Shropshire Routes to Roots

1. Introduction

During the course of her life, Agnes Hunt cared for many young people. Flora Hamer was one of the young people who were treated at Agnes Hunt's Baschurch Home for "crippled children" (the forerunner of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital). Miss Hamer wrote down her memories of her time at Baschurch, whilst she was celebrating her 82nd birthday. These memories provide a special insight into the work of Agnes Hunt and the other caring nurses who worked at the Baschurch Home.
In 1921, all of the patients from the Baschurch Home were moved into the new hospital buildings at Gobowen, near Oswestry, that were to become known as the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.

Who was Flora Hamer?

Flora Hamer [Reproduced with kind permission of Flora Hamer's family and friends]

Flora Hamer was born in a small village called Bowstreet, which is north of Aberystwyth in Wales. She was born on the 14th September 1903. She contracted Poliomyelitis or Infantile Paralysis at the age of three and a half to four years, but did not receive treatment until she was 6 years old,when she went to Agnes Hunt's Baschurch Convalescent Home.

The subsequent story is written in Miss Hamer's own words. The Routes to Roots team would like to thank Marie Carter and Agnes Morgan, for their help and assistance in putting this record together.

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