Terence Brion Personal Memories
Former Heatherwood patient recalls their experiences at a dearly loved hospital.
Terence Brion; who after discovering the web site recently, contacted us:-
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Terence Brion
I was as I recall on a plaster cast frame with weights attached to try and stretch my leg as by now it was not growing as quickly as my right. As this all happened before the NHS did my parents who were not monied, who paid?.
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League Heritage
Terence Brion
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Dear Peter,
I wonder whether it would be of interest if I explained how I needed treatment.
I was about 2 yrs old in 1941 when climbing on the stump of a tree caught my left foot in hole in the stump and needed the fire brigade to release it. Unfortunately my hip was twisted, a loose plaster was put on by King Edward VII in Windsor. That's when the trouble started, hence from the age of 2 until 7, I was in and out of Heatherwood.
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Terence Brion's Father Visiting
I started at Eton Dorney school until at the age of 10, I was recalled into Heatherwood with a swelling on my hip.I recall very clearly what happened next I leant over the side of the bed to collect my comic which had fallen on the floor and the thing just burst and the contents and the smell went everywhere that's the last I remember, I woke up covered in blood soaked bandages. That's when I was wheeled into the small enclosed room at the end of the ward.
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League Heritage
Terence Brion's
Father Visiting.
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Heatherwood Staff
The surgeons as I recall were a Mr Arden and a Mr Blackwell. I also recall two Nurses an Evans and Kennerly. After a couple of years at grammar school my surgeons had two options either pin my right knee to allow my left to catch up or to bone graft from my shin to my hip. They decided to do the latter so my left is only just half an inch shorter. Obviously I have all my life, had a built up shoe.
I am now nearly 75 and still mobile thanks to the surgeons.
Heatherwood Patient
I was a patient in Heatherwood several times in the 1940's and received an education and remember a few days after a serious operation,I was asked to take what was then the 11 plus,which I passed and went on to grammar school. Unfortunately I had to return to Heatherwood for further treatment so missed 2 and a half years at grammar school.
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Walk Near Nurses Home
I was a patient in Heatherwood several times in the 1940's and received an education and remember a few days after a serious operation,I was asked to take what was then the 11 plus,which I passed and went on to grammar school. Unfortunately I had to return to Heatherwood for further treatment so missed 2 and a half years at grammar school.
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League Heritage
Terence Brion & Father
Walk near the
nurses home.
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Walks
I distinctly remember walking on crutches through the woods with my dad..I have many memories of being wheeled onto the balcony to sunshine and of some happy but mainly sad times.
Terence Brion ( October 2014 )