Shropshire Routes to Roots

3. Flora's operation

Miss Hamer was operated on three times by Robert Jones and each time, a postcard was sent back to her parents, telling them that she was safe.

Flora's description of the Anaesthetist:

He was Dr Urwick. I can see him now, he was tall dark hair, and a small moustache and wore a long dark coat down to his ankles, and carried a little case. We use to see him coming round the corner of the Theatre and we all used to shout Dr Urwick Dr Urwick and he used to wave to us.

Flora's memories of her operation:

We were carried one by one into the next room, with a small pink blanket over our head, and that room was the one where we had the anaesthetic. And I remember lying on a table with a Sister standing each side of me holding my hands and someone behind my head asking me if I could count. I remember starting and that's all. Then next I remember, I was in some sort of a cot and in pain.

Flora's memories of having her stitches out after the operation:

Then came the day to have our stitches out, which was rather painful. We were wheeled into the Theatre for this, and everything seems to be all white in there, except the bottles on the shelves. And later we were taken back to our shed again.

From the records still held at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, we have been able to find out the exact date Miss Hamer had her stitches out; 1st December 1909.

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