Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 04 July 1930
Conisbro’ Feast.
40th. Hospital Demonstration
The 40th annual hospital demonstration at Conisboro’ last Sunday was the best for years. The sun shone brilliantly, and the procession was larger than usual.
The procession was headed by the Denaby Main Salvation Army Band, and included representatives of the Cadeby Y.M.A. branch, 1000 Sunday School scholars, Conisboro’ and Denaby Scouts with bands, Denaby and Wombwell C.L.B. with bands, Conisboro’ and Mexboro Fire Brigades with engines, Conisboro’ Ambulance and Nursing Divisions. All met at Burcroft and marched round the village, via Conanby, to the Miners’ Welfare field.
At the service, the Vicar, the Rev. H. Lee, presided, in the absence of Dr. W. J. McClure. He was supported by Col. Connell, of Sheffield; Ald. Lane, Doncaster; Miss Hall, matron of the Godfrey Walker Convalescent Home; Mr. Tom Williams, M.P., Mr. B. Gethen, and Mr. G. Harrison.
The Salvation Army Band led the singing, but the public were their own choir.
Col. A. M. Connell, Sheffield, hon. surgeon at the Fullerton Hospital, Denaby, said this was his first visit to a hospital demonstration at Conisboro’, and it was a pleasure. There were three sides to a hospital, the material, the spiritual, and the scientific, and Col. Connell spoke most interestingly on the scientific side. He spoke on the value of insulin as a care for diabetes, and lastly headaches.
In giving extracts from the annual report of the Fullerton Hospital, Mr. B. Gethen stated that the hospital still owed £2,000 to the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company; they had repaid £41,000 of the £6,000 that had been loaned. He was of the opinion that State aid was necessary if the hospitals were to be carried on efficiently.
Ald. Lane, hon. secretary of the Doncaster Miners’ Hospital Fund, said he was pleased to hear that the Fullerton Hospital only owed £11,000; the Doncaster Royal Infirmary owed £54,000. Since he came to Doncaster 90 years ago they had experienced big changes. The income from the collieries some years ago was £4, 000, but two years ago the miners’ contributions had increased to £10,000. They had now decided to increase their subscriptions by a penny all round to wipe off the debt on the new infirmary. At that moment patients were being transferred to the new infirmary, which had cost £191,000. He agreed with Mr. Gethen about State aid. The State had taken charge of education, and the time would come when the Government would subscribe to the hospitals. He was proud to hear that Denaby had the services of a man like Col. Connell.
Mr. Tom Williams, M.P., proposed the vote of thanks.
Flower day collections for the cause were held on Friday and Saturday.