Gulson Road Hospital

I remember going to the school dentist at Gulson Road Hospital and i absolutely hated it. In fact to this day I have a phobia about dentists and won't go unless I am in agony and then I am shaking in the chair, literally.

Although I never had the "pleasure" of the Gulson dentist, I did have similar problems in the 50s and 60s with Stanley Meacock in Eaton Road - although he hurt me, I made sure his hands got bitten as well and often drew his blood But, I am sure it wasn't the dentist who hurt us but the equipment, and nowadays there is little to fear from the modern paraphernalia they use - even the injections don't hurt like they did, they're either with needles as thin as a strand of hair or even needleless - on occasions I've had to ask my dentist if he really has given me a shot as I hadn't felt it at all

I commend your bravery MR, I have a yellow streak down my back. No doubt when the awful time comes they will have to knock me out with a bunch of fives ! However, thank you for your encouraging words

And here it is!

I had identical glasses when I was five. I had to go to Gulson Road Hospital to see the eye specialist who prescribed glasses. When I moved up a form at Stoke National I was unable to see the blackboard. In those days the optician who was selected to attend to children's eyewear was the last shop on the right at the end of the Arcade in Smithford Street leading to the Barracks market. The name eludes me at the moment, but the manager was very nice, (May have been Scottish) and I remember how polite he was opening the shop door for my mother when we left. Does anyone see such courtesy afforded these days? The manager of Hurrells at the entrance to the Arcade was Mr Cusworth, who lived next door to my grandparents in Coundon. His son, Steven Cusworth had the butcher's shop in Bromleigh Drive, Stoke which was in the small parade of our local shops, ending on the corner with the Off-licence, next to which was the fish shop where we would buy penny ice 'lollies' but they were no more than a touch of fruit cordial or squash frozen with mostly water into ice blocks. There must have been a greengrocer as well because when bananas were 'in' the word went round and all the local housewives would join the queue for them. My brother never liked bananas and I suppose this was because they were not available during most of the war.

I was born at Gulson Hospital in February 1956, I would like to know if there are any maternity records available for this era. My Mum was staying in Coventry when I arrived earlier than expected. She died (divorced) when I was only 12 so I have no way of finding out why she was in Coventry or who she was visiting. Any help on records would be gratefully received. By the way does this mean I am a true Coventrian!?!

Yes, you are one of the elite band of Coventry Kids. You have to be born within the city walls to be a Coventry Kid and as you were born in Gulson Hospital you were born within the old city walls. I think that part of the wall is still visible near the site of the old hospital.

i also was born in gulson hospital in 1946 seems a long time when I think of it

I was born at Gulson Hospital in 1936 and that is definitely a long time ago! We lived in Whitefriars Street at the time.

Do you have a copy of your birth certificate? PS Coventrian is the usual word!

When I first found this forum, I had little idea about the wealth and depth of this forum, and banged on about my childhood, now I am feeling very humble as I have caught up with this topic, as I read of your childhood, so if I annoyed anyone will you please accept my apology my regards Kaga. Midland Red, I to would like to find out the records of a 6 year old patient in GRH in 50/51 time. May I ask, how to go about this? .

Can't help you there, I'm afraid - medical records are, of necessity, difficult to obtain

Yes, I agree, they need to be difficult to obtain. One's medical details and history should be a private matter between the doctor and patient. I say this because of the current trend in shops or supermarkets (anywhere in fact) where the greeting is "how are you?" or "are you alright?". I usually ask them if they are my doctor. They haven't a clue what this implies or what I'm on about. Anyone with half a brain knows we're not 'alright', we are under pressure from all sides with political, social and financial unease. But the supermarkets want to appear to be concerned for you on a personal level, when in fact the total opposite is the case. All they are interested in is your money. If you dropped dead outside their store (after they've got your money) then that wouldn't concern them. And what can they do if you're not alright? nothing - I suggest. You can see the discomfort of the serving staff when I ask them if they are my doctor, it's obvious they couldn't give a monkeys. but the store's policy is to deceive you into thinking they care. It's simply a device to extract your cash. Apologies if this is off topic but it seems a good place to say this.