Highwood Hospital, Brentwood

A Memory of Brentwood.

My father (Peter Winslow) was in charge of salaries and wages for the Brentwood District group of hospitals in the early 60s and he was based at Highwood Hospital. His offices were at one time in the Limes, the building in the photo to the right of the Admin Block. The Admin Block has the water tower. Previously Dad's office was in Poplars, c1962. After my parents separated in 68/69 my father lived at Highwood for a short period, in staff accommodation in Little Highwood Hospital to the west of the main site. In those days Highwood had primarily geriatric patients and Little Highwood, young people with learning difficulties. My sister, brother and I would stay with Dad every other weekend and I remember clearly exploring the hospital grounds in the small electric car he'd built for us. Also playing badminton in the main hall of the hospital - Originally the junior school building. Dad belonged to both the hospital's badminton and cricket teams. In 1974 my dad transferred to Witham when Essex Area Health Authority was formed.

Contact Contributor

Added 10 September 2023

#759995

Comments & Feedback

Oh Happy days at Brentwood Swimming Pool 1960-1966. Damn Council should never have sold it. It took them until 1980s to provide a decent replacement but that was indoors and never the atmosphere as before. I had moved in 1958 from Dagenham with my parents Henry and Ruby Sheppard. Henry had his own Wall tiling business behind the High St (now flats) He died in 1961 from war injuries to his kidneys.I worked at the Brentwood Gazette as a trainee journalist. The Brentwood Review were our competitors. The Dunn family were the owners just off St Thomas Road.I called at Arnold Bennet undertakers and Lindrum Studios every Monday delivering free papers and picking up wedding photos and details of the deceased. Stuart Scott was editor and Derek Hales on Sports. Brian Motley (now 90+) was chief reporter. Other reporters were Sean Robinson, Peter Hoyle.I supervised the selection of Miss Brentwood at Ballroom in Ongar Road.
Before it was stopped I was on the publicity side for the Brentwood Carnival. I once wrote a story about the idea the Road Safety Committee had for fluorescent walking sticks for the elderly, but it fell through as a bright spark realised most elderly stayed at home at night! My schooldays consisted of Christchurch Primary at Warley leading to Doddinghurst Rd, which became Brentwood Secondary and then Hedley Walter School, he was a school Governor. I enjoyed the sports side playing Rugby (later for Brentwood) and winning sprints and discus in the District Sports 1962-63.I lived quite happily in Woodman Rd and Albert Street and wonder if anyone remember those days??

By daveoldschool2009 on Sat Mar 9th 2024, at 11:22 am

Contact User

Report