Published in Windlesora 20 (2003)
© WLHG
A first visit — dare I go in? It was a rather dark gloomy building. There were mothers discussing problems they had with their children. Where did one start with a new baby? There was a queue for the weighing machine. Help! The babies had to be undressed. I was far from proficient at that for a start. However, the whole atmosphere was casual rather than clinical and I slowly gained in confidence.
The children’s weights were being recorded on blue cardboard folders. A weight loss would mean further discussion with one of the nurses, what had I done wrong? Nurse Newell seemed to be in overall charge and Mrs Clancey was in charge of the weighing. From time to time Dr. Mc Clatchey* would materialise for advice. It was expected of mothers to make a weekly visit. Rules for bringing up children were rather strict. Feeding was at definite times 10 – 2 – 6. Demand feeding was frowned on, as was any immediate response to crying. ‘Babies were easily spoilt,” we were told. Dr Spock’s book of childhood management was a bible with the opening sentence ‘Parents have rights as well as children’.
One was aware of one’s complete ignorance as far as babies were concerned. The weekly clinic was a lifeline and I pushed the pram and its contents home full of confidence that all was well for another week. I do remember feeling on one occasion full of self-gratification that I had been doing the right things. But most of the nurses don’t have children. Is it really all right to accept their advice? Self-doubt about my ability as a mother began before I unlocked the front door. But there would be another clinic next week.
Marjorie Sampson
Marjorie Sampson is the mother of three sons. The eldest, Christopher was born in January 1955. At the time she was living in a house close to the Nags Head at Oakley Green. She had to push her baby in his pram to the Vale Road Clinic and, on many occasions would walk into Windsor with the pram to do her shopping.
* Dr Samuel J. McClatchey, Borough Medical Officer of Health.
Windsor Local History Group 