Mexborough and Swinton Times, July 23, 1937
Splendid Hospital.
No history of the Mexborough district would be complete without reference to the Mexborough Montagu Hospital, an institution of which the district can rightly be proud.
The detailed history of the hospital has been capably written by the late secretary, Mr. Donald M. Wilson, and is familiar to the majority of our readers. It is sufficient to mention here that the original cottage hospital was established in Bank Street, Mexborough, largely through the initiative of Dr. Sykes, and the generosity of Mr. Andrew Montagu, being opened in 1891.
The present building in which the hospital is housed was opened in 1904, the site being given by Capt F. J. O. Montagu together with a donation of £500. The hospital has been extended several times during the last ten years or so, and it is fully equipped to give specialised treatment of all kinds. It suffered a great loss in May 1935 by the sudden death of Mr. D. M. Wilson at Leamington Spa, and he was succeeded in September of the same year by Mr. J. N. Drake, the present Secretary-Superintendent. A stalwart who continues to do fine work for the hospital is Mr. W. A. Lewis, chairman of the Management Board, and in recognition of his services a public testimonial in October 1928 resulted in his receiving a gift of £218 10s. The hospital has been fortunate in the help it has received from industrial concerns and other organisations in the district.
Apart from the recent gift of £1,500 from the Miners’ Welfare Fund, a sum of £2,000 was provided by the fund in 1929, and there have been many other benefactions. Another factor which caused the hospital’s difficulties was the completion of an agreement on December 2nd, 1931, for a 21 years’ lease by the County Council of two new medical wards, already in experimental use, as a County maternity home. A notable addition to the hospital was the nurses’ hostel which was opened in April, 1934, and another extension, comprising two new medical wards, was brought into use
An account of the hospital’s recent difficulties was the completion of an agreement on December 2nd, 1931, for a 21 years’ lease by the County Council of two new medical wards, already in experimental use, as a County maternity home. A notable addition to the hospital was the nurses’ hostel which was opened in April, 1934, and another extension, comprising two new medical wards, was brought into use early this year. An account of the hospital’s recent progress must necessarily include mention of the Coronation Appeal Fund, first mooted in April, 1936. In June of the same year it was announced that a Coronation Shilling Fund was to be opened with the object of raising ten thousand pounds to liquidate the hospital’s existing debts and assist in the financing of the two new medical wards. This appeal was launched in October and successfully completed this year, the sum of £4,300 being raised. Though the sum aimed at was not reached, the major objects of the effort were achieved.