My name is Robin Watson and I was a patient at The Marguerite Hepton Memorial Hospital between 1941 and 1948. I was born on 11th December, 1936, in
Leeds. So I must have been about five when admitted from Leeds General Infirmary.
In about 1943/44 I was sent home for about 9 months and then went back after the T.B. hips flared up again. After a long time of immobilisation (standard treatment) and operations, I finally had a career of nearly thirty years in the nursing profession. A case of prisoner turned warder!!
The next photo is a mystery to me, it wasn’t taken on a visiting day, because we would have had more space between the beds and our lockers would have been there. Furthermore, since we were church-mouse poor, there wasn’t a camera in the family. Perhaps a nurse took it, and gave it to me. It would be nice if someone new came along and shed some light on the matter.
As it is rather difficult to join in an established conversation half-way, I thought I would throw in random memories as they occur. Perhaps the first thing to mention is the names that I remember. Patients: Kenneth Inkpin, Michael Hawkesworth, Michael Grainger, John Taylor, John England, Geoffrey Gresty and Malcolm Dawson. Remembered because we all went on to Potternewton Mansion Special School after MHMH. Although the boys and girls were kept apart, I did know Delia Shaw on the girls ward because we were pen pals. [Note from Jane; Some of these must be in the photo of the ward posted on March 26th. Does anyone recognise themselves?]
Does anyone else remember having a pen pal in the hospital? Other individuals include those already mentioned; Matron Downs, Miss M.A.Budd (Headteacher), Mr. R. Broomhead, Mr. A.B. Pain and Mr. Clarke (Consultants)
The book prize in this photo is entitled "How to see Nature" by Frances Pitt, who broadcast on the Home Service. The first line reads "The best way to see nature, is on one's feet". It wasn’t until years later that I saw the humour of that; at the time I was learning to walk again wearing a leather spica on one side and a steel caliper on the other side!!
