People -Recruitment - Severalls Hospital
Severalls Hospital
Recruitment
Severalls Mental Hospital
Second Essex County Asylum
...past...present...future...
Back to The People
In the first few years that the Asylum was open, finding Male Staff was nigh-on impossible, when all but the elderly and sick men were "called-up" to "do their duty for King & Country" during the First World War (1914 to 1918). This shortage of Male Staff continued into the 1920's, and although levels gradually increased up until the Second World War (1939 to 1945), the idea of have Male only Staff on the Male Side was pretty much abandoned, which would eventually lead to a more relaxed mixed working environment as the decades passed-by. By the 1950's, there was another Staff shortage at Severalls -again one which was being experienced throughout the Country. This time however, the shortage was for Female, as well as Male Staff. The Ministry of Health initiated a tremendous Recruitment Drive, and an invitation was extended to the farthest reaches of the Commonwealth, as well as closer to home within Europe. During all the years that Severalls was open, people came and went, but even though the doors of the old Asylum have been locked for years, the memories of the friendships forged live will live on for a long time yet.
Leaflets & photographs kindly donated by former Severalls Hospital Nurse Ingrid Kramer (nee Sewerin)
You are viewing the text version of this site.
To view the full version please install the Adobe Flash Player and ensure your web browser has JavaScript enabled.
Need help? check the requirements page.
Memories or comments? Feel free to share below.
INFORMATION & RECORDS RELATING TO STAFF & PATIENTS:
Thanks to everyone who have left messages and e-mails.
For anyone who is looking for information relating to Family Relatives of Staff & Patients at Severalls Hospital, please see below:-
The Essex Records Office holds a lot of information from the Hospital, and they might also hold Staff / Patient Records. I do know that they have some Patient-related information, however this is closed for Public viewing for 100 years. I believe that the ERO do consider individual requests, if, for example, you are researching a Family Member / Relative. For more information, please see the below links.
ERO website:-
SEAX (online Archive Search):- http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp
With SEAX, you'll need to obtain a Readers Ticket if you are intending to order any documents for viewing.
Another possible source of information could be the North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.....
http://www.nepft.nhs.uk/
Hope this has helped, and all the best with your search.
SMH Admin.
Hi, I am trying to trace a lady called Joan who worked as a pupil nurse during the 1970's. Her maiden name was Wicks but would probably have been known by her married name Woodrow by the time she worked there. If anyone has any information about her or where she is now please could you let me know.
I remember this picture well ,I had one of the tutors waving at me telling me to get my hands out of my pockets ,Thank you Mrs Minter for ruining my pose
Hello, I've been working between 72 and 73 with great joy at Severall'shospital. I recognize some of the nurses and the young man of the group on the last picture : Allan Gates. It was a great time then.
Hello Ingrid,
Once again, a BIG THANKS for sharing these leaflets and photos, and for the descriptions too. I hope that all is well with you and the Family.
Best Regards,
SMH Admin.
Hi Jo,
Thank you for adding your memories and putting your name to this leaflet!
Kind Regards,
SMH Admin.
In the leaflet "join our team" I am the girl on the right side with blonde hair just above sister Moody. My name then was Jo Broadhurst I then became Gasewicz. They were very happy years and would not have changed them for anything.
Addition to slide 9, Recruitment:
Slide 9 Group photo taken at presentation of awards 4th July 1974:
Far left: Mr. N. Shivji; 3rd from left: Mr. Adrian P. Nelson; 4th from left: Miss Ingrid E. Sewerin;
5th from left: Mrs. Kate Cooper; 8th from left: Miss Sue P. Walker. Unfortunately I don´t remember
the names of the remaining people!
I would like to add some more information about the leaflets and photographs above, which fortunately have remained in my possession up to now and therefore enabled me to donate this material to the Severalls Website.
Slide 1 Under the heading"Join Our Team" I remember the following people´s names:
Male nurse in suit is David McIsaac, whose brother Murray also trained at the same time in Severalls;
the two ladies concentrating on reading some patient´s document are Sue P. Walker (left) and Sister Valerie Moody (right). Sister Moody was Ward Sister on Myland Court East/ female admission ward, I remember her very fondly and hope, she is still doing well.
Slide 2 The blonde girl playing the guitar on the left is Irish nurse Mairead (Maisie) Fitzgerald.
Unfortunately I don´t remember the name of the nurse on the second photo, but it probably was taken at one of the regular coachtrips which were undertaken with patients to the near seaside.
Slide 3 Left picture top row: Two nurses doing homework in the nurses´ studyroom with library.
Middle top row: Male nurse David Collins taking blood.
Right picture top row: Nurse K.L. Ng checking an i.v. drip.
Middle picture below: Nurse Marion Collins and colleague taking a walk in the
autumnal hospital grounds with a group of geriatric patients.
Slide 8 Nurse Ingrid E. Sewerin at the presentation of awards 4th July 1974. Background middle shows Mr. George Wood, Nursing Tutor. I learned so much from him and appreciated his special sense of humour and dedication to his work. I hope very much he is still doing well !