Description
Object description
British civilian physiotherapist and occupational therapist trained at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, GB, 1934-1938; orthopaedic physiotherapist at Princess Margaret Rose Hospital for Crippled Children, Edinburgh and with Fracture Clinic Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, GB, 1939-1941; physiotherapist at Hillingdon County Hospital, Hillingdon and Miners Fitness Centre, Gleneagles in GB, 1942-1943; nursing sister with After-Care School Clinics for Margaret Rose Hospital for Crippled Children, Edinburgh, GB, 1943-1944; civilian officer served with 125 and 130 Indian Base General Hospitals in India, 1944-1946; served with British Military Hospitals in Kabete, Kenya and Fayed, Egypt, 1949-1952; civilian physiotherapist in Government Hospital, Accra, Gold Coast, 1954-1961
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Edinburgh, 1915-1934: family circumstances; question of recruitment of men during First World War; father's military service and hospitalisation, 1916-1919; Armistice celebrations, 11/11/1918; education; background to decision to study massage and medical gymnastics and not to qualify as doctor, 1933; Recollections of studying as orthopaedic nurse and physiotherapist at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, 1934-1938: background to establishment and purpose of hospital; hut accommodation; nursing duties with minimal training on open air wards; immobilisation and restricted movement of patients; method of turning patients in bed; responsibility to prevent bed sores.
REEL 2 Continues: identification and treatment of plaster sores; development of use of plaster of paris during Second World War; bed pans; treating children with various bone disorders; daily routine as junior probationary nurse; evening medical lectures; rounds of doctors and visiting surgeons; uniform; hot water bottles and extra blankets used on open wards in winter; extra clothing worn by nurses; night duty; importance of patient comfort in style of making beds; duties assisting surgeon in plaster room including holding patient in correct position and use of leg irons and splints; special indoor ward; duties in operating theatre including scrubbing up process for surgeon, role of theatre sister , prior cleaning of theatre and instruments.
REEL 3 Continues: increased freedom on change of status to physiotherapy students, 1937; extensive anatomy training in muscles, bones and joints, textbooks; visits to dissection rooms; ;;; training in use of medical gymnastics to improve physique; massage techniques and subsequent decline in recognition; pathology lecture; recreations; taking examination in Chartered Society of Massage and Medical Gymnastics in London, 11/1938; period working on wards, 1/1939-5/1939; prior period on detachment studying electricity and light electrotherapy at Guys Hospital; qualification, 11/1938; opinion of Dame Agnes Hunt. Recollections of period as orthopaedic physiotherapist running out clinics in Roxburghshire for Princess Margaret Rose Hospital for Crippled Children, Edinburgh, 1/1939-1/1940: dislike of prior period in private orthopaedic practice; background to securing position; provision of car and learning to drive; role checking progress of treatment given by hospital to children; treating and assessing minor problems in school clinics; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; view of soldiers training; petrol rationing; driving in blackout conditions. Recollections of period with Fracture Clinic, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, 1/1940-5/1941: specialist nature of clinic; treating accidents caused by blackout.
REEL 4 Continues: dealing with fracture cases caused by German air raid; emergency post; method of treating fracture patients including production of plaster of paris bandages, fitting of bandages and subsequent holding limb in correct position; fitting iron stirrups for walking plasters; question of refitting plasters; question of allowing patients to become out patients; aeroplane splints used for shoulders; physiotherapy treatments; background to decision to leave; pay. Attending occupational therapy course at Derwent House School, Bromsgrove, 5/1941-11/1941: background to development of OT for remedial physical therapy and rehabilitation; conversion course for orthopaedic physiotherapists; lectures; training in various types of therapy; inadequate food; passing examination.
REEL 5 Period establishing OT Department at Hillingdon County Hospital, 1/1942-1/1943: standardised lists of OT equipment; role of joiner; setting up hand loom for weaving; infrequent patients; status under emergency hospital programme. Period as physiotherapist at Miners' Fitness Centre, Gleneagles, 1/1943-9/1943: extension of treatment methods to cola miners; fitting out gymnasium; prevalence of knee and back injuries; treatments to counter disuse atrophy and encourage mobility. Period as sister in charge of After-Care School Clinics in East Lothian for Princess Margaret Rose Hospital for Crippled Children, Edinburgh, 9/1943-5/1944: checks on identity in military area; visiting school clinics. Background to volunteering as physiotherapist with Indian Army, civilian officer status under protection of Red Cross; interview and medical; kitting out and uniform. Voyage aboard Alcantara to Bombay India, 6/1944-7/1944: scene on departure from Edinburgh and Glasgow; shared cabin accommodation; dining rooms; embarkation of troops and question of destination; luggage; conditions on troop decks.
REEL 6 Continues: food; assembly of convoy; question of route and impact of D Day, 6/6/1944; ban on opening portholes in case of showing lights; warnings against romantic liaisons; story of disputes with WRNS; sports day; climate; drinking with ships' officers; first impressions on arrival at Bombay; delay in disembarkation due to confusion over posting. Initial period at British Hospital, Poona, 7/1944: escort by QA sister; accommodation and bath arrangements; Indian servants; ant problem; question of learning Hindustani and Urdu; Indian tailors; choosing posting after interview with matron.
REEL 7 Continues: choice of posting; train journey to Barelli, 7/1944. Recollections of period as physiotherapist at 125 Indian Base General Hospital (Indian Troops) at Barelli, 7/1944-10/1944: reception; absence of Indian nurses; relationship with Anglo-Indian nurses; Indian food; social life and story of organising party in mess; move to bungalow accommodation; relationship with Indian medical orderlies; visit to mosque; shortage of equipment; nature of Indian patients. Recollections of period as occupational therapist at 130 Indian Base General Hospital (Indian Troops) at Lucknow, 10/1944-6/1946: original posting as physiotherapist; role establishing OT department; role receiving Indian casualties from Burma campaign; different grades of OT; question of knitting as OT; benefit of OT for upper body; review of grading of OT as applied to patients; sources of raw materials required for OT including local salvage depot; Indian medical orderlies; clinic nickname as 'hand' centre; inspections by Wavell and Lady Mountbatten; nature of injuries treated; story of Indian NCO committing suicide.
REEL 8 Continues: story of giving physiotherapy to knee case; stool making and question of selling results to patients; title given by patients; accommodation; social visits to officers mess and clubs; anti-mosquito precautions; reactions to variety of Indian culture and races; work of specialist facial clinic; VE and VJ Day celebrations; story of sharing leave with brother in Simla; continuation of routine after end of war; flight in stages back to GB, 6/1946.
REEL 9 Periods as sister tutor at Princess Margaret Rose Hospital and training for teaching certificates, ca 1946-1949. Volunteering as physiotherapist with Middle East Land Forces in Egypt, ca 1949: voyage out aboard Empire Windrush; first impressions of Canal Zone; initial posting to British Military Hospital at Fayed. Recollections of period as physiotherapist at British Military Hospital at Kabete, Kenya, ca 1949-1950: problems with service children during voyage aboard Empire Test to Mombasa; train journey; African patients serving with King's African Rifles; learning Swahili; story of Irish NCO; nature of patients' injuries; story of treating knee injury; reactions of African soldiers to Christmas celebrations; visit to African orderly's family; question of relative status of Asian, African and British populations; story of treating Somali patient with lung problem.
REEL 10 Continues: story of treating Somali patient with lung problem period in Mombasa leave camp; conditions during voyage aboard Star of Suez back to Egypt. Recollections of period at BMH at Fayed, 3/1950-6/1952: positions as command physiotherapy advisor; nature of patients' injuries; story of treating patient with dislocated vertebrae; question of value of doctors' national service; assisting in general nursing during typhoid epidemic; social life including theatrical productions and visits to club; story of difficulties during journey back from Mena House, Cairo illustrating changes in attitude of Egyptian civilians and military during Suez Crisis.
REEL 11 story of difficulties during journey back from Mena House, Cairo illustrating changes in attitude of Egyptian civilians and military during Suez Crisis, 1952; introduction of military curfew and security restrictions on movements; requirement of troops to carry firearms and consequent increase in casualties from accidental shootings; story of requiring armed escort during visit to Ismailia; question of Egyptian attacks on British; local leave trips; flight back to GB, 6/1952. Period in GB, 1952-1954. Recollections of period as civilian physiotherapist at Government Hospital, Accra, Gold Coast/Ghana, 1954-1961: situation; role establishing physiotherapy department; conditions and leave allowance; discovery of symptoms of initially misdiagnosed polio amongst patients.
REEL 12 Continues: question of treatment of polio patients; question of effects of exposure to various fevers including polio; reception on arrival; conditions; social life including theatrical activities and Scottish country dancing; declaration of independence by Ghana and British military reaction to Kwane Nkrumah 's decision to send Ghanaian troops for training in Soviet Union; status as civilian working for Ghanaian government; role visiting other hospitals without physiotherapists; question of promotion of Ghanaian nurses; marriage; question of effects of absence of European settlers on racial harmony in Ghana; absence of personal health problems; situation of university lecturer husband and background to return to GB, 1961; story of treating Nkrumah for back complaint.
