Memories of Alton

Hospital Memories

I was diagnosed with Scoliosis and spent 3 weeks on the children's ward. I met lots of friends and the nursing staff were great. When we heard it was to close down my family and I went to fund-raises but unfortunately it still closed. My husband and I recently went to Alton and when we got to the area where the hospital was, all I found were houses. I have very fond memories of the hospital.

LMT

My mother was the Health Visitor for Alton from 1949 until 1972 and I had many memories of Lord Mayor Treloars, both in and out, since I was a patient in April 1955. We also knew the doctors, Evans, and I think Caine was the accountant for the hospital. The grounds were very beautiful and it had that huge verandah in the front to which the beds from the wards could be rolled.
I also remember the huge traffic jams through Alton at Bank Holidays.
Fot those who have not been back from the 1950s, you haven't missed much. I went back maybe 10 years ago and Treloars is gone, Eggars is now in a new, very ugly building. In fact the whole place has really gone downhill in the town although the outskirts are still lovely, except that the Old Odiham Road has been trashed with new housing.

Memories

I was in hospital from January 1963 for 6 months to have my right leg stretched, it didn't totally work, but it was in 1966/1967 when I had to have several operations for the other leg. Although it was my first time away from home everyone seemed to help each other. The snow drifts didn't bother anyone much, the Solent had ice floating in it. Does anyone remember Pammy, Emily and Cathy? They were also patients in ward 7. I remember Mrs Horsforth, she was a cleaner who liked Frank Ifield. Miss Coates worked there too, and Fred the porter.

Friends Reunited

I was in hospital for two and a half years, I made lots of friends there. There were three girls I remember, one was Pat Davis, she had TB just like me, Susan Burgess was another and Evonne la Page was the other one. If anyone knows anything about them I would love to know. My surname was Braybrook  and like I said I was in hospital around 1955-1956, not quite sure of the exact date.

Block 5 lads

I was put in Treloars as a last attempt to cure my Lupus Vulgaris, and have many happy memories of the staff and the lads in with me, alas the only names I can recall are John Tissington and David Doe. Woud love to hear from anyone remembering me, regards, Ernie.

Very Fond Memories of LMTOH Ward 5

I was in St Giles Hospital, Camberwell, and was transferred to Lord Mayor Treloars Orphopaedic Hospital, Alton because the surgeon was a good friend of the main Consultant Surgeon at Alton who was, I think Mr Catterell. Apparently my problem was very difficult to diagnose, and it was only when I was operated on that the full extent of damage was evident. I had a badly diseased spine, where two of the vertebrae were being eaten away by Osteomyelitis. The recovery period was extremely painful, and I remember having a full body cast made, which was cut into top and bottom halves.
During my stay in 1959 the summer was very hot and sunny, and we were pushed out onto the verandah area, in our beds and I remember getting very tanned.
The staff were all really lovely people who were always friendly and smiling.
As, at that time it was a training hospital for young nurses, and me being only 16 years old, I was in my element!
I can remember making soft fluffy toys, etc during occupational therapy classes, and at a later stage learning to walk again at physiotherapy.
Some names I remember are Des Pink, (ward orderly), Staff Nurse Dibnah, Nurse Harmes, Nurse Queripel.
I was saddened to read that the hospital was demolished and it now a housing estate, but of course my happy memories will stay with me for ever!
My stay was from May-October 1959.

Good times & bad

I was in the hospital for two & a half years. I was in a plaster case with straps all the way from top to bottom. I was on my back through the night & in the mornings the nurses would turn me so I could see the other children. I made lots of friends while I was there & all the nursing staff & doctors were great. The best time was weekends when my mum, dad & my brother came to see me. It was a long way for them to come because they lived in Fovant near Salisbury, Wiltshire. They came on a Saturday & stayed in bed & breakfast then came & spent the whole of Sunday with me. They never missed coming up. Tuesday was a good day as well because my auntie who lived in Nottingham sent me a parcel. It always had a toy & a book & sweets.  We had school lessons for about two hours in the mornings & I think it was about an hour in the aftrnoons. On sunny days we had lessons out on the verandah. The food was always good. We had ice cream on Sundays, I'm not sure if there was a sister Owne there or if it was another hospital I was in because from Alton I went to Hayling Island for 6 months. Christmas was fun because the ward was decorated & there was a big tree with lots of fairy lights & the nurses would sing carols & they carried lanterns, it was magic.

sweet memories

i was in the hospital as a patient for nearly two years, as a six year old boy, i had quite a good time considering i was far from home(portsmouth),the nursing staff were brillient,how they put up with us boys god knows,our schooling was good fun as well,i will always remember nurse johns bless her, she had so much time for everyone,and could draw great pictures on the blackboard,i had weights hanging from my leg for most of the time, to stretch my leg, it worked, thanks to the time and help from all the staff,sunday dinner was magic.ice cream and chocolate yummy,i recall one xmas there was a massive snow storm, we were told no one could get though for visits,my mum and dad did,i had so many toys my parents dished them all out to the other lads whose parents couldent make it thy were so chuffed,at night the nurses all came round singing carols for us all ,such sweet memories of a wonderful hospital bless them all.

Nina Dickey

Hi My name is Nina.
I was in the Treloar Hospital during the end of world war two.  I went in when I was 10 and came out on March 30th 1945.  I remember being on the terrace while the blitz was on, what else could they do, most of us were in bed.  The doctors and nurses were very good to me.  I had club feet and peaus cavis (hope this is spelled right).  I came out when I was 11yrs old.  At the time I lived in Bordon, Hampshire in England.  Now I am living in Canada.  I was 15yrs old when I came to Canada to be with my Mother who married a Canadian soldier in Canada.  My Mother left England in 1947 as a war bride to come to Canada.  I remember having my shoes made in the hospital at the gate entrance and going from Bordon to Alton for new shoes for a few years after.  I have never heard of anyone from this hospital, but I saw many unhappy things due to the blitz in England during the war.
From Nina.  Thank you for letting me tell my story.  I am now 73yrs old and still have a lot of family in England, and some in Australia.  I have told many people about Treloars Hospital and how good they were to me.  The only thing is that even today I have a bad time to find shoes that are comfortable ha, ha.  Why I was living in England with my 3 sisters in Bordon Camp, was because my father was in the army for 32 yrs. and that is why we lived in Bordon Army camp.  I still remember the hospital, at the time it seems so large to me. Apparently now it is a hospital for the very ill children, so I heard.  God Bless you all.    from Nina.  

Treloar Hospital

I was a patient in this hospital in 1955 when I was ten years old. There were very caring nurses and also a hospital school which helped me immensely during my stay of about two months. At that time I believe it was named The Lord Mayor Treloar hospital for Crippled Children. Not very "P C" by 21st century standards of description!  

Anyway, the nurses were truly excellent and they needed to be as so many of us were long stay patients and in the 1950's the visiting hours were extremely limited so young children missed their families. In fine weather our beds were wheeled out on to a terrace and I can remember having some arithmetic lessons there. I recovered fully from surgery to both of my feet and went home with plaster casts and eventually was able to do everything I wanted - cycling, cross-country running and much much later morris dancing!