Gulson Road Hospital

Mmmm, methinks they are told to say it. Company policy.

Hmm, methinks you have understanding. Well said.

Midland red, Thanks anyway.

Photo from 1977

Hi again guys - Ciaran here - I'm after pics of the Gulson Hospital - I couldn't see any at the History Centre Thanks, Ciaran

The only pictures that I've seen of the Gulson Road area are from the air at the Britain from Above site. Register/log in to zoom in. Scroll down to the bottom for more images of the area and nearby. Gulson from the air

I am glad this thread has come up again as it reminds me of two stays my newly wedded wife had there, both not long after our wedding, 4.1.1966. I only visited her there, but apart from having to have the actual surgery she had nothing but praise for the place; the "lovely caring" Irish nurses and was it visits from "The Sisters of Mercy" (?) who weren`t in the least worried that she was not of their faith. She especially liked the "little blue pills" they gave her at night to take away the pain. Her first operation was for an appendicitis, not quite an emergency but pretty quick. There`s an anecdote attached to the history of her condition. Age of 12 or so, she stayed in St. Andrews, Scotland. She had what was called a Grumbling Appendix, and eventually was taken into the Cottage Hospital there to have it taken out. The Surgeon came through from Edinburgh to perform the operation. On the operating table - she talked him out of it. Apparently she was due to appear in some performance at school and she couldn`t let the rest of the cast down and the pain had ceased grumbling etc. etc. Her own local doctor (friend of the family) was furious. Anyway retribution caught up with her at Gulson Road. She attained a Gold Medal in Speech and Drama - sounds as though she started early.

I'm sorry if I'm hi-jacking this thread, but, regarding my recent request for pics of Elliott's garage at the top of Gulson Rd, is this the same centre right in the aerial view??

Yes, matchle55, it certainly is - well spotted

Hi, I was wondering if I could use these photos for a film I am making? Do you know who has copyright? Thanks, Ciaran

Hi Ciaran - they were just off the web so not 'owned' by me. Hope you've found them useful.

I trained in 1974-1977 and lived in the nurses home at Gulson Road for the first year. I was in the end room on the top floor next to the fire escape. It was freezing and had no electricity points. The first thing I was told was that my room was haunted!! I worked on 3 wards and in Edyvean Walker Unit. The Nursing Officer was dressed in bottle green and stood at the entrance to the ward watching us, tutting! We were all terrified of her. The dishy doctor on the children's ward was Finn Brennick (? spelling). He was the favourite of all the sisters on the ward! I was actually born in Gulson so am proud to say I am a true Coventry kid! I was born on a door placed over a bath - not enough beds my mum said. Then I had to see the school dentist there and can remember being dragged up the stairs to have my brace fitted. When I had an evening off I walked out of the back gate and got pie and chips from Kyriakou fish and chip shop. When I came back late from town, the high gates into the hospital grounds were always locked, so, my friends and I had to climb up and over them to get in. One of my overriding memories there was meeting a patient with the rare Christmas Disease! Happy memories of time there although I was happy to move over to Walsgrave nurses home later. Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Great story Helena. My sister was born on a board over a bath in the Leek and Moorlands hospital. Proof that NHS bed shortage is nothing new. They kept telling my mum that birth was ages off and they'd have a bed for her at the critical moment. They were wrong and the matron just caught my sister before she hit the taps a few minutes later