Shropshire Routes to Roots

5. The angels who came in the night

Nearly everyone who was treated by Agnes Hunt had fond memories of her and her staff. Miss Hamer was no exception; the following memories, she describes Agnes Hunt and the ladies who worked at Baschurch as 'angels'.

Dame Agnes Hunt [Reproduced with kind permission of "Healing and Hope" c/o Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital]

The angels who came in the night:

It was late night, and I had a fresh plaster put on my leg.
I couldn't sleep, and kept turning and tossing, and moving my leg about under the "cradle".
Presently I saw the light of a lantern coming, and I knew that the night Sister was on her rounds. She passed down the Shed holding the lantern up to each bed, and came to my bed, she could see that I was awake, and she whispered "can't you sleep?" I said no.
Then she put her hand on my forehead, took my temperature, and asked if I had a pain, I said yes my leg hurts. Then she said, I'll be back now.

Then I heard faintly Sister Hunt's footsteps. They came to my bed, Sister Hunt looked at my toes. Then she sat on the side of the bed. Then took a pencil out of her breast pocket. Then she drew a circle, or square on the plaster above my instep, then with some instruments she had brought with her, started to cut the plaster. Then she put her finger in the hole, the night sister did the same.
They stayed there for a while, and I remember feeling very thirsty. I don't remember anything after that, so I must have fallen asleep.
What I did not know then was that the plaster was compressing an artery and Sister Hunt knew exactly where to find it.

Flora's description of the Nursing Sisters:

(with reference to the night that Agnes Hunt eased the pressure of her plaster)

I shall never forget that night; I call this true story "the Angels who came in the night" as indeed they were. The love, patience, and tenderness, of all these Sisters to us cripples was like the love of a Mother for her child. They were all so very kind, gentle and spoke so softly. I said before Baschurch was not a Hospital where only operations were performed. It was a Home from Home.

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