Heatherwood Hospital 1981

Letters to Editor,Raised £500

You were kind enough to publish, at the beginning of December, an article submitted by my wife and I regarding a scheme we had devised for raising money for charity.
In it, children were invited to write to Santa Claus, c/o Heatherwood Hospital, and, in return, they received a letter back from Father Christmas.
I am writing to thank you for your help.
We raised £500 for the hospital's baby care unit. - J. M. V. Beed, Chiltern Road, Maidenhead.
Extract Bracknell Times 08/01/1981

 

The Cost of Heatherwood

Did you know that a holiday in one of the wards of Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital would cost nigh on twice as much as a sojourn at Bracknell's plush Ladbroke Mercury Hotel?
Figures put out by the Berkshire Area Health Authority show that the cost per day of a patient's stay in Heatherwood last year averaged out at about £49.
And even that is cheap compared to the Royal Berks at £63 a day. Personally, and certainly no disrespect to those nurses, but I would rather spend my time in the Mercury at £28.75 a night.
Extract Bracknell Times 08/01/1981 & Aldershot News 09/01/1981

 

Year Long Campaign Under Way

The Heatherwood Hospital Day Unit for the mentally ill in Ascot will be taking a stall in Bracknell Market on July 18.
Extract Bracknell Times 29/01/1981

 

Hospital Hopes May Be Dashed

Hopes that regional health bosses could get a cash boost to provide a hospital for Bracknell may be no more than pie in the sky.
A Tory MP is pressing for special grants to regional health authorities to provide extra hospital facilities in new towns such as Bracknell.
He claims new town residents have had a raw deal because the development corporations which built them were never empowered to build hospitals
But the call from Tory MP for Peterborough, Brian Mawhinney, got a cool reception yesterday from East Berkshire health chiefs.
Welcome
"Any extra money for the health service would be welcome but I think this might be a bit optimistic in the current economic climate," said East Berks community health council secretary, Juliet Mattinson.
Original plans for Bracknell to get its own district general hospital were scrapped in favour of improving facilities at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital.
The new town is now likely to get only a small community hospital-probably on the Bracknell Cricket Club site in Church Road.
The community health council fought hard to get the town its own major hospital and it bitterly criticised the Berkshire Area Health Authority when it decided not to provide one.
Mr Mawhinney, vice-chairman of the Conservative Health Group, questioned Government ministers about the lack of cash for new town hospitals and said he planned to press for more money to be voted to regional health authorities.
Extract Evening Post 06/02/1981

 

Two Health Districts to Replace AHA

By Neil Oughton
Wokingham and Bracknell are to fall under separate health authorities when the Berkshire Area Health Authority is scrapped next year.
As part of a major nationwide health service facelift Berkshire is to be split into two smaller authorities.
But health officials have warned that the new boundaries could cause administrative problems and that the elderly and mentally ill could suffer as a result.
And the shake up could also mean redundancies are on the way, as the Government hopes to save £30m from the reorganisation.
Under the new plans, Wokingham, along with Reading and Newbury, will be covered by a new West Berks district authority, catering for a population of more than 400,000. Bracknell, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead will come under the jurisdiction of an East Berkshire Authority, serving 300,000 people.
Wokingham and Bracknell currently fall under separate health districts in the Area Health Authority, The two new district authorities will represent these new areas, once the AHA is abolished.
But health officials do not feel people in the area will notice much difference when the new plans come into effect in April 1982
Dr Jeremy Cobb, the head of the East Berkshire District management team, said: "At the moment people in the Wokingham area use the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading for their services. The people of Bracknell use the Heatherwood Hospital. This will remain the same."
The latest shake-up in the National Health Service is aimed at cutting costs, nationwide, by up to 10 per cent.
It is also hoped to bring decision making closer to grass roots level by reducing the size of many authorities and replacing them with more smaller
The new changes mean that the Oxford Regional Health Authority, at present made up of four area authorities, will be composed of nine smaller district authorities.
The plans, which were approved at a meeting of the Regional Health Authority two weeks ago, have yet to go before the Government Health Department for approval, but there is unlikely to be any objection.
It is not known yet if any jobs will be lost through the new scheme, but a spokesman for the Oxford RHA said: "The point of the re-organisation is to save money, so there are bound to be some redundancies."
Future
Dr Cobb said: "The shake up is a thing for the future. "Instead of having three tiers, Area Health Authorities are being abolished so that only regions and districts are left."
Reaction to the proposed reorganisation has been mixed. Miss Juliet Mattinson, secretary of the East Berkshire Community Health Council, claims the RHA has not given the changes enough tonight.
At present, the East Berks Health District includes parts of South Buckinghamshire. But under the proposed changes, the new boundary will run along the county border.
And that could have a far reaching effect on the elderly and mentally ill in South Bucks, who at the moment rely on East Berks facilities, said Miss Mattinson.
"Boundary lines will have to be crossed in order to keep up the same standard of service," she said.
Barriers
"But the boundaries will erect barriers, and people in need will suffer. We have told the RHA that more thought should have been given to a third district authority in Berkshire. The area is too big and too highly populated to be managed by two authorities." "But it seems they've dismissed the proposal without looking into it," she said.
Mr John Stevens, the West Berks Community Health Council secretary, was happier with the proposed restructuring.
"Breaking down the AHA into two authorities will make it a more local service," he said. "But I cannot see how we are going to make a 10 per cent saving as there will be two authorities spending money, instead of the present one authority," he said.
Extract Bracknell Times 19/02/1981

 

Special Unit for Mentally ill 'Half-used'

A special day centre for the mentally ill in Berkshire is only half used through lack of staff, councillors have been told.
The unit at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital is the only one of its kind in the country.
And Berkshire Labour leader Councillor Alan Furley yesterday called for the unit to be made more widely known.
But assistant health services director Patrick Oakley told the social services committee the unit "could easily get out of hand."
He said no cash had yet been given for running costs by the regional health authority but negotiations were being held Coun Furley said the unit prevented people having to be readmitted to inappropriate institutions.
"This reduces suffering and the cost to the public purse.
Some people do not seem to be aware of the unit and we have make sure it is widely known to get its full use," he said. And social services chairman Dr Donald McWilliams said: There are tremendous pressures on the psychiatric services in East Berkshire and this will fulfil a most useful role."
Councillors yesterday agreed to appoint an extra Occupational therapist on salary of £7,000 a year. The £151.000 unit in the hospital grounds is jointly run by Berkshire Area Health Authority and Berkshire County Council and opened in November 1979.
Extract Evening Post 27/02/1981

 

Emergency is a Way of Life to the Casualty unit

The team who give their best when the worst happens
  Times reporter Neil Oughton spent Saturday night at Heatherwood Hospital watching one casualty team at work.
The wailing siren of the ambulance is also a call to action for the casualty units of many hospitals.
There special teams of doctors and nurses must deal immediately with injuries ranging from horrendous to trivial.
They sit, a small team of five, waiting for the worst.
At any second, the doors of the casualty unit at Heatherwood Hospital may be barged open by trolleys bearing people, sometimes children, with horrific injuries.
Then the two men and three women will move briskly into action, staunching blood, easing pain, saving lives.
At other times the damage to the victims may be less serious, perhaps requiring a jab, a stitch, or even just a reassuring word.
And again, for long periods no one at all may need the team's services.
Casualty unit work is by turns hectic and tedious. But always totally unpredictable. Popular belief is that Saturday nights are the busiest.
But last Saturday night, dry and chilly outside, was strangely peaceful inside the unit.
At 11.15pm the staff sat small talking quietly at homes and gardens and sipping tea, yet knowing that a few minutes earlier the pubs had closed and that the odds were that some of the drinkers who had just bade the landlords goodnight would turn up at Heatherwood, bloodied victims of a traffic accident or a fight.
But judging by the muted chuckles that faintly echoed down the corridor, the team led by Sister Maura Marwick were refusing to let the sombre tasks eventually to confront them dampen their spirits.
"Nurses often get accused of being hard, of hiding their emotions," said Sister Marwick.
"I don't think that's at all fair.
In casualty we see some pretty horrible things and have to keep control of our emotions, especially when death or serious injury is involved.
"How could we do our best in situations of stress if we broke down when a child came in terribly hurt from a car crash? "At the same time I don't think it's fair to say we are conditioned to it all.
We are affected by some of the injuries we have to deal with as much as anybody else. But we have to work through it. We can't stop to think about the injuries."
Certainly the first couple of hours of this Saturday night had seen nothing too horrific, a pleasant change from the previous night when the unit was rushed off its very few feet with accident after accident.
The night shift starts at 8pm, missing the sporting injuries that keep a casualty unit busy during the early evenings.
The night shift were called upon to deal with an overdose case that was more a cry for help than a serious attempt at suicide, a young lad with a cut chin that needed stitching up, two people with ankle injuries, and, the most serious, a man found lying in the road with a nasty head wound.
These all in the first couple of hours. There was also the lady who had swallowed a pin. "It's not the number of people who come into casualty that makes it a busy night, but the type and extent of injury," said Sister Marwick.
"One or two very serious cases can cause more problems than a handful of lesser injuries.
"Saturday is no different from any other week night. I suppose if I had to say one night was usually busier it would be a Sunday.
But obviously it's impossible to predict how many people are going to come into the unit on any one night."
The Heatherwood operation is tiny considering the size of the area it serves an eight-mile circular sweep from the hospital. The area is slightly enlarged after 5pm when the casualty unit at Windsor Hospital closes.
In population terms, Heatherwood provides an accident and emergency service for more than 100,000 people, from Bracknell to Maidenhead, and from Wokingham to Windsor.
In 1980, more than 24,000 people used Heatherwood's casualty facilities, an increase of more than 2,000 on 1978, but only 250 up on the 1979 figure. The size of team under Sister Marwick's command does not reflect the size of the area. With her is one auxiliary nurse, Mrs Jo McDowell, a casualty doctor, on Saturday Dr Mike Foo, and two night ward orderlies, Tina Small and Richard Lucas.
Should the unit suddenly become overworked, Sister Marwick can call upon two other nurses who are at the end of the phone.
It seems there are not the trained staff applying for the positions in casualty, says Sister Marwick.
The unit is staffed from nurses drawn from "a bank", who work one day or so a week and get paid accordingly.
As Sister Marwick spoke, a middle-aged man wandered through the door accompanied by two of his friends. Immediately the team went smoothly into action. Luckily, the man's complaint was nothing too serious.
His painful eye irritation was diagnosed as "ark eye", the burning of the cornea often caused by welding without protective goggles.
Within an hour, after a series of drops and tests, the man was on his way out of the department, and the staff returned to their make shift office to talk about everyday things in their lives outside the hospital.
The wait continued.
The Heatherwood casualty unit is well equipped for every emergency. On one side three separate curtained cubicles allow for private attention to be given. Opposite is the long corridor to the X-ray room and the wards.
At the far end of the unit is the show piece of the outfit. The casualty theatre is fully equipped and always ready to take the worst kind of emergency a heart attack.
The casualty theatre resembles a mini-operating theatre, with its huge overhead light staring down at the waiting trolley underneath.
In the corner the gleaming oxygen cylinders and complicated dials of the resuscitation equipment stand primed and ready for use.
Seed is vital in saving life in heart attack cases. Once the unit has been alerted by the ambulance crew and an estimated time of arrival given, the rush is on to prepare the theatre and call in the doctor on duty.
By the time the victim arrives, the medical team are waiting.
In emergencies of that type, much depends on the ambulance crew as to which hospital the victim is taken. Wokingham, for example, falls within the catchment area of both Reading's Royal Berks and Heatherwood.
It's up to the crew to decide which could be reached in the quickest time. But the staff were not anticipating any heart attacks on Saturday night.
In their job it's impossible to anticipate anything.
To prove the point, the swing doors opened and a young girl and her mother wandered in looking bemused and a little wary.
Fourteen-year-old Samantha Burden had been on her way home from a party when she had fallen into a bush and pierced her side on a fence.
She was on no danger, but the speed with which she was given a couple of examinations and whisked to X-ray department.
After the flurry tranquillity fell once again As the hands of the the wall ticked past midnight, there was little to do but wait for the patient to be rushed through the doors.

Extract Bracknell Times 09/04/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by three photos.
The first showed the Saturday night team at Heatherwood (from the left) night ward orderlies Tina Small and Richard Lucas, casualty doctor Mike Foo, casualty sister Maura Marwick, and nursing auxiliary Jo McDowell.
The second showed in Safe hands 14 year old Samantha Burden has her pulse checked by Sin Maura Marwick while Samantha's mother Sally looks on.
The third showed the lady in charge during the night for the past two years at Heatherwood's casualty unit. Sister Maura Marwick with the resuscitation equipment.
Pictures: Gary Jones
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photos here.

 

Liberals' hope for Marginal seat

Former teacher Mrs Joan Lewis is the Liberals' candidate in the marginal Sunningdale seat in the coming county elections.
Mrs Lewis, a former teacher at Sunningdale's Holy Trinity School, who works voluntarily at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, and with Oxfam, is fighting to win the most marginal Tory-held seat in Berkshire.
At the last election in 1977 Liberals just failed to win the seat by 77 votes.
On May 7 they hope their luck will change.
Meanwhile, the Liberal candidate for nearby Sunninghill is Howard Mason, who has been a parish councillor for the area since 1976.
Mr Mason, who works at British Aerospace in Weybridge, is the current planning secretary of the Society for the Protection of Ascot and Environs.
Extract Evening Post 10/04/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.This showed Mrs Joan Lewis.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

'Vanishing Luncheon' aids Circle's charity efforts

More than £800 was raised for charity last year by Caversham Ladies' Circle, it was reported at the annual general meeting in Caversham Bridge Hotel.
The causes which benefited from this money were the Ken Thomas body scanner appeal, C.H.LL.D. (a fertility research organisation), Reading Family Aid Group, Heatherwood Hospital, Battle Hospital, the Italian Earthquake Appeal and Radio Lollipop.
Extract Evening Post 16/04/1981

 

Hospital where happiness is the chief cure

Anyone who has been a patient at Heatherwood will tell you that it's more like a home than a hospital. It doesn't matter which ward you're in chances are you'll make a lot of friends while you are there. Times photographer Steve Peters captured these pictures of life at Heatherwood last week.

Comment:- The above article was a full page spread of photo's taken around different depts, 8 in all.
First picture captioned:-
Waiting in outpatients can be a soul-destroying business- but the Heatherwood staff make it as pleasant as possible.
Second picture captioned:-
Having a baby in Heatherwood is a good experience - thanks to expert care from these staff on the labour ward.
Third picture captioned:-
Picture of happiness Nurse Yvonne White with little Tamsin Eaton.
Fourth picture captioned:-
Nurse Pat Fryer brightens up the day for young Jay Williams.
Fifth picture captioned:-
Mrs Christina Smith in the maternity ward with her one day old son Nicholas.
sixth picture captioned:-
Tipping the scales. Little Gareth Thomas lies back for his weigh in, watched by his mother.
seventh picture captioned:-
Heatherwood offers help and care for all sections of the community. Here toddler Richard Menta is put through his paces at the child help clinic.
seventh picture captioned:-
Doctor Debbie Hunt, Heatherwood's casualty officer, examines Stephanie Aird's ankle.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photos here.
Extract Bracknell Times 04/06/1981

 

Appealing

Bracknell Volunteer Centre wants money to buy a second-hand duplicator, set up a club for stroke victims at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital and continue transporting patients' relatives to St Bernard's Hospital in Southall.
Age Concern, the Sandhurst Welfare Committee and the Anthony Toby Homes Trust are also appealing for cash.
Extract Evening Post 23/06/1981

 

Hospital Gets Cash Boost

The League of Friends of Heatherwood Hospital had a quiet but successful year. That was the message of chairman Mr Ron Mason at the League's annual meeting at the Ascot hospital.
And more than £2,000 was raised towards a mobile theatre trolley the hospital urgently needed, he said. Much of the money came from the annual fete and Mr Mason thought this year's fete, to be held on September 12, would be even more successful.
"We are indebted to the ladies who willingly give up their time to run the trolley shop for patients. And the hospital radio has been going from strength to strength," said Mr Mason
Mr Andy Morton, of the radio staff, reported on the growth of the radio station.
Extract Evening Post 11/07/1981

 

Surprise Bouquet for Kim

Bracknell mother Mrs Kim Mason received a surprise bouquet on Friday following the birth of her son Sam.
Mrs Mason, of Haversham Park, Bracknell was selected by Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital to receive the special flower basket donated by Radox.
The bouquet of the new Radox Rose were presented to new mothers and senior citizens in six areas throughout England.
The Rose Day followed on the heels of the highly successful Miss Radox Bouquet beauty competition which in turn was inspired by the new rose which was introduced for the first time at this year's Chelsea Flower Show.
Extract Bracknell Times 30/07/1981

 

Grateful mums help a hospital

A group of fund-raising mums have provided a valuable piece of equipment for the special care baby unit at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital.
The mums are members of Bracknell's Holy Trinity Church Mothers and Toddlers group which meets on Thursday afternoons at the Langley Hall.
They were led in their money-spinning venture by Mrs Jane Collins, who wanted to thank staff at the hospital for helping her through a difficult time last autumn.
"I lost my baby at the Hospital in October last year," she said.
"Everybody was so kind and did so much to try and and thoughtful at the hospital save the life of my baby that I wanted to repay them in some way."
So the ladies staged a fund raising Spring Bazaar in March and raised £185 towards an oxygen analyser which controls the amount of oxygen in infant incubators.
The equipment cost the group just over £197 and is the first donation to the hospital by the mums.
The five-strong group are now thinking how similar hospital equipment they can raise more money for
Extract Bracknell & Wokingham Times 06/08/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.
In our picture Mrs Collins (second left) presents the oxygen analyser to the special care baby unit. On the far left is Dr Chandra Rajapakse and on the extreme right is nursing officer Mrs Edna Cox.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Hospital Equipment

A quarter of a million pounds worth of new equipment is being installed at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital over the next five months.
This will mean waiting lists will be shortened, and patients will receive a quicker and more accurate diagnosis.
The first item installed was an Ultra Sound Scanner, which will be used to diagnose pregnancy, monitor the growth of babies, register any abnormalities, gall stones and the spread of cancer.
The scanner is unique to the Ascot, Windsor, Bracknell area, and cost the hospital £47,000.
The second piece of equipment to be installed later this year is a Panto scope. It monitors slipped discs and heart conditions.
The last item which should be operational by December is an Orthopantomography, which takes x-rays of the jaw, and costs £16,000.
Extract Bracknell & Wokingham Times 13/08/1981

 

Hospital's Gift from Mothers

A £100 cheque donation will help boost cash for equipment at Heatherwood Hospital Maternity Unit thanks to the Ascot and District group of the National Childbirth Trust.
More than half of the money was raised at the Sunningdale carnival where the group had a children's tombola.
The balance came from other social activities including a children's photographic session and a toy sales party.
The Ascot group was born in January 1980 and was geared towards expectant mothers and those with pre-school children.
It has grown from a handful of members to 50.
They have an active post-natal support scheme and a variety of activities for both mothers and children.
These include coffee mornings with play sessions, walks and picnics, a baby sitting service and a baby boutique.
More recently they have held evening events with talks on child related subjects and a most successful barbecue.
If anyone would like to know more about the group please contact membership secretary Anne Pillai on Ascot 25239.
Extract Bracknell & Wokingham Times 13/08/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.
The photo showed At the cheque handover were (left to right) Jackie Davis, Lucy Davis (1), Derek Fairman (hospital administrator), Diane Hobbis, Alexander Hobbis (12), Edna Cox (Senior Nursing officer in the Maternity Unit) with Jonathan Hobbis (12 weeks). (Front): Nicola Davis (3), Charles Davis (6) and Alison Davis (5)
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Bonny Babies Binfield Show

There were plenty of bonny babies on show at the recent baby extravaganza in Binfield. Proud mothers brought their pride and joys to compete for the splendid cups and trophies. And it was one of Binfield's very own babies who came out tops.
Extract Bracknell Times 20/08/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied a full page spread showing a number of photo's from the show.This one showed Fourteen week old Victoria Cooper found favour with Binfield baby show judge Sister Holland, who works at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital.
Times photographer Gary Jones took the pictures.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

It's Your Health Service

Joint Meeting of the Berkshire area health authority and east Berkshire community health council is on Tuesday, October 6, 1981, at 7.30pm in The recreation hall, Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot
Members of the public are invited to be present.
Inquiries: CHC Secretary, 30 Windsor Road, Slough. Tel. Slough 20357.
Extract Bracknell Times 01/10/1981

 

£250,000 New Ward will Help Hospital

Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital is to get a new £250,000 ward after the break-up of an internationally renowned medical team.
The team from the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Taplow near Maidenhead is known world wide for its work in rheumatics.
But because of the expense of running the Taplow unit the area health authority has decided to transfer its functions elsewhere.
Heatherwood's new 25-bed ward will be split between medical and rheumatology patients leaving the Canadian to deal with maternity cases only.
Heatherwood's administrator, Mr Derek Fairman, said the new ward would be mixed and linked to the existing buildings at the hospital.
There would be a small increase in staff at the hospital.
The AHA will be accepting tenders early next month and the building is expected to be ready next summer.
Extract Bracknell & Wokingham Times 08/10/1981

 

Cash for the community

Charity-minded scientific staff in Bracknell are giving a helping hand to community groups.
At its last meeting, the Bracknell branch of the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs elected to donate £30 to each organisation selected.
Those to receive money are Priestwood Community Association, Easthampstead Community Association, Birch Hill Community Association, Heatherwood Hospital League of Friends, Binfield Park Hospital League of Friends, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Manor Broadcasting Association and Bracknell Pre-School Playgroups Association.
Extract Bracknell Times 01/10/1981

 

New Chaplain

Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital has a new chaplain who has taken over from Father Freddie Lancaster who has retired.
The Rev Sebastian Jones of All Souls Church, South Ascot has been appointed to the post.
Extract Bracknell Times 08/10/1981

 

Music Tribute to help Fund

Dedication
It is being specially dedicated to Billy Mitchell, who joined forces with a handful of other music fans to form EBOS as one of Bracknell New Town's first community groups.
Billy had a lifelong interest in music which led to a friendship with Noel Coward and a series of musical engagements.
Show publicity officer Linda Webdell, explained: "We decided to pay tribute to Billy with a show.
The proceeds will go to the Scanner appeal and we will also make a contribution towards Heatherwood Hospital.
"It is the first time we have raised money for the scanner and hopefully it won't be the last.
Extract Bracknell Times 22/10/1981

 

Award for service

After 21 years service with Bracknell Red Cross, Mrs Laura McBride from Priestwood received the much coveted badge of honour for all her work in the society.
Mrs McBride has little spare time being a mother of five, a nurse at Heatherwood Hospital and an active member of Red Cross. But on Saturday evening she took a break in order to receive her badge at the Red Cross Centre, Bracknell.
And Mrs Margaret Blackburn, deputy president of the Berkshire Red Cross Society was there to make the presentation.
To help celebrate Mrs McBride's successful 21 years of service, the presentation was followed by a party with plenty of food and drink.
Mrs McBride is a commandant in Bracknell Red Cross.

Extract Bracknell Times 05/11/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.This one showed Mrs McBride, left, proudly shows off her badge of honour as she is congratulated by Mrs Blackburn.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Table's Silver Anniversary

Tabler's bought and delivered a caravan for the Skopje earthquake victims in 1963 in Yugoslavia and another van for the WVS Meals on Wheels Service.
A New Year "Sportsman Ball" in 1969 at the Sports Centre raised money for the British Paraplegic Basketball Team for the Olympics at Heidelberg in 1969.
The nine years of charity fireworks displays have enabled Bracknell Round Table to build an adventure playground at Braybrooke School.
They have purchased a Heart Defibrillator for Heatherwood Hospital, renovated a pavilion at the British Epilepsy Association headquarters in Crowthorne and provided over £1,000 for the Ken Thomas Body Scanner Appeal.
Extract Bracknell Times 12/11/1981

 

Jackpot For Rose

Bracknell nurse Mrs Rose Reade had a welcome surprise recently. Mrs Reade, of Lydbury, scooped the £1,000 weekly lottery prize awarded by Wokingham Town Football Club.
Her lucky ticket was plucked out in the draw during a celebration dance for lottery agents and representatives immediately went out to Bracknell to bring the good news to Mrs Reade but they didn't tell her everything.
She was told she had won £250 but as soon as she arrived at the Oakleaf Hall, the dance venue, she had the surprise of her life.
Extract Bracknell Times 26/11/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo. She is pictured here receiving her bumper £1,000 cheque from lottery representative Mrs Ruth McCrum.
Mrs Reade is a nurse at Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot. She is 100th prize winner in the club's contest which during the past three years has given away £100,000.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

TRRL gifts for children

Geoff Margason, Deputy Director of Crowthorne's Transport and Road Research Laboratory, recently presented Christmas gifts to sick children in hospital and in local homes.
Nearly 200 toys, games, dolls and knitted garments, all made or contributed by the staff of the TRRL, were handed over to Mr Reg Wood, chief welfare officer of the Departments of the Environment and Transport, at a presentation ceremony at the Laboratory.
The presentation also included a cheque for £51.
Mr Margason warmly thanked everyone for their tremendous effort in producing such an exciting array of gifts and complimented "the many people whose fingers had been kept busy throughout the year" knitting the many woollen garments.
"These colourful gifts will bring a great deal of joy and happiness to a lot of children," he said.
A portable television set purchased by the TRRL staff from the sale of raffle tickets was presented to Mr R. King, Director of the Epilepsy Children's Holiday Home, Crowthorne.
In outlining the work of the home which included looking after the children so as to give the parents a break, Mr King said: "The television set will be a great asset in keeping the children occupied during wet summer days."
The gifts will go to the Cheshire Home for Children at Sandhurst and the children's ward of the Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
TRRL staff have already begun work preparing for next year's gifts.
Extract Bracknell & Wokingham Times 17/12/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.
The Picture shows (left to right): Mr Reg Wood, Mr King and Mr Margason.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Andrew McKinley Column

I am a deep and crisp and even nut, or, if you will, an unrepentant Christmas enthusiast. If I had my way Christmas would last 365 days a year. I love every tinselled minute of it, and being snow capped is a joyful bonus.
At the risk of inviting the wrath of some good, if rather bigoted, folk I would also say that it matters little for what reason we are drawn together at Christmas. It is only important that it happens. Ye olde yuletide is probably over commercialised because a lot more people have a lot mere money in their pockets.
I can remember when it was probably under commercialised, and it was also a little harder to feel goodwill to all men. People have a lot more sense in 1981.
Glittering
The "good" old days were really "bad" old days even if happiness is relative.
Some cynics might also argue that it is just one big, glittering razzmatazz without meaning or significance. If they are right, and I don't think they are, I would still be inclined to say: So what! Most of us say that Christmas is for the children while digging deep and wallowing luxuriously in the reflection of their happiness and joy.
Does Old Adam still believe in Father Christmas? You're darned right he does, and I start reminding children, grandchildren and anyone else who will listen round about October time.
I believe that a tolerance grows in most people in our community during the festive season, and not a few of us take a second look at ourselves.
In the high rise block of flats where I live in Bracknell most of the time, people tend not to communicate very well until Christmas.
Sadly when the festive season is over they seem to retreat into themselves again. The complete absence of children probably has a lot to do with it. But it is nice while it lasts. Besides, Christmas is a time for remembering and identifying with each other; a time for the more fortunate to remember the less fortunate. With every card that arrives a well-loved face appears on our memory screen- with the odd exception of course.
At the weekend I joined some others in South Ascot to pay a little surprise tribute to such a well loved face, someone who epitomises the spirit of Christmas, and also gives me the opportunity to get my annual plug in for Heatherwood Hospital and all hospital staffs in the area.
Until last week, when she retired, Pecky (State Enrolled Nurse Beryl Peckham) could be found in Ward One at Heatherwood.
In addition to her considerable nursing talent, Pecky could sing. whistle and at all times remain cheerful. I have been in love with her for years in the nicest possible way, of course.
As an unrepentant coward when it comes to surgery I can't think of anyone I would rather hold on to in a moment of pain than Pecky, and I often did in the last 10 years.
Warmest
Over the years I have gradually laid claim to shares in Ward One due to the gravel pit I have in my kidneys, which erupts like a mini volcano every now and then. Even the busy surgeon looks at the last scar and says: "That one of mine Adam?"
Ward One will not be the same without Pecky, who had the warmest heart and coldest hands of any nurse for miles around. She also had that rare and considerable asset for a nurse, and so effective in a recovery programme power of command.
Oh, yes, she was not all sweetness and light.
I can't remember anyone else in my life with whom I never won a single argument on the subject of what I would do and when!
It is fitting that Pecky retires at Christmas. You see there is a special sort of glow about her. Some nurses have it in the eyes of some patients and especially at Christmas.
Extract Bracknell Times 24/12/1981

 

Surprise Farewell to Pecky

State enrolled nurse Beryl (Pecky) Peckham thought friends were taking her out to dinner last Saturday night.
Instead they drove into Swinley School at South Ascot, and escorted her into a silent and darkened room.
As the lights went up there was a roar of applause from more than 100 colleagues, relatives and friends who had organised a birthday party in her honour which coincided with her retirement from Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot.
Pecky was a nurse at Heatherwood for 25 years, and senior staff and officials from the hospital paid tribute to her at Saturday night's party.
Extract Bracknell Times 24/12/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.Pecky is shown receiving a bunch of flowers whilst surrounded by her colleagues.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Pub Raises Cash For Hospital

A month of fund-raising among the customers at the Horse and Groom pub in Ascot has raised £150 towards a new incubator for the children's ward of Heatherwood Hospital.
Manager Mr Tony Dermody presented the cheque to Chief Administrator Mr Derek Fairman on Friday.
Midwife Mary Lavery was also there, representing the children's ward.
The fund-raising was marked by a big raffle and customer Mr Vic Goodall donated £50 worth of alcohol as prizes.
Mr Dermody said: "Next year we hope to raise enough to buy an incubator on our own for the hospital.
This will cost £2,000 so our campaign starts in the New Year."
Extract Bracknell & Wokingham Times 31/12/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo. Pictured above (left to right) are midwife Mary Lavery, manager Mr Tony Dermody,hospital chief administrator Mr Derek Fairman, customer Mr Vic Goodall and landlady Mrs Pat Dermody.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Times Picture Review of 1981

The Times produced a full page of eleven photo's of the year, this included the picture of ward2 nurse Yvonne white and Tamsin Eaton which was in the publication in June.
Extract Bracknell Times 31/12/1981

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of Yvonne & Tamsin.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.