15th December 2021 – Richard Perrin

A River Runs Through It – Bewdley

The December meeting, held at Blakedown Parish Rooms, was addressed by Richard Perrin, chairman of Bewdley Civic Society, who has lived in the town all his life.

He took his audience down the River Severn from Arley to Bewdley, illustrating his talk with many illustrations of locations along the way. The Arley ferry dated back to the 14th century, and closed operation in 1972, when the footbridge replaced it. Work on the Severn Valley Railway’s Victorian bridge began in 1859, and when it was completed in 1861 it was the largest single span bridge in the world. The aqueduct carrying Birmingham’s water supply from mid Wales across the Severn was guarded by the home guard during World War 11. The bridge, carrying the Bewdley to Wooferton railway line was demolished in 1965 when the line closed, but the piers remain.

The second Bewdley bridge across the Severn was built in 1455 but was destroyed in the Civil War. Bewdley’s current bridge, designed by Thomas Telford dates from 1795-8 and cost £9000. The town’s long established rowing club is located by the bridge.

The River Severn was an important transport artery, and Bewdley was prominent in the river trade. Up to 47 Severn trows were based in the town. These heavy vessels, up to 90 tons each, were hauled by men. Narrow boats replaced the trows when the canal system developed from 1772, and Stourport on Severn took over as the transport hub. In turn the railway system took over in the 1860s. The Severn was never navigable above Stourport, but in 1912 a steamer from Worcester almost reached Arley when the river was in flood. The Severn froze over in Bewdley in 1890, 1895, 1929, possibly in 1947, and most recently in 2010.

Richard Perrin’s presentation reminded his audience of the glorious countryside and interesting landmarks on our doorstep.

3rd November 2021 – Dr. John Harcup

Florence Nightingale – Her Life, Illness and the Cold Water Cure

The speaker at the Centre’s November meeting was Dr. John Harcup, a retired GP from Malvern. He moved there in 1963. He is a leading figure in the Elgar Society and Malvern Civic Society. Dr. Harcup has a strong interest in medical history.

Florence Nightingale is the founder of modern nursing. She was showered with honours and was the first woman to be awarded The Order of Merit. She wrote 200 books and some 14000 letters. She was born in Florence in 1820 – her sister was born in 1819 in Naples. Florence was brought up in the village of Lea, near Matlock in Derbyshire. However, the family moved to Romsey in Hampshire in 1825 as Florence’s mother did not like the Derbyshire winters> Florence was described as tall and willowy with grey eyes and short Auburn hair – a lock of her hair can be found at the NT’s Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, the former home of Florence’s brother-in-law and sister, Sir Henry and Lady Verney. She stayed there often in later life and had a suite of rooms. Florence developed an interest in nursing, and wanted to help the poor, despite her family’s opposition.

She first came to Malvern in 1848 with her mother, for treatment at the various health establishments, particularly Dr. Gully’s. He was a keen advocate of the cold-water cure, which became popular attracted patients from far and wide. Dr. Harcup described the various treatments which were undertaken.

Eventually, Florence’s father, William, allowed his daughter to pursue a career in nursing, at the time regarded as a working-class occupation. William gave her an annual allowance of £500. Her nursing experience and knowledge grew. The Secretary for War asked Florence to manage the Scutari Hospital in Turkey when the Crimean war was raging. She accepted Sidney Herbert’s request and set off for Istanbul in February 1854 with a team of nurses.

Scutari Hospital, which is now a barracks, headquarters of the Turkish army, was designed for 1200 patients. At one point there were 2434 patients. Florence found that the hospital had been built over a huge cesspit. Dead animals were left to rot on the site. The conditions were appalling, and a complete lack of hygiene was the main cause of the high mortality rate (4220). Florence led action to radically improve sanitation and basic hygiene, but the challenges took their toll on her physical and mental health. The mortality rate dropped dramatically through her efforts. She undertook her solitary rounds late at night and the “Lady with the Lamp” image was first published in the Illustrated London News in 1855.

Florence became legendary for her care, concern, and compassion. She went to the front at Balaclava to see the fighting for herself. She was a popular cult figure and met Queen Victoria at Balmoral in 1856. However, her health deteriorated, and she suffered severe sciatic fevers and brucellosis (caused by drinking goat’s milk). She was working up to 20 hours a day.

A Royal Commission report on Scutari Hospital was published, but it was a cover up. Florence wrote her own report In 1858 which disclosed the true extent of the mortality rate. Her report gave detailed figures and pie charts. (She became the first female member of the Royal Statistical Society).

On her return home, she went to Malvern on at least 8 occasions for cold water treatment, always travelling by train. She received treatment under the care of Dr. Walter Johnson during the period 1857-1868. Florence declared herself “a reclusive invalid”. The mental scars from her experience in the Crimea stayed with her, and she was unable to work for 6 years.

Florence Nightingale was born on 12th May 1920 and died 0n 13th August 1910. She is buried in East Wellow Churchyard in Hampshire. She has left behind a huge legacy and established nursing as a profession. She was a remarkable woman with a massive influence – she set up a school of nursing, laid the foundations in the field of midwifery, health visitors and district nurses, promoted the use of disinfectants, and was an expert in the design and layout of hospitals. Her influence is felt to this day.

12th October 2021 – Chris Green

Eyam – The Plague Village

The speaker at the Centre’s October meeting was Chris Green. He describes himself as being “passionate about history” and is a graduate of Birmingham University. He is a member of South Cheshire NT Association.

Eyam is situated in the Hope Valley in Derbyshire, an agricultural area, but also a former lead mining area. England had been ripped apart by the Civil War, and some 200.000 out of a population of 5 million had lost their lives. In 1660 Charles 11 had been restored to the throne. Eyam had been a Puritan village and had a population of about 800 at the time. Thomas Stanley, the Puritan vicar, was sacked in 1664. He was replaced by William Mompesson, and the two clergymen became rivals.

The plague started in London in 1665 and spread rapidly. It was a reminder of the Black Death (Bubonic plague) some 300 years earlier. The King and Parliament moved to Oxford. Some 68.000 people died in London. Theatres and markets were closed, and quarantine imposed. The disease originated in China, and it was spread by infected fleas moving from rats to humans.

In August 1665 a parcel of cloth from London was delivered to the tailor in Eyam, the cloth contained infected fleas. The tailor’s apprentice died within 24 hours and 42 villagers had died by Christmas. The following Spring was warm, and the plague broke out again. Eyam was in panic. Reverend Mompesson called the villagers together and said that they must stay within the village and self-quarantine. The ousted vicar, Thomas Stanley, supported this approach, and the villagers agreed with this action in June 1666. The church was closed, and services were held in the open. Food for the village was brought in by the outside community and left on boundary stones. By August 1666 a further 79 villagers died, including William Mompesson and Alexander Hadfield, the tailor.

The last death was a farm labourer, and Eyam came out of quarantine in November 1666. Out of a population of 800, 260 villagers died, but the plague did not spread. Just 2 people fled from the village during quarantine. Thomas Dudley became a Canon at Southwell Minster. He died in 1670.

The selfless action taken by the Eyam villagers is remembered to this day. Their decision undoubtedly saved lives and the wider community descendants of the Eyam Villagers still live there today.

14th September 2021 – Joe Tierney

Sir Edward Elgar

The Centre’s last meeting with a speaker had taken place in March 2020. It was a pleasure to come together again, and to see familiar faces. The meeting took place at Blakedown Parish Rooms. All future meetings will be held at this single venue.

The speaker was Joe Tierney, formally House and Collections Officer at “The Firs”, Elgars birthplace, at Lower Broadheath, Near Worcester. The property is currently leased to the National Trust. Joe worked at “The Firs” for some 3 years. He is now Site Manager at “Grey Friars” in Worcester.

Joe’s presentation was illustrated not only visually, but also with recorded extracts of Elgar’s music. Elgar could be described as the face of Edwardian England, Elgar’s father, William Henry, moved from Dover to Worcester in1841, at the age of 20. He was a piano tuner, and in 1848 he married Ann, a barmaid. They had 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters.

Worcester was becoming industrialised and in 1855 the family moved to “The Firs” where Edward was born on 2nd June 1857. The cottage always remained in his memory. The family moved back to Worcester in 1859 and the music shop was established near the Cathedral. The children often went back to Lower Broadheath to play and explore. When Edward left school he went to work in a solicitors office but he was far from happy. His interest in music developed and he became a piano teacher, Gradually his skills as a composer grew and prospered. He became an organist at St. George’s Roman Catholic Church in Worcester and conducted the staff band and Powick lunatic asylum.

in 1886 he met Caroline Alice Roberts through his teaching. She was the daughter of a Major General. Her parents disapproved of Elgar, but he subsequently married Caroline in London.

Partly because of his humble background it took time for Edward Elgar to be recognised and established. His success was hard won and not easy. Elgar disliked living in London, and was glad to move to homes in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. He was granted the Freedom of the City of Worcester in 1905 and became a baronet in 1931. He died in 1933.

Today Elgar is rightly regarded as a great composer. The range of his work is considerable and impressive. We are used to his music at the “Last Night of the Proms”, but this is just a fraction of what he achieved. Discovering more of his music is both rewarding and inspiring. He was a remarkable man.