Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 31 December 1927

“Everything We Have.”

Homes Included In Mortgage to Help Hospitals.

“We are now £16,000 on the wrong side of the ledger. We have mortgaged everything we have in order to keep going. The members of the Hospital Board have their houses and furniture to help the hospital.”

This extraordinary revelation was made yesterday by Mr. W. A. Lewis, Chairman of the Montagu Hospital, on the occasion of the visit to the hospital of the members of the “Cranky” revue from the Mexborough Hippodrome, who entertained the patients. The entertainers were received by Mr. Lewis and Mr. Donald Wilson (hospital secretary), and after they had given their concert, they inspected the hospital and had tea.

Mr. Wilson, speaking of the financial position of the hospital, said that just before the coal stoppage last year they had made plans for the extension of the hospital. When payments stopped owing to the dispute they sank into debt to the extent of £35,000 through the building extensions and the reduction of contributions. They raised £24,000 by loans, and were now £16,000 on the wrong side of the ledger. He then made the remarkable statement of the voluntary personal mortgages. They, he added, had asked the miners to increase their subscriptions from Id. to 3d. per week, and they had done so. In committing themselves to mortgages, the Committee were relying upon the miners to keep up their subscriptions, and they had faith that they would do so.

Mr. Lewis, welcoming the revue company, said earlier that the reason theatres and music halls were such a success was that the artists put their heart into the work. He was afraid that where the Churches failed, the heart of the people was not in the work.