Savernake Hospital

As well as Savernake there was the Children’s Hospital up on the common and the Mayor went up to the hospital (Savernake) on Christmas morning. There was usually a little service and then you would go round all the wards and greet all the patients because Savernake was a fully working little cottage hospital in those days. Then the doctors were all there and they all used to dress up and I have seen Dr Nick in a wig, dressed up as a fairy I think, so there was great fun and games and happiness in the hospital. And then the Doctors carved the turkey and served all the patients, and after that I went up to the Children’s Hospital and went all round the wards up there and then at one time later when Coombe End was opened as a residential home we would visit there as well. So anybody in hospital was greeted by the Mayor on Christmas day. I don’t think it happens now.