Published in Windlesora 29 (2013)
© WLHG
In this year of the anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and the anniversary of the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, we are reminded that in 1887, the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated in Windsor and throughout the nation, by the founding of a District Nursing Service by Queen Victoria and Her Royal Highness, Princess Christian.
The nation had given £70, 000 to commemorate the Jubilee. Queen Victoria wished to establish a service to care for the poor and sick of Windsor, and with the help of Princess Christian, whose life was heavily involved in nursing, this was established in what was then, 3 – 4 (now 12 – 14) Clarence Road. The letter that Princess Christian wrote to The Times and to the Royal Borough, in July of 1888, ensured her involvement from the beginning. Number 3 Clarence Villas was rented to house these nurses, but Miss Jane Wade, who had trained at the Metropolitan, the first appointee, was established in King’s Road. Clarence Villas became the ‘Mother House’. District Nursing continued from here until a further property was purchased on Alma Road, and the service continued from there for many years. Inspections were undertaken by the Metropolitan Nursing Association.
The District Nursing Service soon spread throughout the surrounding areas, with nurses appointed to Eton, Addlestone, Egham, Ascot, Staines, and Chertsey, all reporting to and inspected by Miss Simpson on a regular basis. Twenty years later the annual report reveals that as well as the lady superintendant, there was one assistant, four district nurses, two midwives, and thirty private nurses.
A District Nurses’ job was a varied one, as can be seen from this magazine drawing, dated 1900. One, a Miss Memuir, was stopped by gypsies and asked to give a dose of medicine to their ailing donkey, which she duly did. A few days later they sought her out, the donkey had died but as a thank you for her help they presented her with one of the donkey’s shoes mounted in silver.
Today the District Nursing Service for the residents of Windsor continues to give care and service.
Windsor Local History Group 