Builth Cottage Hospital, A Centenary History 1897-1997, by Gwen Davies
Foreword | Acknowledgements | Prologue Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6
Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 |
Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Epilogue
The League of Hospital Friends, by Betts Pugh
Builth, Queen of the Wye, by Jim Davies
Builth Wells Friends 1965-1973
Plus League Of Hospital Friends 1973-1997
How It All Began
By
Betts Pugh
In April 1964 Maud Pugh, her married name being Mrs Maud Morson,
affectionately known as “Maudie” the local newsagent,
had two operations in Builth Hospital. When she recovered
she decided that she would like to do something in appreciate of
the care and attention she received while n there. She formed
a team of five local ladies to help her, who were: Mrs Doreen
Thomas, Bon Marche, Mrs Iris Davies, 16 High Street, Miss Pride,
Lion Garage; Mrs Laura Price Daneslea, North Road and Maudie. They
opened a bank account at Barclays Bank with Mr Huw Hughes, the
bank manager, as their Treasurer.
The first meeting was held in Iris Davies’ house, later
moving to a room at the hospital. Eventually the original
team grew to 18 in number, with ladies from other areas joining. These
were: - Mrs G Vaughan, Mrs R M Thomas, Mrs M Osborne, Mrs Davies,
Abernant Cottage, Mrs J S Rose, Erwood, Mrs Vannie Peters, Nurse
Morfydd Jones, Mrs March, Beulah, Miss Worts, Llanelwedd, Mrs B
E Weale, Newbridge and Mrs O W Jones the Vicarage, Builth, together
with the original members and Mr Huw Hughes. In 1965 they
held a Coffee Evening at the Lion Hotel and made approximately £50.00. At
Christmas time, that year, they gave small gifts to the patients
at the hospital, and decorated the wards. This custom has
continued ever since.
The first large gift we gave was an electric food mixer and as
the money accrued, more gifts followed as well as medical equipment
accounting to £1,250.00 in the ten years from 1965 to 1975. A
list, kindly printed and framed by Mr G Parry, Castle Street, giving
details of the gifts donated by the “Friends” from
1976 – 1995, totalling £389,234.89, is to be found
hanging in the hospital hallway.
As time went by and as their finances increased, it was suggested
that we should affiliate to the National Association; this we did
in 1973 and later became a Registered Charity. In 1969,
Mr Hughes retired as treasurer and was succeeded by Mr Glyn Bennet. Mr
Hughes became an auditor together with Mr Harry Mason.
A committee of twenty one members was formed; these were Mrs R
M Thomas, President, Mrs M Morson, Chairman, Mr G Bennett, treasurer
and Mrs Bettes Pugh, Secretary.
Miss Mavis Evans Miss
Iris Davies Mrs
M Bufton
Mrs E L Price Mrs
M Osborne Sec
Mrs M Prynne
Mrs M Jarman Mrs
R Nicholas Mrs
K Cameron
Miss M M Jones Mrs
S F A Davies Mrs
G Vaughan
Mrs Vi Jones Mrs
D Jones Mrs
G Hughes
Mrs V Peters Mrs
S Evans
The Matron and Hospital Secretary were ex-officio members.
The Solicitor was Mr Trevor Evans. Seven committee members
served for three years between re-election. Members co-opted
in 1977were: Mr Penry Pritchard, Mrs Jenny Harriss (who retired
in 1982), Mrs Margaret Davies, Mrs Gwyneth Davies, Mrs Ruth Hughes,
Mrs Barbara McNulty and in 1983 Mrs A Shuter and Mrs U Hulbert
were co-opted.
5th May 1973 – Lord Watkins, Chairman of HMC, accepted gifts
from the League of Friends. Mr Vince Saville, radio DJ was
present and was thanked for his work and for being responsible
for setting up the hospital radio service in Cardiff and Swansea.
1973: Our President, County Counsellor Mrs R M Thomas became
a member of the Area Health Authority which she served on until
1991, when a structural change took place.
1974: Our first big occasion with the press and photographers
present was to receive bed head units, television sets and bedside
lamps which were generously presented by the Builth Wells and District
Round Table. Also in that year, the then Town Mayor, Councillor
R V Rixon held a very successful concert in the Strand Hall for
our funds. Several local farmers also gave us money from
the sale of stray sheep and ponies. This practice still continues,
for which we are extremely grateful. On 12th August we had
our first garden fete in the hospital grounds. This was a
huge success because of all the organisations in the hospital catchment
area took part and we made a profit of £1,105.68. The
fete was opened by Miss Jeffreys, Chief Nursing Officer for Brecon
and Radnor.
1976: Mr Glyn Bennett our treasurers, was transferred to
North Wales and was succeeded by Mr Trevor Owen.
With the help of many local organisations, town council, rural
councils and money given in memoriam, as well as fund raising from
school concerts, choir concerts etc. The League of Friends
continued to provide many more things for the hospital, but our
first really big project was the day room for the patients. This
idea came from Miss Jeffreys, the chief nursing officer, who wanted
patients to be able to break away from the wards if well enough
to do so. Unfortunately, Miss Jeffreys had to leave the area
before the completion of this project and the opening ceremony
was performed by Mr Cecil Roberts, the then chairman of the Health
Authority.
1977: The next project was the Portakabin for Occupational
Therapy and later for Physiotherapy, which cost £6,800. This
was at the instigation of Drs Ken Pugh and Roger Harriss, as Mrs
Gaynor Williams, the hospital’s first occupational therapist
had nowhere to keep her equipment. The Health Authority paid
for the services to be installed and some medical equipment. The
Town Council donated £1,208 towards the cost, and other organisations
including the round table, ladies circle and Edw Valley YFC and
the Builth quarrying company all contributed. 1n 1977 we
were proud to learn that out president Mrs R M Thomas was awarded
the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal for services to the community.
1979: Another great success was the garden fete held in
August 1979, when the magnificent sum of approximately £1,800
was raised. Because of the inclement weather we had to change
the venue from the hospital grounds to the Strand Hall. All
the morning it rained, on and off, Roma (Nicholas) and Betts (Pugh)
and others had been dashing in and out Maud’s shop (now 29
High Street) trying to come to a decision where to have the fete. At
last, about 12 noon, Maud said “Have it where you like but
don’t bl…y come back in here again”. We
didn’t! A decision was made and we set up the function
in the Strand Hall. Finally when everything was organised
there, the sun came out and shone brightly for the rest of the
day! What an experience. The fete was opened by Lady
Diana Gibson-Watt.
1979: The formation of the Builth Wells Social Stroke Club
In 1979, Mrs Betts Pugh was approached by Dr Roger Harriss and
Mrs Grace Machin, the hospital secretary, about forming a stroke
club in the town. After receiving advice from the Chest,
Heart and Stroke Association and talks from other stroke club members,
several members from our League of Friends, together with Mrs Gaynor
Williams and Dr Harriss, travelled to Birmingham to a Chest, Heart
and Stroke Association Meeting, as a result of this Builth Wells
Social Stroke Club” was born out of the League of Friends.
A committee was formed, with Mrs Roma Nicholas as chairman, Mrs
Betts Pugh as secretary and Mr Trevor Own as treasurer. The
volunteer hostesses came from local members of the Red Cross, NSPCC
WRVS and League of Friends. We had both male and female drivers
who were always prepared to go out in all weathers to transport
town and country members. Meetings were held on the second
Tuesday afternoon in each months in the Youth Centre., Hay Road,
with the kind permission of Mr Bill MacIntosh The first
meeting took place on June 5th 1979 at 2 pm.
1980: In 1980 a suggestion was made by Roma Nicholas that
we should help finance new X-ray cubicles with a maternity extension
above them. Roma felt it could be embarrassing for patients
to walk along the corridors in their dressing gowns from the changing
rooms to the X-ray room. The total cost of this project was £16,000
of which the League of Friends provided half. We did a “mile
of pennies” in 1980, starting from the Barley Mow hotel down
to the Lion Hotel, and back up to Vaughan Vaughan’s. This
made a profit of £280.60.
1981: On 10th June 1981 we held our third fete. This
was in the hospital grounds but on this occasion we hired two marquees. These
were expensive but gave us peace of mind as far as the weather
was concerned! It was a pleasant day and we made £2,805
profit.
1978-1980: During nursing officer Miss Christine Morgan’s
stay with us she requested new curtains with matching bed covers,
for the main ward, ultrasound for the physiotherapy department
and an electric breast pump for maternity. Medical and nurse
text books were asked for by Dr Riley to replace those that were
out of date. We also provided portable colour TV sets which
were placed so that all patients could see them. Miss Morgan
also asked for a visiting hairdresser.
1981: The League of Friends became involved with the Town Council
over the possible purchase of the property next door to the hospital. This
was the bungalow called “Mount Pleasant” and was occupied. The
council proposed buying the bungalow for the hospital when it became
vacant as the owner had approached one of the doctors about this. Four
committee members, two councillors and the doctors met, in confidence,
at Maud’s house to discuss the matter . However, despite
all efforts to keep it confidential, both the radio and the local
press got to hear of it.. Consequently, all sorts of rumours
were soon circulating which displeased the League of Friends greatly. Mr
Trevor Owen, our treasurers, with other committee members attended
a Chamber of Trade meeting to explain the position. Our president,
Mrs R M Thomas said that the league could not support the idea of
buying the bungalow without the consent of the Area Health Authority
and Mr Gordon Palliser, Secretary General of the National Association
of the League of Hospital Friends, advised us not to purchase any “bricks
and mortar” especially when the property was occupied. We
were informed that there would be no money available from the Area
Health Authority and the outcome was that we decided not to give
any financial assistance towards buying the bungalow.
Eventually in June 1994, the unoccupied bungalow was purchased
by the Powys Health Care NHS Trust to be used as a seminar room
and office accommodation for the hospital
Throughout the following years 1982-4 we continued to purchase
goods for the hospital which included some medical equipment. Whenever
possible, the goods we bought were purchased for local shops as
we always felt that the money had been given by people in the Builth
area and it should be spent in the town. The support from
local organisations continued unabated and we were always tremendously
grateful for their contributions.
1983: Mr Trevor Owen retired as manager of Barclays and
we were extremely relieved when he said he would continue as our
treasurer.
1985: Maud opened the “Clean Treatment Room”. It
was in June of that year that Maud was awarded the British Empire
Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The ceremony
took place in Powys County Hall at Llandrindod Wells and the medal
was presented to Maud by the Lord Lieutenant of Powys, Let. Col
J Corbett Winder.
1986: Farmers Lamb Sale Hospital Appeal Fund – This brilliant
idea was master minded by Mr and Mrs Abe Davies and county councillor Colin
Davies. It was proposed to ask local farmers if they would be willing
to give a lamb, or the equivalent amount in money, in aid of a new male ward
at the hospital. Letters were sent to 35 farmers in an area between Llanwrtyd
Wells and Llyswen. A well attended meeting in the Barley Mow on the 27th
August showed that everyone applauded this splendid idea, as a result of which,
Mr Rex Jones, the auctioneer, held a lamb sale in Erwood. This together
with promised of financial help form many other sources, including a sponsored
walk along Offa’s Dyke, resulted in a profit of £2,383.50p. A
wonderful effort indeed!
In 1986 Mr Cecil Roberts, Chairman of the Powys Health Authority
retired and was replaced by the Hon. Mrs Lindy Price. In 1987
a new ward was build on the West wing of the hospital above the out
patients department. It had been carefully designed to fit
in with the existing structure and to provide a high standard of
accommodation for seven male patients. The scheme which cost £85,916
included alterations to the existing building, provided another day
room storage space, pantry, shower, bathroom and toilets in addition
to the new ward. The building was opened by Mrs Betts Pugh,
secretary for the League of Friends on October 21st 1987. 1987 – 8: During
these years the sum of £17,640.31 was spent on purchasing medical
equipment for the hospital.
Between the years 1988 – 92 we accumulated the sum of £90,000
in our account. The secretary wrote the Hon Mrs Lindy Price
asking if it was possible to start an appeal fund for a day hospital
to be build in the hospital grounds. On December 14th 1990,
we had a meeting with the Hon Mrs Lindy Price, Mr David Mason, the
Health Authority Planning Officer, Dr R Gibbins, Locality Manager
and others. Various schemes were discussed, among them a three
phase development plan for the hospital. The first two schemes
were carried out, namely the new physiotherapy/occupational therapy
department and the new out patients department. The third item,
that of the day hospital has not yet come to fruition, although our
treasurer has informed the Authority that a substantial sum would
be available from the League of Friends, if needed.
During this time, a car park was made immediately outside the casualty
department. In doing so a Rose Trellis and Sundial, which Mrs
Amy Weale had given, were removed and placed at the back of the hospital
in a small flower bed. Later, when the Physiotherapy Department
was built, the car park was demolished and some wellingtonia trees
cut down. Wood from one of these trees was used to mount the
plaque commemorating the opening of the unit. This can be seen
at the entrance to the department.
1991: Dr Gibbins retired as Locality Manager, Mr Doug Wellstead
took his place to be followed by Mrs Pat Roberts as Local Area Manager.
The news that the president, Mrs R M Thomas and Mrs G Raikes were
no longer appointed to the Health Authority was a great blow. Both
these ladies had been a tremendous help to the League of Friends
while they were on the Health Authority and acted as a liaison between
the Authority ad ourselves, being every ready to give us advice and
the benefit of their wide experience.
1992: On August 4th we had a “Turf Cutting Ceremony” n
the site where the new physiotherapy department was to be built. A
photograph was taken of the Hon Mrs Lindy Price seated at the wheel
of a JCB with a helmet on her head. Behind her is a group of
planners, builders, committee members and physiotherapy staff and
Mrs Rosalind Thomas cutting the first turf. It is a most wonderful
evocative photograph. Dr J K Pugh and Dr V T Pugh performed
the opening ceremony of the new department on April 29th 1993. Dr
Venn said in his speech that “it was sad to thank that four
dedicated committee members who would dearly have liked to be there
were no longer with us”. He referred to Nurse Morfydd
Jones, Mrs Audrey Shutter, Mrs Roma Nicholas and Mrs Maud Morson.
Mr Michael Jones, unit general manager of the Powys Health Authority,
gave us an interesting talk on the implication which would take place
when the hospital became a Trust. He confirmed that the future
of the Builth Hospital was safe. The Powys Health Care NHS
trust came into being on April 1st 1993 with the Hon Mrs Lindy Price
as its chairman.
Fundraising events continued, and as a result of two whist drives
organised by Mrs G Price and Mrs Charlotte Hughes, with the help
of a few others, a piece of equipment known as a “Flowtron” was
purchased. This is an intermediate compression system which
is used in occupational therapy.
1993: In January we heard the sad news that our long serving
chairman Maudie had died. The forming of the “Friends” ad
been Maud’s inspired idea and her indefatigable energy had
urged us on for 28 years. She will not be easily replaced. At
the AGM in March Mrs Vannie Peters was elected chairman. Vannie
was a dedicated chairman and worked tirelessly for two years, when
owing to family commitment, she was unable to carry on. It
was decided at this point that we should elect a vice-chairman and
in 1995, Mrs Jean Thrupp was elected chairman and Mrs Eluned Jones
elected vie-chairman. Both these lades came from the Llanwrtyd
area. Talks took place in October with Mrs Pat Roberts, the
local area manager, regarding the building of the second phase of
the development plan, namely the new out patients department . The
League of Friends contributed £90,000 towards this much appreciated
new facility which was opened in 1994 by Mrs R M Thomas.
1994: This was a sad year as two more of our most committed
and longest serving members died. These were Mrs Iris Davies
and Mrs Gwyneth Vaughan who had both worked tirelessly for the League
since is inception. We greatly miss these two stalwart ladies.
In October we were informed that the National Association League
of Hospital Friends had a need to increase the affiliation and insurance
fees from the current sum of £65 per annum to £250. This
was such a huge increase, that it wad decided to withdraw from the
association. This decision was not lightly taken as we had
been affiliated for 22 year and the conferences which we had attended
had provided us with much useful information and advice.
1995: At the AGM our guest speakers were Dr K Clowes, Directory
of Medical Services, Powys Health Care NHS Trust and Mr Tom Begg, social
services. Both these gentleman spoke about the future of the
Builth Hospital and the possibility of having a day hospital built. They
were in favour of such a scheme but could not say if and when it
would happen as there was no money available. We were very
disappointed with this news as we had been asking for a day hospital
for a long time. Dr Clowes and Mr Begg praised the excellent
work done by the “Friends” and said that “ no words
were available to say how we had excelled in fundraising, and that
the hospital would not be the place it was today but for the league
of Friends and local support”.
In October 1995 congratulations were extended to senior nurse
Miss Eurwen Roberts, Miss Janet Morgan, the locality administrator
and business manager, and ALL members of staff for attaining their
two year accreditation. They were congratulated on their positive
approach and positive attitude. The assessors reported that
there was an excelled rapport between the League of Hospital Friends.
GPs and hospital staff. There was a tremendous amount of local
support for the hospital much of it channelled through the “Friends”,
whose future project is the upgrading the casualty department, which
they hope will be completed in 1997, the centenary year.
1996: In May, officers of the League of Friends met with the Hon Mr Antony
Lewis who had replaced the Hon Mrs Lindy Price as chairman of the Trust. It
was good to meet with the new chairman to hear his views and to discuss with
him the future of the hospital and we felt the meeting had been most beneficial. Also
in May we had discussion with the doctors, nursing staff and Mrs Pat Roberts,
Local Area manager, about the upgrading of the casualty department.
In June further rumours that the Builth Hospital was about to close
began circulating again. Mr Michael Jones, Chief Executive
said that “no specific hospitals had been indentified for closure”.
1997: In January Miss Janet Morgan, Locality Administrator,
distributed to each member of the League of Friends an account showing
that from 1965-1995 a total of £390,599.97p had been spend
on Builth Hospital. Money raised by the League of Friends,
local organisations and donations. In addition, the Treasurer,
Mr Trevor Owen reported that £66,185.80p was in the bank awaiting
the next project. Mr Owen said that the past 12 months had
been financially very successful and he wished to express his thanks
and that of the members to Mr Harry Mason, who had audited the books
very a long period of time and would, with his wife Enid, be leaving
the area shortly to be near their daughter who live in Cambridge.
In spite of reassurances the rumours of closure re-occurred and
in January report in the Brecon and Radnor saying that Builth and
Knighton Hospitals had been named for closure, concerned and horrified
the League of Friends. Mrs Glenys Price, the assistant secretary,
wrote a letter to Mr Peter Stansbie expressing heir concern, especially
as this was the centenary year of the Builth Hospital She pointed
out that the League of Friends and the surrounding villages and farming
communities had contributed a vast amount of money to the hospital
and there was till a substantial sum awaiting allocation. It
was hoped that the goodwill and affection for the hospital would
continue and to prove an asset to all who had the need to use it
services.
In reply, Mr Stansbie sent a copy of the Strategy Document of the
Dyfed/Powys Health Authority outlining the way it intends to take
the NHS into the next century. This document was entitled “Effective
Care and Healthy People”.
The Friends were advised to organise petitions and some members
marched around eh town carrying protest banners. They attended
the meeting on March 12th when the Strand Hall was full to capacity. Friends’ chairman,
Mrs Jean Thrupp handed in a petition containing 1,000 signatures
which had been collected by herself and Mrs Eluned Jones in the Llanwrtyd
area, and Mrs Eira Mason presented 600 form the Newbridge-on-Wye
district.
At the AGM in March, the Hon Mr Antony Lewis, Chair of the Trust,
was the guest speaker and gave a detailed account of the financial
state of the Trust and helped members to understand the situation. He
aid that the Trust would not contemplate any closures but that changes
would have to be made. He spoke highly of the work done by
the League of Friends and of the Builth Hospital where had recently
been a patient.
At the invitation of Dr Sandy Cavenagh, President of the Association
of Community Hospitals, officers of the League attended a
meeting in Llandrindod Wells on April 2nd, where they heard delegates
speak on the value of Community Hospitals. Dr Terry Watson
and Mrs R M Thomas spoke on behalf of Builth Cottage Hospital.
On June 24th a letter was received from Miss Janet Morgan, the locality
administrator saying that an agreement had been reached on the upgrading
of the casualty department, the estimated cost of which was £148,464. A
meeting would be held to discuss this on July 28th 1997.
Saturday June 28th – The Centenary Hospital Fete. Members
of the League of Friends manned a bric a brac stall and raffle at
this mammoth event held on the Royal Welsh Showground. In spite
of the inclement weather a good time was had by all and the affair
was a huge success. Following the fete, a very appreciative
letter was received from the Hon Mr Antony Lewis, thanking the Friends
for the tremendous support they had given.
On July 9th, several members attended a public meeting of the Powys
Health Forum held in the Lion Hotel, Builth. Representatives
from Dyfed/Powys Health Authority, Powys Health Care NHS Trust other
organisations and Dr Terry Watson, spoke on NHS reforms, local health,
social services, hydatid disease and the Builth Wells community support.
We, in the League of Hospital Friends, have always worked well with
the authorities. They have generously paid for many of the
services required when constructing a new building, such as laying
foundations, electricity installations. Laying on water, architects
fees, surveyors, engineers and planning. This has all been
appreciated by us over the years.
None of the enterprises we have undertaken would have been possible
without the outstanding support we have received, not only from the
people of the towns of Builth and Llanwrtyd but from all the villages
and farming communities in the catchment area, both in Brecknockshire
and Radnorshire. The combined efforts of us all have been the
basis of our success. Apart from fundraising we run a “Trolley
Shop” every Wednesday afternoon when patients can purchase
small items such as notepapater, tissues, sweets, etc. and for 20
years we have sold Christmas cards. Neither of these make a
great deal of money but they are a pleasant service enjoyed by patients
and helpers alike. Coffee evenings are always enjoyable especially
when held at a Country House when then owners have kindly opened
their doors to us. We have ad wonderful choral concerts at
various venues, young people have held street jumble sales, darts
marathons, bed push races and knee races. There was a schoolboy
scramble in Rhayader, womens institutes and young farmers clubs constantly
surprise with innovative ideas. So many organisations, too
numerous to mention, have given their unstinted support for which
we can say only a big “Thank You” to everyone and hope
and trust that we can rely on the same continued loyalty for as
long as it is needed.
Our relations with the doctors, nurses, administrators and all hospital
staff have always been exceptionally harmonious, helpful and friendly
and this made our work for the hospital such a pleasure. We
have been fortunate through out the years in having a dedicated and
hard working team of workers for whom we are very grateful.
In the beginning we were fortunate to be blessed with the lady Maud
Pugh (Maudie) who with the four other ladies were the inspiration behind
the Builth League of Hospital Friends, and whose first year’s
fundraising brought in the sum of £67.7.1d. As a further
update our total expenditure on the hospital up to July 1997 now stands
at an unbelievable - £401,872.16p with
a further substantial amount in the bank awaiting the next project,
the upgrading of the casualty unit, which we hope will be started
shortly, as we as a League of Friends, WILL NOT CONTEMPLATE CLOSURE.
Below is a list of officers and committee members, some of whom
are now retired; President: Mrs R M Thomas, Chairman: Mrs Jean
Thrupp; Secretary: Mrs Betts Pugh; Treasurer: Mr Trevor
Owen; Deputy Chairman: Mrs Eluned Jones; Assistant Secretary;
Mrs Glenys Price; Ex-Official Members: Senior Nurse S E Roberts.
Locality administrator Miss Janet Morgan.
Mrs Van Peters; Mrs Mavis Evans (Dec 29/07/1997); Mrs M Bufton,
Mrs Blanche Owen, Mrs Enid Mason (retired); Mrs M Davies; Mrs G Davies;
Mrs C Davies, Mrs M Riley (retired); Mrs C Hughes, Mrs M Prynne;
Mrs S Bailey; Mrs C Change; Mrs G Garner; Mr W R Nicholas (retired);
Mrs D Samuel; Mrs E Mason. Honorary members:- Mrs G Hughes,
Mrs u Hulbert; Mrs Vi Jones.
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