Back in the day: Break time

Last week's photo

Joan Daniels, Patsy Pitcher, Judith Furbert, Delaey Robinson, Meredith Ebbin, Leo Mills and one unidentified caller revealed the history behind last week’s photo.

The photo is from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, but it may be on one of the old wings that later became the Department of Education.

The nurse on the left is Patsy Pitcher (nee Crofton). Recently retired, she is a graduate of the KEMH nursing assistants programme, and, according to Meredith Ebbin (who worked alongside her on Cooper Ward), she was one of “the many excellent graduates who came through” the programme and is “remembered fondly by patients and colleagues for giving excellent care”.

The picture had very special meaning for Ms Ebbin, not only because it featured an old colleague, but also because the patient in the centre is her grandfather Ambrose Ebbin. He died in March 1969, so Ms Ebbin believes the photo was taken in either 1968 or 1969.

The orderlies in the centre of the photo are Kirwan Brangman, left, and trainee orderly Michael ‘Mikey’ Dears. They are both now deceased.

Delaey Robinson, who was a summer student at the hospital, said Mr Brangman “was almost always cheerful, was very strong, and was generally kinder to others than they were to him”. He remembered playing chess with him during the night shifts.

If you can piece together the history from this week’s photo, or even if you have a historical shot of your own that we might be able to feature, please contact me at 278-1880 or [email protected]

Break Time: Can you identify the gentlemen in this photo? Do you know anything about the location or the occasion? If so, please contact Gary Foster Skelton at 278-1880 or [email protected]. *Photo courtesy of Scott Stallard