three counties column
Each month Richard Knight will feature an item from Three Counties
Hospital from his collection of history and memorabilia. This month we have:
Christmas
at TCH
Right from the asylum opening in 1860 Christmas and New year at the
hospital was a big affair with party’s and celebrations starting early in
December and ending with the Staff new years eve ball in early January.
In 1970 Christmas and new year events started on the 13th
December and ran right the way through until the 7th January 1971,
Celebrations started on the 13th with a united carol concert featuring
the Hospital choir, five days later the Stotfold Salvation army band joined
patients and staff for carol singing in the recreation hall. On the 20th
December at 3.30 pm there was more carol singing in the main building
wards with the Letchworth Baptist church carol singers
Similar events continued up until 23rd December which was patient
visiting day, visitors were allowed between 2 and 4.30 then it was bingo
and dancing for the patients
Christmas Eve saw the Darby and Joan club starting at 2.30 in the
sports centre and the hospital choir sang carols in the A&B corridor
starting at ward B1 at 6.45
Christmas day was a very busy day indeed, starting at 8.30 with holy
communion, 10.30 was united morning service,
There was no afternoon service on Christmas day,
From 2 till 4.30 was interward visiting.. Christmas
dinner was a lavish affair with the finest meal served
to patients and staff alike.
After visiting hours on Boxing day the patients
had their Christmas dance with a live band and
refreshments.
Between the 27th and 31st December patients
saw more dancing (with prizes) patient visiting and
bingo .
New years Eve was the night of the big patient
ball, Patients were treated to music, dancing with
prizes and wonderful food and refreshments
In 1971 The New Year staff ball was an amazing
event,, tickets for this ball were always like gold
dust, not everyone could go but the lucky ones
were treated to great entertainment and the finest
food prepared fresh at the hospital which included
chicken beef and mushroom voil au vonts..Sea food
platters, spiced chicken and prawns,Carb, Liver pate,
Pate de gascoigne, Danish open sandwiches, petite bridge rolls, salami
cream cheese and pineapple, fresh fruit salad and cream, cheeses and
reception pastries, all this and more was laid out on Two buffet tables
with pure white linen table clothes,solid silver wear, fresh flowers and
candelabras. Staff had to wear black and white. After the party, carriages
were laid on at midnight to take the staff home
The children of the staff who lived in houses in the hospital grounds
were not forgotten at Christmas time, plenty of entertainment and panto’s
were laid on and a visit from Father Christmas himself always bought
extra excitement to this magical time of year! (see photo above circa
1965/66)
We leave the last words to Jean Wheeler, Her Father
was a young Nurse administrator and she remembers
the wonderful times at Christmas.
“All those nurses put on a fabulous party for us
kids and I can recall the memories now – not the
specifics of the events but the feeling of pleasure and
joy of being made to feel special Thank you to all the
nurses who put in the extra time during the panto/party
season to make my Christmas so special and to give
me the precious memories I now hold.”
Mary Di Marco sent me this wonderful photograph.
Jean Wheeler is on the front row of the chairs aged
4 wearing a tartan pinafore dress on the far left of
the photo.
Wishing all On The Button readers a very Happy
Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year.
For more Three Counties Asylum information
please visit: www.threecountiesasylum.co.uk.
Left: Katherine Menzies (daughter of Dr Edward Menzies)
in the snow by the main entrance. Christmas time 1940
Aerial Photo for Christmas?
Do you know someone who would like a
framed aerial photo from our library?
We have a library of Aerial photos taken in May and June 2015 of Arlesey,
Fairfield and Stotfold. All can be enlarged to approximately A2 size.
To view the gallery of images go to:
www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk/AerialImages.html
Sizes and prices:
A2 (approx 60x40cm) Framed £50.00 Unframed £40.00
A3 (approx 40x30cm) Framed £40.00 Unframed £30.00
A4 (approx 30x20cm) Framed £30.00 Unframed £20.00
Please contact Steve on 01462 834265
or email: [email protected]
16 |
December 2015
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on the button, 32 Stotfold Road, Arlesey. Bedfordshire. SG15 6XT www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk