IN THEIR traditional manner, matrons and staff of Cirencester hospitals endeavoured to give the patients as happy a Christmas as possible away from home and they devoted their time and energies wholeheartedly to this end the result being a very happy Christmas both for patients and for staff.
The usual Christmas fare was in abundance at all the hospitals with turkey or goose and Christmas pudding for each patient on Christmas Day.
The effective decorations organised by members of the staff at each of the hospitals set off the festive celebrations.
Among the first Christmas visitors to the Memorial Hospital were members of the Cirencester Parish Church Choir who on December 17 sang carols in the wards. Carols were sung again on Christmas Eve by members of the nursing staff in procession round the wards. Miss B Hamper was the accompanist.
On Christmas Day the Cirencester Silver Band made their customary visit and gave a concert of Christmas music. At the patients’ dinner the necessary ‘operations’ on the turkey were carried out by Dr J H Grove-White. During the afternoon Father Christmas visited the hospital and distributed presents to each member of staff and the patients from the beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Patients had their visitors to tea both on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
On Boxing Day the matron, Miss A M Boxall, held an ‘at home’ party in the out-patients’ department.
The old folks of Watermoor Hospital (about 125 patients) were not forgotten either and in common with patients in the other hospitals they were given a right royal Christmas. Christmas day was heralded by carols sung by members of Cirencester Toc H and Watermoor Church Choir and Cirencester Silver Band played carols. Turkey and goose for Christmas dinner was provided by the Welfare Fund.
On Christmas evening the patients enjoyed a concert given by the following artists: Mrs N Weaver, Mr C Feldwick, Mr H Wigley, David Wigley, Bert Coombes, Miss Betty Cox and Mr W Ashworth. Father Christmas also remembered the old folks much to their delight.
Members of the Cirencester Rotary Club tooka number of the patients to see the meet of the VWH Hounds on Boxing Day.
Appropriately enough a baby was born on Christmas Day - a girl, to Mrs E J Curtis of Fairford.
December 30, 1950
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