the conference. This will be his first public appearance since his recent illness. The delegates, who include women from all parts of the country, on Friday will visit the British Legion poppy factory at Richmond and the Heatherwood Hospital at Ascot.
  Extract The Citizen 16/04/1932

   

• British Legion Report Devon

  Many of the Devon delegates visited the poppy factory. Richmond, and Heatherwood Hospital for crippled children of ex-service men at Ascot, and were loud in their praises of the work carried out, at these places, and came back more determined than ever to not only support these causes, but also to proclaim their work among their friends.
  Extract Western Times 29/04/1932

   

• Women In The British Legion

  Preston Hall
  Mrs. Rashleigh spoke of the splendid work done at Preston Hall, a treatment and training colony and village settlement at Aylesford. Kent. Here there is a sanatorium, an industrial side being run with great success, and a settlement in which families are housed and engage in profit making industries; schooling is provided for the children under the Kent Education Authority, and there are post office, village hall and other amenities.
  Gradually from an adverse balance in 1925-26 of £3,000 the venture was made to pay.
  Brief mention was made of Heatherwood Hall, Ascot, another palatial residence, turned into a hospital for children's tubercular diseases as apart from tuberculous cases.
  The scheme by which ex-Servicemen's children. were given seaside holidays had been a great success. Some of the children had never seen the sea, or seen grass grow. One child was asked if he wished to go to Heaven. He innocently replied "No, I have been to Southsea with the British Legion" (laughter), Mrs. Rashleigh dealt with other sides of Legion work and concluded with a tribute to the work of the Women's branches throughout the country.
  Extract Crediton Chronicle & South Molton Gazette 24/11/1932

   

• Tenders

  Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot, Berks, Invite Tenders for the supply of Bread flour, and Fresh Meat, for the period January to 30th June, 1933. Forms of Tender can be had on application to the Steward. Completed Tenders are required to be sent in not later than Saturday, 17th December, 1932
  Extract Surrey Advertiser 10/12/1932

• Derry man's Tribute to British Legion

  To the editor of the sentinel.
  Sir- The generosity of the Derry public to the British Legion is a well-known fact, and I would like, through the medium of your hospitable columns, to thank them, and through them the Londonderry Branch of the British Legion, for their kindness to my little girl, Breid, now aged eleven years. This little girl sustained a fall at the age of four years, which resulted in her being almost incapacitated and unable to walk. This continued for five years, and although she was treated in Londonderry and Belfast she showed no improvement. After this period had elapsed, and when I had given up hope of anything effective being done, the child was taken in hand by the Londonderry Branch of the British Legion and sent to Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, Berks., where she remained for nineteen months. She has now returned home, and I am satisfied a marked improvement has taken place. She was treated with all consideration whilst in charge of the Legion, and I wish to place on record my thanks to all those who assisted me in the matter.-Yours, etc, Robert Starrett 1933.
  Extract The Sentinel 24/01/1933

   

• USF Annual Report

  Heatherwood Hospital The report includes a review of the work carried out at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, its establishment by the Fund ten years ago for the purpose of providing specialized treatment for ex-Servicemen's children suffering from surgical tuberculosis. A total of 1,379 children have been admitted to the hospital during that period, and of those, 1,241 have been discharged. The discharges include 934 cases, or 75 per cent. in which the disease was definitely arrested, and 145, or 12 per cent. of the total, in which improvement had been made. Only in three per cent. of the cases dealt with at the hospital was no improvement shown on discharge; in 10 per cent. either the diagnosis was not confirmed, or the children were removed or transferred to other hospitals. During the past year out of a total of 165 cases discharged, 121 left the hospital with the disease arrested and seven showed improvement. Only three did not respond to the treatment provided.
  Extract Hampshire Telegraph & Post 10/03/1933

   

• Surgeons to Wed

  An engagement was announced yesterday between Mr. E. Stanley Evans, medical superintendent at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Dr. Muriel G. Henderson, daughter of the late Mr. Peter Henderson and Mrs. Henderson, of Edinburgh.
  Dr. Henderson is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.
  Extract News Chronicle 12/10/1933

   

• British Legion Report Londonderry

  Tributes At Annual Meeting
  A reference was made last year to the fact that their committee had sent three children to Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, for special surgical treatment, and one: patient was still in that institution. The following letter of appreciation was received from the father of one of the children, and he would like to read it for the information of members. It read-"I beg leave to tender to you and your committee my most sincere thanks for the kindness bestowed on my son, who contracted infantile paralysis when he was! one year old. He has returned home from Heatherwood Hospital, Berkshire, after fourteen months, four of which were spent at Melton Lodge Convalescent Home, and it is with great pleasure I convey to you that the medical officer says it is a most skilful job."
  Extract Londonderry Sentinel 28/10/1933

   

• Appointment

  Appointment
  From numerous applicants Miss Margaret E. Hughes, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Hughes, Moriah-street, was on Friday appointed on the teaching staff of the Heatherwood Hospital School, Ascot. Berkshire. Miss Hughes, who was obliged to travel to Ascot, for an interview. received her early education at the local elementary schools. Hengoed County School for Girls, and finally at the Barry Training College. She will commence her new duties on January 9.
  Extract The Express 16/12/1933

   

  Appointment
  Miss Margaret Ellen Hughes, of Bedlinog, daughter of an ex-Service man, has been appointed assistant-mistress at Heatherwood Hospital School, Ascot, Berkshire.
  Extract Western Mail 29/12/1933

   

• Appointment

  Appointment
  Friends of Miss Margaret E. Hughes, Moriah-street, will be pleased to learn that on Tuesday of this week she commenced her duties as an assistant mistress at the Heatherwood Hospital School, Ascot, Berkshire. Miss Hughes was appointed to this post from a number of applicants.
  Extract The Express 13/01/1934

   

• United Services Fund

  Nearly Seven Million Pounds Distributed Curtailment of Educational Grant
  The curative work carried out at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, where children suffering from surgical tuberculosis and other forms of crippledom are treated, is also referred to, the report stating that of the 107 cases discharged during the year under review. 92 left with the progress of the disease arrested.
  Extract Derbyshire Times 03/03/1934

   

• British Legion

  The British Legion is to-day one of the best known, and another, equally deserving, is the United Services Fund which maintains the Heatherwood Hospital at Ascot, with accommodation for 235 sick children of ex-Service men. Doing deeds of kindness up and down the country are hundreds of voluntary helpers who do administrative work for the British Legion, the United Services Fund, and on behalf of the trustees of charitable bequests made long ago.
  Extract John Bull 24/03/1934

  Comment:-A small section of an article about charities aimed at providing help for hospitals.

   

• A £250,000 HOSPITAL OFFERED TO L.C.C.

  125 New sisters for London THE LC.C. has been offered a hospital which cost £250,000, and a recommendation to accept it will come before the LC.C. tomorrow. At the same meeting an increase of 125 in the number of sisters in the Council's hospitals I will be recommended. Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, one of the finest in the world for the treatment of surgical tuberculosis of bones and joints in children, is offered to the L.C.C. by the United Services Fund. The Hospital and Medical Services Committee recommends acceptance. subject to agreement by the Minister of Health. ? The site comprises 55 acres. Accommodation is provided for 136 patients. and there is room for another 100 with a small extension.

  £30,000 NEEDED
  The increase in the number of sisters would cost £30.000. "It is clear that the present staffing of hospitals is generally inadequate, and that the question of adding substantially to the number of sisters employed should no longer be postponed." says the Hospital and Medical Services Committee. Dr. Somerville Hastings, chairman of the committee told the "Daily Herald" last night. "People have felt that in these hospitals which were once poor law infirmaries the number of nurses has not been up to the standard of voluntary hospitals. "To bring the standard up-even allowing for a relatively smaller number of acute cases than the voluntary hospitals-we should want probably another 1,000 nurses. These increases will be spread over the 27 acute general hospitals under the control of the committee."
  Extract Daily Herald 14/05/1934

  Comment:-Confirmation of the original cost of the hospital when it was provided £250'000.

   

• Marriage of DR. E. Stanley Evans

  Mr.Stanley Evans is well known in Welsh circles in London as well as in the Vale of Aeron.
  Throughout his life he has been closely connected with St. David's Church, Paddington, where his father was for many years the people's warden.
  Mr. Stanley Evans has had a distinguished career, and is now recognised as a specialist in orthopaedic surgery.
  Two years ago, when nominated to the direction of the Heatherwood Hospital at Ascot, he was the youngest medical superintendent of a hospital ever appointed in this country.
  Though born in London, he is a fluent Welsh speaker.
  Extract Welsh Gazette 26/07/1934

   

• Housemaid Required

  Age not under 18: wages £36, rising: uniform provided.
  Apply Matron, Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
  Extract The Western Morning News & Daily Gazette 22/09/1934

   

• Heatherwood Hospital,Ascot.

  Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
  A short ceremony in connection with the transfer of Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, to the London County Council by The United Services Fund takes place at the Hospital this (Friday) afternoon, when the title deeds of the Hospital will be formally handed over by Major-General the Lord Lock, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.V.O. (Chairman of the Council of Management of the United Services Fund). Dr. Somerville Hastings, M.S., F.R.C.S. (Chairman of the Hospitals and Medical Services Committee of the Council) will accept the gift on behalf of the Council.
  Extract Times & Weekly News 02/11/1934

   

• British Legion Work of Londonderry Branch Report

  With regard to education a further case was approved during the year, and the pupil, a daughter of a disabled ex- Service man, is receiving an education at a secondary school.
  Your committee are now making provision in four cases of this description.
  In regard to the provision of hospital and surgical treatment, two children were sent to the United Services Fund Hospital, Heatherwood, Ascot.
  Your committee have taken full, advantage of, all schemes under the regulations, and you will be glad to know that an ex-Service man's child from Londonderry was recently discharged from Heatherwood after a course of treatment extending over a period of two years.
  Having regard to the condition of the child on admission and her condition at the moment, the result has fully justified the expenditure involved.
  Extract Londonderry Sentinel 03/11/1934

   

• British Council of The British Legion

  Benevolent Work
  Capt. Soppet gave an address on the work of the Southern Region Benevolent Area. The ten areas, he said, had been reduced to three regions, and the United Services Fund had been reorganised. If that Fund had continued spending as before, it would have come to an end in five years time. Now, under the re-organisation scheme, its life had been extended to 14 years. This necessitated a tightening-up, but the local Committees had been given increased powers. For instance, they could now grant assistance, in cases of temporary sickness, up to four weeks. Capt. Soppet also dealt with many other aspects of benevolent work.

  At the conclusion of his address, Mr. J. Champion (Bracknell) asked if any indication could be given of the number of ex-Servicemen's children who would be admitted to the London County Council at Heatherwood, Ascot. Capt. Soppet replied that all the children possible from the L.C.C. area would be admitted to Heatherwood, but children from the provinces might have to go elsewhere. Mr. A. Andrews (Wokingham): Do we understand that only children from the L.C.C. area will be admitted to Heatherwood ? Capt. Soppet: That is so.
  Extract Times & Weekly News 14/12/1934

   

Christmas Decorations 1934

A picture was published in the daily mirror of nurses hanging the Christmas Decorations on one of the children's wards.
Daily Mirror 19/12/1934

Comment:-For Copyright reasons We are unable to display the image.