Heatherwood Hospital
Makes the News 1949 - 1951
Scouts Guides & Christmas Presents from New Zealand
Scouts & Guides at Heatherwood
The hospital had it’s own scouts and brownies groups founded in 1927 they were an essential part of hospital life and contributed to the well being of the young patients and also raised the profile of the hospital through various events and press stories.
Children’s Corner By Auntie Pat
25th February 1949
At Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, children are given their lessons whilst lying in bed. This group of children were photographed last week while they were out on the veranda of the hospital in the warm sun. At the school they are taught every lesson from art to Geography. An important part of their lessons is handwork because by doing this kind of work they help themselves to get better more quickly.
Most children would envy their short hours in school 9-30 to 11.30 in the morning and 1.30 to 3.30 in the afternoon. But when these lessons are over they cannot run home from school – instead they have to stay in their beds until they go to sleep. Don’t think that this makes them unhappy. Although they must miss this more than anything they keep cheerful by occupying their own minds with reading, model making the wireless and plenty of fun among themselves.
Windsor Express 1949
Guides Visit Hospital
Aug 1949
On Wednesday afternoon delegates in England for a conference on the extension branch of the Girl Guide movement were invited to visit the Guides and Brownies of the 4th Ascot Heatherwood hospital company and pack.
After looking over the hospital and visiting the scouts the delegates saw meetings in progress of both Guides & Brownies and joined the guides when they sang the guides well known chalet song, each delegate singing in her native tongue.
This was enjoyed by all present.
A Scout Party
Jan 1950
To celebrate 23rd birthday the Heatherwood hospital scout Troup celebrated their twenty third birthday on Saturday with a grand tea and cinema show in ward 1. Among the many delicacies on the tables were jellies and a trifle made for the party by Sister Daley and two huge iced cakes one of which was glittering with candles.
Heatherwood School Magazine
May 1951
In May 1951 the senior boys of ward 1 produced their own magazine. A twelve page booklet with stories jokes and drawings. As part of the first edition the following article on the Scout Troup was included.
Scouts at Heatherwood.
The Heatherwood hospital troop consists of about sixteen scouts. Sometimes there are more, sometimes less. There are two patrols, the curlews and the woodpigeons.
We all enjoy our work and games very much, but it is not easy for our scoutmaster, skipper Newton to teach us, because we are in bed and cannot move very well. Some boys only come in for a week or two and go home before they have time to learn anything properly.
We all like our work. It is interesting and helpful. We have parties and films every year, if possible. Just recently, one of our scouts, Reg Evens, went to a special service at St George’s chapel at Windsor and curly a cub from the juniors went with him. Skipper Newton looked after them, and they had a lovely tea at Windsor as well.
In the Bob-a-job week we all worked hard and raised money for the scout funds.
So we do what we can and you see the scout’s life is helpful and useful.
By Henry McCullough. ( Curlews ).
Scouts and Cubs Achievements
March 1951
In Ward 1 at Heatherwood Hospital on Saturday Matron visited the scout and cub meetings to receive the monies earned by the boys during “bob a job” week.
At the scout meeting Matron went from bed to bed to collect the earnings, and congratulated the boys on the result of their efforts. Miss Howes said she was sorry that it had not been possible to give them more opportunities they had.
In another part of the ward the cubs were waiting to hand over the result of their work and Matron spoke to each boy and then received the money from the cub master. The total earned was £3, an average of 3/1 per head as against last years 2/1. Jobs done by these boys, most of whom are bed patients, varied from cleaning the ward silver and oiling trolley wheels to sewing and rolling bandages.
Gifts from New Zealand for young and old inmates of Heatherwood Hospital. Friday December 23rd 1949
Last Saturday afternoon brought a great change from the ordinary hospital routine to all the patients of Heatherwood hospital Ascot, when they were given a special Christmas party by the Windsor branch of Toc.H. A highly active group though with only seven members.
Mr A Keith Goldsworthy gave a bright little party for seventy two boys and girls whose delight will be a poignant memory for helpers like pianist Don Paxton, Ken Hawes the conjuror and of course nursing sisters C Daley and K Long.
Crackers snapped, whistles shrilled over a party-tea of trifles, meringues, and fruit, Christmas cake. Then Santa Claus, red robes and white whiskers flowing, took to each child’s bed a pound of sweets ( from New Zealand ) a toothbrush ( presented by Johnson & Johnson Ltd ) and a wrapped parcel.
The Maharajah of Rajpipla had sent a cheque, and a parcel of cosmetics – which gave pleasure to many girl patients.
If you have any information pictures or stories about Heatherwood we would love to add them to these pages.
Heatherwood History
Secretary
P.J. Davidson-Smith
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