The Stannington Sanatorium project has been continuing at a good pace. Our digitisation and redaction of the patient files is progressing quickly, and we have now completed repackaging them. Our project assistant is now focusing on some of the photographs we have in the collection, and is listing a 1920s photograph album we hope to be able to feature soon. In the meantime, still thinking of photographs, we thought we would share some from another set from our collection, featuring 1920s Stannington Sanatorium.
May Brown was a nurse at Stannington in the late 1920s, and left after her marriage in 1929. Her family have donated these photographs to the Northumberland Archives, which show a little of Stannington life in the 1920s.
The first, NRO 11036/1, shows two patients and some of the nurses at Stannington on the veranda, and is labelled as ‘May 1927’.
This photograph, NRO 11036/3, labelled Bessie J. Young, shows a nurse with a patient on the veranda.
NRO 11036/4 is labelled ‘This is our baby on my ward’. It is likely the ‘baby’ was the youngest patient on the ward, or perhaps a favourite patient of May’s.
Photograph NRO 11036/5 shows the Nurses photographed together. The matron in the centre of the picture is Miss Campbell, and May Brown is fourth from the left.
NRO 11036/6 shows a larger group of the Sisters and Nurses together. This time May is in the middle of the picture, 6th from the left in the back row.
NRO 11036/7 shows staff and patients gathered outside for a fun day. As it is labelled ‘August 1927’ it could be a sports day or a summer outing.
This last photograph, NRO 11036/9, shows the Nurses’ home at Stannington, where May would have lived during her time there. You can find out more about the Nurses’ home through our Online Exhibition tour by clicking on the Nurses’ home.
We hope to be able to bring you more photographs in the future, however if you would like to see more in the meantime have a look on our Voices of Stannington Sanatorium Flickr set.
It was no small honour that was shown to Berwick in London on March 29th. At Caxton Hall, Westminster the annual meeting of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was held, and a very large and distinguished company met to hear the yearly report of work done by the Lifeboats, and also to grant awards to Coxswains who had specially done meritorious service.
Image 8 – Lifeboat – RNLB Matthew Simpson – Left to Right – Not known, Not known, Not known, John Wood, Knot known, Jack Lough, George Lough, Bartholomew Lough, Thomas Martin (possible), Not known, Not Known, Alex Patterson Lough.
On the platform were the Right Hon. The Earl of Plymouth, P.C., C.B.,- Chairman; the Right hon. The Earl Waldergrave, P.C. the Right Hon. the Lord Sydenham, G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E.,; the Rev. Hugh B. Chapman, chaplain to the Savoy, and Lt. Col. Fraser, V.D., R.A.M.C. (T.)
After the report had been read and adopted, Coxwain James Jamieson of the Berwick Lifeboat, and Lt. Col. Fraser were asked to stand while the record of their service was read to the meeting. This was done and great applause followed, which was renewed when Jamieson faced the meeting wearing his medals. He thanked the Chairman and those present in a few well-chosen words. Lieut. Col. Fraser also received an ovation when he appeared before the chairman, and was most cordially congratulated.
BAD CASE OF CRUELTY TO A HORSE
Berwick Petty Sessions
Joseph L. Ayton, Berwick, grocer, was charged with allowing a horse to be wrought on the 18th March, while suffering from sores on the back, Robert Lyons, Berwick, carter, a boy, was also charged with cruelly working the horse at Tweedmouth. Inspector Robinson of the S.P.C.A. prosecuted.
J Ayton grocer’s shop in Walkergate Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Courtesy of Berwick Record Office. BRO 1944-1-1408-2.
Sergt. McRobb said on the Saturday mentioned he was on duty with Sergeant Wilson. He saw that there was something wrong with the horse, and on examining its back he found a very bad wound which went into the back bone. The saddle was resting on the wound. It was the worst case he had ever seen. He asked the driver if he saw the wound, when he yoked the horse, and he replied that the employer (Joseph L. Ayton) put on the harness. No one could have yoked the horse without seeing the wound.
Sergt. Wilson said that it was a very bad case. There were two wounds, one of them as large as a 5s piece, which went to the bone.
Inspector Robinson said that he examined the animal. It was a black gelding. There were two very bad wounds, one on each side of the back. They were deep wounds and full of matter, inflamed and tender to the touch, and the animal must have suffered great pain. Ayton, the employer, admitted it had two sores, and that he was looking out for a place to send it to.
Joseph L. Ayton, owner of the horse, said he knew there were two sores on the animal’s back and that he was looking for a place to send it to. The horse had been treated by a vet., who gave some ointment to put on the sores, and said it would soon be all right.
Cross-examined – The horse went round the district. He knew that the animal had a bad back, and that it was not in the best condition.
The Bench bound over Lyons to be of good behaviour for the next six months. Ayton was fined £3.
BERWICK TRIBUNALS
BAKER’S CLAIM
John M. Dudgeon, baker, appeared on the ground that he was a partner of a firm of contractors to the army and navy, and that he was under obligation to work every day in the week to execute these.
The British Army on the Home Front, 1914 – 1918. A baker in a field bakery. Author Nicholls, Horace (Photographer)
In answer to Mr Hogarth, the appellant said if his firm had no Government contracts he would be quite prepared to go. He was not only in a certified occupation, but he was personally responsible for turning out 400 loaves daily to the army alone.
It was agreed to grant exemption so long as the appellant remained in his present employment.
MOTOR DRIVERS CASE
Andrew Hogg (27), 18 Ness Street, was claimed by the British Petroleum Company on the ground that his services were indispensable to the Company.
In answer to questions it appeared that the Company supplied contracts to the army, and that a condition was that the oil must be delivered to them. Although badges and other stars had been issued to certain workmen doing this kind of work the Company’s men had somehow been always missed out. The appellant was required for the working of the three depots of the company at Berwick, Burnmouth, and Eyemouth.
It was agreed that the appellant should be asked to serve.
A CONVENIENT CALLING
John Purves (39), Mordington, foreman market gardner, was claimed by his employer, Andrew Ironside, on the ground that his services were indispensable.
In answer to Mr Hogarth it was stated by Mr Ironside that Purves had been in his employment some five weeks.
Mr Hogarth – It is suggested that this man has come to you for shelter, by getting into reversed occupation.
Mr Ironside – I don’t think that is the case. I would not have taken him if I could have got another, and I applied to the Labour Exchange both for men and women
The Chairman said that the decision of the Tribunal was that they saw no reason why the appellant should not be called upon to serve.
Berwick Advertiser, 24 March 1916 Ralph Dodds & Son Advert
DEATH OF EX-SUPERINTENDENT
JOHN GARDEN, BERWICK
It is with deep feelings of regret that we record the death of Ex-superintendent John Garden, Berwick, the sad event having taken place at his house in Scots Place, in the early part of Monday afternoon. For some considerable time the deceased gentleman has been far from his usual health, and a more acute stage having been reached within the past few weeks, he became slowly weaker, and passed peacefully away. Mr Garden was a prominent figure at one time in the town, his duties of Chief Constable keeping him more or less in the public eye. In later years, after retiring from this office, he devoted much of his leisure to the services of the community, by giving of his best to the deliberations and exacting Committee Work of the Board of Guardians. The office of Chief Constable is one not altogether calculated to make a man at all popular, but in the person of the late gentleman there was one who could, be charitable in his views upon men, merciful when such might perchance help an erring brother, and stern when following up a clue to the detection of serious crime. These traits of character won for him the respect and esteem of all, and he retired from his official position, it may be truly said, without an enemy in the town or district, and accepted as a trusted friend by all classes. The sympathy of all goes out to the family in this their sore bereavement.
Golden Wedding. – Mr and Mrs Robert Donaldson, of the Miners’ Homes, Broomhill, celebrated their golden wedding on Monday last. The worthy old couple were married at Belford on the 13th March, 1866. The husband belonged to North Sunderland, and his wife, then Isabella Younger, to Shawdon Woodhouse. Mr Donaldson was afterwards employed as a miner till about twenty years ago, when his health failed, and he and his wife became residents of the Miners’ Homes at Broomhill. They had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom four sons and four daughters are living. The old people were warmly congratulated upon the attainment of their golden wedding, and a nice little present will be made to them in honour of the event. Mr and Mrs Donaldson have 22 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Two of his sons are serving with the colours, and the others reside at Radcliffe and Amble respectively. There are surviving four generations on the female side, and three generations on the male side.
LOCAL NEWS
After 30 Years’ Service – The death occurred at his house, 4 Deputy Row, Scremerston, on Tuesday, of Mr Henry Patterson, colliery weigh-man, for thirty years in the employ of the Scremerston Coal Company. Mr Patterson has been in failing health for some time, and although death came rather suddenly in the end the melancholy event was not unlooked for.
BRO 0515-211 (SCREMERSTON) (c) Berwick Record Office
The deceased was at one time a prominent member of Berwick Parish Church Choir, and since going to reside at Scremerson, he has been actively associated with the church there, being a sidesman and later being appointed peoples warden. He was associated with the old volunteer movement in the Borough, and was also a member of the now defunct Tweedside Rowing Club. He was also a member of the local lodge of Oddfellows.
