Research Forum

Queen Alexandra's Memorial Hospital, Weston Super Mare
published by on Fri, 18/08/2017 - 21:01

Can anybody help me I know it is not really ancestry, but while going through my fathers medals I found a medal which is brown in colour and on the front face is an image of and states " The R.H.The Duke and Duchess of York " and on the reverse face, a Building with a Cross over and the words " For the Sick and Suffering " below the building the words Queen Alexandra's Memorial Hospital Weston S Mare and dated July 1928. I would appreciate any info. Brian B.

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Sat, 19/08/2017 - 1:12

Whar an interesting find! The Hopital was opened in 1928 by the Duke and Duchess of York (Later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (known to us all today as the Queen Mother)

Much of the funding for the hospital was raised by Henry Butt who was later the first Mayor of Weston in 1937.

Submitted by on Sat, 19/08/2017 - 8:33

I thank you very much Pat for the information and the postcard image, is the hospital still standing and where was it constructed, I am guessing on the sea front. My interest in this medal is growing, who was given these medals, were they given on the grand opening of the Hospital?

Submitted by Pat Hase on Mon, 21/08/2017 - 12:30

The building, situated in the Boulevard, is still there but now converted into housing called Henry Butt House BS23 1NF. Regarding the medal,

I have now assertained (from Brian Austin who also has a medal given to one of his family) that they were presented by Henry Butt to those who contributed to the fund raising.

Submitted by Les Martels on Mon, 21/08/2017 - 14:04

It was so good to find that Henry Butt was a person as years ago, my mother told me a tale of when she first met my father. She was in the Winter Gardens with her little sister in the early 1930's when my father approached her and started 'chatting her up'. She asked him his name and he told her Henry (true) and when she pressed him for his surname, he supposedly looked at a plaque on the wall or bench and read Henry BUTT so told her his name was Henry Butt. It must have worked as she married him a short while later when she was only 18.

Submitted by on Mon, 25/09/2017 - 13:53

An interesting point - The Duke and Duchess of York were to stay with the Duke of Beaufort's family before coming to WSM but the Beauforts were ill and consequently they stayed with the Gibbs family at Tyntesfield. The Gibbs' were known to the royal family. Not helpful genealogically perhaps but fills out the story!!