Willow Court History Group in conjunction with the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee presents a range of mostly unreleased short historical podcasts for the 20th Anniversary of the closure of the Willow Court Training Centre. Starting with June Purkiss in 1935 and working our way through the decades to Russel Penman in the 1990’s we can hear short stories and memories of those people who worked at the hospital providing medical care, support services, a visiting advocate, a baker and cook, a Charge Nurse and the Director of Nursing and CEO. We even research “Winston” the Ghost.
Each person has their own memories and experiences of the hospital and its impact on the people it encountered. The hospital is remembered as a place of healing, support and respite from a world that had little understanding of the many human conditions that affect the human mind. Equally it is also remembered as a place of anguish, sorrow, controversy and of little care. This is what gives Willow Court such a unique place in history from the early 1800’s through to the closure in November 2000.
These short podcasts come from many hours of gathered oral history. Some people recorded are no longer alive, but their memories live on through the many stories they have left us and future generations.
QR codes are an image that will direct your smart phone, through the camera, to a specific web address. We have used this technology to take a small sample of stories to events and open days. Click the above 20th anniversary tab and select a name and listen to the history.
All podcasts are (c) Copyrighted to the Speaker and can not be shared without written permission of the copyright holder.
(c) Copyright 2020, Anne McKinstray, Edward Cooley, Russell Penman, Maxine Griffiths.
(c) Copyright 2015, Willow Court History Group for (June Purkiss and Phillip Crosswell).