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Scouting at Stannington

Three Scouts practising map reading on a hospital veranda (ref: NRO 10510/2/2)
Three Scouts practising map reading on a hospital veranda (ref: NRO 10510/2/2)

Children were kept occupied in several ways during their long stays at Stannington, perhaps one of the more unexpected was by being able to join the hospital’s own Scout and Guide groups.

A patient’s stay at the Sanatorium (later Children’s Hospital) normally lasted for several months and often extended into years. Keeping children occupied during this time was an important consideration for the institution’s staff. Outside of attending the on-site school which all children did as soon as their recovery from illness allowed there were several ways the hospital staff kept children busy and entertained during their stays.

To provide children’s evening and weekend activities the sanatorium staff included a Welfare and Recreation Officer. At the start of the 1950s this role was held by Mr Holmes and it was his responsibility to organise and manage activities for the children. In this role he was a member of the Hospital House Committee which met to discuss and oversee the day to day running of the hospital. For each meeting he submitted a report of the various activities he’s arranged in the previous month. In his monthly report for the meeting of August 1950 he noted that:

“I have attended two meetings in conjunction with forming a Scout and Cub section at the Sanatorium. I think this is a helpful scheme for the boys, as some of them are already members of the Boy Scout Movement and if we form a group at the Sanatorium patients leaving would be transferred to Scout Clubs in their own district. …

…I also propose to form a Girl Guide Section.” (HOSP/STAN/1/2/5)

Report on Ralph Readers visit to Stannington in the Morpeth Herald, 29th January 1952
Report on Ralph Reader’s visit to Stannington in the Morpeth Herald, 29th January 1952

By the end of September 1950 four sections had been established; Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies. In January 1952 Ralph Reader, actor, theatre producer and originator of the Scout Gang Show visited to hand the Scouts and cubs their first colours. On this occasion the membership, which totalled 40, including 22 Scouts, assembled on the veranda to receive the colours. Several troop members confined to bed were wheeled out onto the veranda to also be involved in proceedings.

Soon after this a Scout and Guide Group Committee was formed to oversee all 4 sections. At their meeting held on the 30th April 1952 Mr Holmes and Mrs Driver, the Scout and Guide leaders, reported on activities which had taken place:

“Two lessons on woodcraft and tracking and 2 scouts were to take their 2nd class badge. Mrs Driver reported that she now had 22 guides… … an expatient had been presented with the Badge of Fortitude at the Sanderson Orthopaedic Hospital and it was agreed that the Secretary write a letter of congratulations.”

 “Arrangements were being made to hold the competition for the Mitford Cup at the sanatorium and it was suggested that the committee might act as host.” (HOSP-STAN 1/2/14)

The Scout Troops posing for a photograph on the steps of a hospital veranda (NRO 10510/3/15)
The Scout Troops posing for a photograph on the steps of a hospital veranda (NRO 10510/3/15)

When it was held the Hospital Scout troop went on to win the Mitford Cup for their skill in knot making, knowledge of scouting law and oral relay skills. The range of activities undertaken by the Scouts carried on and even expanded to include Scout camps held in the grounds of the hospital as long as “Mr Holmes was present the whole time and returned the children to the ward each morning” (HOSP/STAN/1/2/14 9th July 1952).

Later that year Mr Holmes resigned as Welfare and Recreation Officer. In time he was replaced in this role by Mr Pullen and Douglas Johnstone took over as Scout Master. Douglas Johnstone, after his time with the Scouts, would go on to become to the General Secretary of the PCHA, later Children North East, the organisation which half a century earlier had originally built the sanatorium.

Activities carried on including a salvage drive, where used paper, bottles and jars were collected to sell and raise money, but it was decided not to collect bones due to the possibility of encouraging rats! This happened in conjunction with the normal activities of learning skills and gaining badges. In 1952 some scouts were noted in the Welfare and Recreation Officers report as being ready to sit tests for Semaphore and First Aid Badges and one guide had recently taken her Music Lover’s badge and was ready to take her Needlewoman’s Badge test.

Later the Scouts were allowed away from the hospital on troop outings. These included trips to places such as Northumberland National Park and the beaches of Craster, Alnmouth and Boulmer. Pictured below are 6 of the scouts whilst on an outing to Alnmouth in 1961.

nro-10510-3_04_blog
Six members of the hospital Scout Troop on a trip to the coast near Alnmouth. (ref: NRO 10510/3/4)

The groups also carried out fundraising activities in addition to their salvage drive, hosting dances and other events. With the money they raised they contributed £40 to the purchase of 5 TVs by the committee which was set up to celebrate the queen’s coronation in 1953. The Girl Guides also contributed to the fundraising efforts which included having a stall at the 1952 sanatorium garden party and raising £22 towards the installation of radio throughout the hospital.

The short history of the Scout Troop at Stannington ended in the autumn of 1962 when Douglas Johnstone, the Scout Master, disbanded the troop. However we know the Guide and Brownie sections continued after this as in the spring of 1964 the hospital recreation hall was refurbished and a timetable drawn up for its use; this included a slot for the Girl Guides on a Monday night between 5pm and 7pm and a slot for the Brownies at the same time on Tuesday nights. Though the scouts only had a relatively short history the troop was just one of many ways we’ve came across in the patient files and other records in which children were kept occupied and entertained during their stays. You can read more about this in an earlier blog post here.

This Week In World War One, 19th March 1915

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

19th March 1915

Berwick Soldier’s Lucky Escape

Writing from the front to his sister in Berwick on March 7, Private William Storey, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, says:

The platoon to which I was attached was holding a small detached trench in a field away from the remainder of the company. We had been in the trench 24 hours, and we only had three bottles of water between about 30 men, so when night came the officer in charge sent six of us out for some water. We had to cross an open field, go through a small wood, and across another open field before we could reach the company, at the end of whose trench ran a small brook.

We got the water all right, but as we got back near the wood again the Germans started sending star-shells up, so we had to lie down. When we thought they had finished we got up again, and just as I got on my feet I got hit on the inside of my right thigh. The bullet hit a button on my great coat. It knocked the top off the button, but I send you the other half as a curio. If it had not hit the button it would have hit me in the stomach, so I was very lucky.

Advert for Campbell & Sons Tailors
Advert for Campbell & Sons Tailors, The Berwick Advertiser 19th March 1915

 

Military Recreation Rooms Opened in Berwick

Opening Ceremony Performed by The Sheriff

 

Large numbers of soldiers, representative of the different regiments stationed in the town; together with a good number of the general public, assembled to witness the opening ceremony of the new Recreation Rooms for the Military in Hide Hill, in the premises recently occupied by Messrs Walter Wilson, Ltd, on Monday night.

The spacious rooms of the building have been excellently fitted out and will prove of inestimable use to the troops stationed here. The front room on the ground floor has been partitioned off into two departments, and is to be used as a writing room. Tables are plentifully scattered around the rooms, and all facilities for writing are provided. A letter box has been erected where letters, etc. can be posted, and this will be cleared at suitable hours.

At the rear is another large hall, which is to be used as a reading and smoking room. This will also be used as a concert hall, and here a piano has been installed. The wants of the inner man are provided on the first floor upstairs, where an excellent refreshment bar has been installed. The games room is found in the third storey, and judging by the way it was patronised on the opening night, it will be well made use of.

Shop, Hide Hill
14 Hide Hill, seen here as Hardy & Co in 1959 , was converted into Military Recreation Rooms in 1915. Ref: BRO 1250/117

THANKS TO THE OWNER

The opening ceremony was held in the Concert Hall, which was filled to overflowing. The Mayor (Mr Thomas Wilson) presided, and he was supported by the Sheriff (Mr E. W. Stiles) and Colonel Peterkin, 10th Royal Scots. Other officers of the 10th Royal Scots present were:- Major Dudgeon, Captain Forbes, Captain Laing, Lieutenant Wolfe, Lieutenant McLeod, and Sergeant-Major Dawes.

The proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem.

The Mayor-Before asking the Sheriff to formally open this club room, I wish to publicly acknowledge our debt of gratitude to the owner of these buildings, who has given them at very small rental, and has made it possible for us to have such a splendid place with the accommodation there is. (Applause). Unfortunately, through illness, he is unable to be present, but I I am sure we all trust he will be restored to health and strength to come here and see what has been done through his kindness, not only to you but to the committee in making it possible to give you this accommodation. I have much pleasure in calling upon the Sheriff to open the club rooms. (Applause).

THE OPENING CEREMONY

The Sheriff said-Mr Mayor, Colonel Peterkin and gentlemen, may I in the first place, on creation of the Committee responsible for the creation of this recreation resort, offer to every member of His Majesty’s Forces a most hearty welcome on their first visit to these premises. (Loud applause). So long as you are in our midst the Committee earnestly hope you will take every advantage possible of these rooms. It is intended to keep the rooms open every evening. Including Sunday, from 6 o’clock to 9.45. The Ladies Committee has kindly arranged to entirely take charge of the refreshment department, and they will carry out their duties every evening from eight o’clock until closing time, and there you can obtain refreshments for a very reasonable charge. I think you will prefer to pay something for it and it has been communicated that you would. We hope therefore, that you will make some little acknowledgement towards the expenses of maintaining the establishment. (Applause). I hope you will be able to make good use of these premises which the Committee have at considerable difficulty put into the excellent condition as we see them now, and I hope before you leave the town they will have been of material help to you in you hours of leisure. It is intended to hold concerts occasionally, and I trust the different regiments in the town will take one night each to be responsible for a concert, and the town’s people will also do their best to provide a concert in their turn. (Applause). I have much pleasure in declaring these premises open and support the debt of gratitude we owe to the donors of the premises. (Applause).

14 HIde Hill, Berwick
The building on Hide Hill which was adapted for use as Military Recreation Rooms in 1915. Prior to that the building was occupied by Walter Wilson Ltd. © Copyright N Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Colonel Peterkin, in making a few remarks, said;-Mr Mayor, Mr Sheriff and gentlemen-I do not think it is easy for me to properly and adequately express the debt of gratitude the whole of the regiment feel they owe to the people of Berwick….

….All this kindness, I am afraid, that we are having here is very bad training for the trenches. (Laughter). However, it is best to wait until trouble comes before meeting half way, and I do not think we can acknowledge these kindnesses better than making use of these spacious rooms. (Applause). I ask you to give a hearty vote of thanks to the Committee and to the Mayor and Sheriff who are the moving factors in this movement. (Applause).

A smoking concert was afterwards held, when an excellent programme was submitted. In the course of the evening the soldiers were the guests of the Ladies Committee, and refreshments were provided free.