Shotley Bridge, Composite c.1960

Photo ref: S290028

My parents were from Northumberland; my father from Newcastle and my mother from Slayley. They moved to London during the 30s to seek work. They married in 1939 and my sister was born that November. By September my mother was pregnant again, but as my father was working in a reserved industry, he sent my mother and sister north to escape the Blitz. They went to stay with mother's brother William Lambert, who lived ...see more

I had a Patent Ductus Arteriosclerosis in 1957 when I was 5 operated on by Mr Mason at Shotley Bridge Hospital. I even started school in hospital. I am still here and am forever thankful for everything. I have 2 sons and 1 daughter but sadly lost my husband in 2016. I always remember my time at Shotley Bridge and Mr George Mason and will always be grateful for my life after. Carol Wilkinson aged 67

In 1940 aged fourteen I was put on a hospital-train from Norwich to Shotley Bridge Hospital.it was mainly full of wounded soldiers from the Dunkirk retreat. No reason was ever given for my being sent to Shotley. The School,StMarys,were never informed. I should explain that I was in a Norfolk hospital following an operation for osteomyelitis of the femur. We were in single storey huts on the side of a hill ...see more

Following several years as an outpatient at Newcastle General hospital, I was admitted to Shotley Bridge hospital in October 1959 where I had open heart surgery on 27 October to repair two holes in my heart. Circulation was arrested for a total of just over 10 minutes and my body temperature was reduced to 30°C during the operation. I was 10 years old at the time. The ward I was in was one ...see more