Mexborough and Swinton Times March 10, 1939

Hospital Worker Presentation
Cheque and Address for Mr. Harry Thompson
30 Years’ Service Recognised
Colleagues’ Warm Tributes

Mr. Thompson receiving the illuminated address from the Hospital Chairman, Mr. W. A. Lewis. Also on the picture are Mr. G. Dickinson (President), Mr. A. R. Martin (Vice-Chairman), Mr, J. N. Drake (Secretary-Superintendent), Mr. R. Dayson (Hon. Treasurer), and Miss O’Callaghan (Matron).

To mark his retirement from secretarial office after nearly forty years’ service, Mr. Harry Thompson was presented, at Saturday’s meeting of the Montagu Hospital Management Committee, with a cheque for £49 7s. 6d. and an illuminated address, bearing a summary of the offices he has held.

Mr. Thompson has had a life-long interest in the institution and is the principal link between the original hospital and the large general hospital of to-day. From 1905 until January of this year he had been at various times secretary, acting secretary and honorary secretary.

Regards

Mr . G. H. Dickinson, the president, presenting the cheque, asked Mr. Thompson to accept “this little appreciation of your devotion to this Hospital for so many years.” He was sure the recipient would not wish any greater honour than to live in the hearts of those whom he had served and succoured, but the cheque was a practical expression of their regard. They hoped it would brighten and lend peace to the eventide of a noble and unselfish life. Mr. Dickinson offered Mr. Thompson his sincere good wishes.

Mr. W. A. Lewis, Chairman of the Board, presented Mr. Thompson with an illuminated address which detailed his services as secretary, acting secretary, and honorary secretary to the Hospital from 1905 to January, 1939, when he retired in his 80th year. The address bore the following: “It is given ‘ as a token of esteem and in kindly and appreciative recognition of his long and faithful secretarial service for the Montagu Hospital.”

Mr. Lewis said the address was a sincere tribute from the Board to a sincere friend and colleague. Mr. Thompson had been associated with the Hospital from its infancy and he had done a great deal of work which a great number of people had no knowledge of. There was a time when they had no contributory scheme, and the Hospital was only maintained small as it was in those days—by men whose whole soul was on fire for suffering humanity. Among them was Mr. Thompson.

“I have sat here for mare years than I care to remember,” went on Mr Lewis, “and I have had some idea of the sacrifices Mr. Thompson has made.” It might be that some of them would never have presentations, but they would all share with Mr              Thompson the consciousness that they had lived to a purpose. Mr. Thompson had done his bit and they hoped he would live long to go on the bowling green and the cricket field, then to the old men’s retreat, and when he lit his pipe at home he would have before him that sincere testimony from his fellow workers of the Montag Hospital.

Genial Personality.

Mr. J. N. Drake (Secretary-Superintendent), said he had known Mr Thompson during the last three and half years, and he was fully aware of his qualities even though Mr. Thompson was past his prime. One of his chief qualities was his high spirit, and another his memory. Until a recent illness Mr. Thompson could remember in detail incidents of fifty years ago and he was very useful indeed in re calling the history of the Hospital. Another quality was his geniality; he was always ready for a story and a smile. Mr. Thompson, replying, recalled that in his long experience of the Hospital

he had attended many meetings where presentations had been made—for example, to Messrs. Drabble and Laidlaw —and he was very glad and proud that the Committee had thought him worthy of one. “The Hospital work,” he said, “has been very dear to me, and I was blessed with a partner who had the same feeling.

Mrs. Thompson was a very active worker for the Hospital, and then my son helped with the secretarial work, so that the whole family was interested. I have always taken an interest in the institution since it was a Cottage Hospital, and I have had a happy time working with Mr. Drake. From what I have seen of him he is going to be a very tine man for this Hospital. As an honorary member I shall continue to keep in touch with you.”