MEMBERS were welcomed to the meeting on Monday, July 20 by our Chairman, Mike Taylor.

Following a number of humorous stories, business matters were speedily concluded with four members congratulated on recent birthdays.

Our speaker, Mark Macleod, Head of the Infirmary Museum then gave a fascinating talk on the 240 year history of the Worcester Infirmary. Famous names were recalled, Isaac Maddox, Bishop of the Diocese with connections to various hospitals, Dr. John Wall, a Physician in the City and later the founder the Worcester Porcelain Works, who worked together to meet the desperate need for a hospital in Worcester. Public subscriptions were raised and a house on the East side of Silver Street (off Lowesmoor) was rented in 1745. This is now a shop with a plaque over the door. The Infirmary was popular but hopelessly inadequate so, in the 1760's, it was decided to put up an entirely new building on the outskirts of the City. The chosen site was an artichoke field site on the South side of Castle Street (then known as Salt Lane). The new building was erected at a cost of £6085 and the patients were transferred from Silver Street in September 1771. In 1812, Charles Hastings, son of a Worcestershire rector, who had attended Worcester Grammar School, became an apprenticed apothecary and was appointed house surgeon at the Infirmary at the age of eighteen! In 1832 he founded the Medical and Surgical Association at a meeting in the Board Room of the Worcester Infirmary.

Fred Roberts thanked Mark for presenting such a detailed and informative talk about an institution that has played a key role in so many peoples’ lives.

At our next meeting on August 3we are very pleased to welcome Paul Barnett to talk on The Purton Ships Graveyard, the largest ships’ graveyard in maritime Britain and a tale of a long since lost way of life in Gloucestershire.

Our meetings are held in the Abbey Hotel. Tea and coffee is available from 10am and the meeting begins at 10.30am. Do come along and join us. For further information please e-mail the Programme Secretary, t.batesworc@btinternet.com

TONY BATES