DOCTORS at the Horton Hospital at Banbury had a special task at Christmas – carving the turkey.

And that wasn’t the only duty they performed for the benefit of patients unlucky enough to spend the festive season in a hospital bed.

Nurse Dawn Griffis, whose maiden name was Alsford, remembers the hectic activity on the wards on Christmas morning. She writes: “All the town dignitaries and their families visited the patients in hospital, even the mayor wearing his chain of office. The physicians and their families also attended.

“Each physician was designated a certain ward and was dressed in a costume that we had made in tune with the Christmas theme on that ward.

Memory Lane this week

“They would entertain patients up and down the wards. Then when the Christmas dinner was brought in, they would carve the turkey and serve it to each patient. Later, the exercise was repeated for the Christmas pudding.”

Mrs Griffis, who now lives in the United States, recalls how each ward was a hive of activity for weeks before Christmas.

Staff would decide on a theme for their ward and decorate the windows, walls, ceilings and beds accordingly.

Oxford Mail:

  • Dr Ferguson on Christmas dinner duty on the Horton Hospital’s B Ward in 1960. Others pictured include Sister Cook, Helena Gill, Jackie Norman and Cynthia Hollowell

The children’s wards usually picked a pantomime story. There was a competition to decide the best theme and the winner was announced on Christmas Day.

“On Christmas morning, the children not only got gifts from their parents, but there were gifts for each one purchased from the hospital fund. Sister Stewart would buy a gift for each child from her own pocket, and the town also gave gifts. Those from the hospital and town were usually very expensive, such as bikes, dolls prams, train sets etc.

“Parents could be there all day with their siblings – it was a fun time for all.

“The last year I was at the hospital I was working in the operating theatre and the only place we could decorate was Sister’s office, which we turned into a witches’ cave.

“We made stalactites and stalagmites out of plaster cast – it would have been more appropriate for Halloween. We made a recipe for a witches’ brew incorporating the names of those of us who worked in the theatre.”


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