Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

No, NEILL, it was a Casualty Sister at St. Thomas's who rescued me from a hyperventilation attack, by supplying me with a brown paper bag to breathe into! I've never been a nurse.
My daughter was born in St.Thomas's in 1968 - I timed my contractions by Big Ben just across the river. No gas & air, no epidural, just sips of water, and a crowd of Nightingale trainee nurses around me watching this "natural birth". Happy days!

Chemistry,physics and Biology A levels gave exeption from 1st MB. Alec Rampling (OB) chose to do 1st MB at Tommy's.

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:I have noticed that annieext (?) mentioned being a Sister in St Thomas's circa1965 ----(TBA -- Charing Cross) calls it the Casualty Clearing Station -- across the River !

Did you know a Surgeon called Mc Pherson ? he is, or was, an Old Blue, a contemporary of mine in Ba B, and passed his first Mb -- while still at CH !!!

When I last spoke to him, at an OBs Day, he described Charing Cross Hospital, as a Railway Station !!

Great rivalry between the two --

Charing Cross Hospital isn't across the river from St Thomas's these days. It's at Hammersmith. Which wouldn't be so bad except that there is already a Hammersmith Hospital......at White City. They're both part of the same NHS trust which is great fun when trying to be clear about venues for meeting.

midget wrote:Chemistry,physics and Biology A levels gave exeption from 1st MB. Alec Rampling (OB) chose to do 1st MB at Tommy's.

exemption, if anyone is confused

Valerie Williams did hers at the Middlesex in 1972/3. I don't know if you can do it nowadays, it was unusual then.

Jo wrote:
Charing Cross Hospital isn't across the river from St Thomas's these days. It's at Hammersmith. Which wouldn't be so bad except that there is already a Hammersmith Hospital......at White City. They're both part of the same NHS trust which is great fun when trying to be clear about venues for meeting.

Makes a lot of sense. Wm Martello, Asst Professor at a Uni in Austin Texas wrote in a letter to the FT yesterday that

I read ... two references ...... to reliance on "common sense" as the salve for all ills in commerce today.

Unfortunately this appeal is badly misplaced as common sense is a misnomer - it is in fact highly uncommon.

(He goes on the explain that all sorts of costly advisers, analysts and counsel are relied upon for practical decision making.)

I think that Charing Cross in Hammersmith and Hammersmith in White City are the perfect proof of Professor Martello's assertion; common sense in the NHS trust is sadly lacking

The former Fulham Hospital was part of the old Charing Cross group, but was situated where Charing Cross Hospital now is in Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith. As a child I spent some time in Fulham Hospital and hated it. I remember the new hospital being built on that site - in fact I later worked for the company responsible for installing the heating and ventilation. I also at one time worked in the local tax office which dealt with the employees there - lots of Spanish domestic staff who spoke very little English. In fact I had started that job whilst still at school, in the holidays, and the day I got my A level results (French and Spanish) we had one such customer at the counter, so they sent me out to deal with her. Frankly my Spanish wasn't up to the task, so we conducted the interview in French. At that time my French was adequate, but my knowledge of PAYE jargon certainly wasn't, but we managed somehow! But I digrees from the topic ..........

Yes, I know that Charing Cross Hospital ain't where it used to be.

The exchanges between St T's and CCH were in regard to "Early Days" at the Hospitals (I dare not mention, how early, or I may get no Supper !)
The Hospital at Charing Cross is now a Police Station, and TBA and some previous Collegues, on a Re-union were taken on a tour, with, they said, a "Gorgeous Young Policeman" ---- he was probably about 40 !!

I have to be cautious, as, when TBA was a Student Nurse --- I was in the Sudan === serving KING and Country
Do you approve of "Child Brides" ----

I work in the police station which was the old Charing Cross Hosp and the funny thing is my Inspector was born there !

Re child brides: when people express surprise that my father is still alive and physically fit (he will be 85 next week) I always explain that he was a child bride, married at 19 and remained so until Mum died 58 years later. My parents married in 1943; I think many wartime marriages were between younger than usual couples, because they knew that the future was uncertain.

I would remind distinguished visitors to this fount of all knowledge that from time to time whales are washed up upon our shores and there perish. But what becomes of the whales?

Under Prerogativa Regis signed in 1324 by Edward II the sovereign shall have all whales and sturgeon taken within the realm.
In medieval times (if ye histories be read correctly) it was the custom to cut all whales in two, the head going to the King and the tail to the Queen, the latter to furnish her with whalebone for her stays.

In 1970 HM was persuaded to give up her right to the whales and the Law Commission sent a recommendation to Parliament that the said prerogative be abolished.

Sound sensible but HM's Lords voted down the bill so HM still gets ye stinking whales. (Well, I suppose somebody has to take them.)
She must have a large number of stays after 56 years! The back end of a whale also supplies ambergris which is used in the perfumery trade; I have never been close enough to determine which scent HM wears.





HM has corgis which, by law, are safe froim being molested by lesser breeds. An Act pased by George I promises the severest penalties for anyone whose animal shall have carnal knowledge of a pet of the Royal Household.

Aha! No wonder Princess Anne was up before the beak when her bull terrier Dotty savaged a Royal Corgi. Never mind carnal knowledge, Dotty is/was a very fierce animal!

I believe that the Queen's favourite scent is Bal a Versailles; a beautiful floral-oriental fragrance.

How on earth did you come be such information Angela?

The Dotty scandal was widely reported a while ago - I seem to remember a picture in the Times of scowling Princess Anne with bad-tempered Dotty on a compulsory lead. You know how people grow to look like their dogs? Well...

I read about Bal a Versailles in a Vogue article - scent, beauty things; I love them. Yes, the Queen loves this perfume. It uses civet as a fixative. No wonder it's so expensive.

I know nothing of these exotic perfumes --- isn't Civet a sort of wild cat ?

I bought TBA "Poison" but she hasn't drunk it yet !!

For myself, I use Jovan, which has been my sole aftershave for years and years-------- with no complaints-- and even a few compliments ! (No Smiley for "Smug" )

Angela Woodford wrote:Aha! No wonder Princess Anne was up before the beak when her bull terrier Dotty savaged a Royal Corgi. Never mind carnal knowledge, Dotty is/was a very fierce animal!

It must partially have come back to me in the night!

Dotty had been accused of killing the Royal Corgi, but had been framed for the crime. It turned out to be Princess Anne's other bull terrier, Florence who was guilty of murder. Dotty had merely bitten an adult and savaged two small children. Princess Anne was fined 500 quid and sent on a compulsory dog handling course.