60 years of memories at Cherry Knowle Hospital

[@RobertIredale]

We used to take them out for day trip’s about 1978/79 great people

[@philosopher2310]

I did my training at Cherry Knowle from 1985-1988 then worked as a staff nurse in Laurels East 5 from 1998-1990. I keep in touch with some of the folk I trained with through social media. I'm now a lecturer in mental health nursing in Edinburgh.

[@doreenkupchick758]

Thanks for the memories,I enjoyed that.I remember going to the film night on a Friday.I was hoping to see my parents at one of the Balls they had.My Dad was on the football team,he is on the first picture shown,he played cricket too.I had a jumble sale during the war in Silksworth,money went to the wounded soldiers at Cherry Knowle.My Dad was Edward Laws,his brother worked there too his name Tom.

[@49mrbassman]

Brought back some wonderful memories of my time there as a student nurse.

[@AgentOrange731]

Thank you Ray, Ive been scouring the net for photos of Cherry Knowle back in the day, as my Mum used to work at the WRVS there, my Uncle was a nurse there, and my dance school put on a display for the patients there back in 1989 (was great fun doing the "can-can" to the patients, whose eyes lit up to a line of girls happily dancing a great routine courtesy of Kathleen Knox School of Dance to the patients who seemed to enjoy it muchly) Very sad to see the place demolished.. I went back a lot in 2011 to wander around the derelict building to document it in photos before it went forever. Thanks again. Cat x

[@makemray1]

Hello, I don't know your name but if you get back to me I can let you know about Facebook pages associated with Cherry Knowle Staff. Who was your uncle and mam ?

[@makemray1]

Very pleased you enjoyed the video. It has brought back many memories to not only the staff I made it for a reunion but also many other people with an interest.

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

I was a brand new bus driver in the early seventies Cherry Knowles was my destination picking up passengers from Park Lane bus station, I completed my journey at the terminus inside the hospital grounds, all of the passengers mostly medical staff and visitors had got off my bus, all but one, sitting on the long back seat was a young man and he was not moving, I said to him this is it mate its as far as I go, there is another stop after this one he replied, it was my first time driving this route and i was unsure about the information he was telling me so i complied with his instructions and drove further into the hospital, the road started getting narrower and i thought to myself this is no bus route it was then he chose to disembark laughing as he jumped off, I was stuck with no way to turn around I had to look for help from a male nurse who guided me as I reversed the bus to the terminus, I thanked the nurse for his assistance and told him about the laughing young man Oh he said thats Gary a patient of the mental hospital he often tries that trick on new bus drivers.

[@MichaelElliott-h2j]

My cousin trained there in the 60s he became a dual trained nurse

[@colinwears4]

A lot of memories from 1974 to 1987 for me

[@petschanel3072]

Were you in there?

[@mariestewart1118]

I was in the west Willow's such a shame when it got demolished I also been in the new hospital so not the same XXX ❤️

[@bryancarr1287]

I remember doing a few shifts at cherry. Is it closed down completely now. The willows, the Beaches, The Field House.

[@farralad734]

My great grandmother had electric shock treatment there..nice 👌

[@makemray1]

Yes, ECT was a treatment that was carried out . In my day in the 70's patients were not awake when this was carried out. Initially, in the 30's ( not sure when that stopped ) they were conscious. I am not sure but it may still be an option as a last resort. Someone more recently working in the field may comment on this.

[@farralad734]

@@makemray1 my old pal who's working on the rigs as a medic off China said he was a nurse there 18yo and told me the tunnel underneath is that true Ray?I'm interested in old Sunderland im originally from Farringdon my family Pearson ward kidd were owners off multiple properties and bars....Im doing a wee collection on my you tube channel...cheers

[@makemray1]

@@farralad734 The whole laurels building ( The main building) had a system of underground cellars which maybe some people referred to as 'tunnels' . I never went down them but I seem to remember someone said they followed the line of the corridors. Maybe someone else will be able to add more information. Whats your friends name, I may know him.

[@johnhope6443]

Recognise some names and faces from when I was a patient at the Beeches ward.

[@sharonlangley2175]

Hi could anybody tell me if they knew of a patient named Lancetta Elliott (Nancy). She was a patient there from a very young age until as far as i know around 2008/9 roughly. Thanks in advance

[@mariestewart1118]

I think I may of x

[@ARTSPECK]

Johnny Jones, Franky Parks, Alan Butler, Bob Butler, Romano, Alan Hughs, Jack Bond. Derek Dean

[@makemray1]

Is this Arthur Speck ?

[@ARTSPECK]

@@makemray1 That’s me yes.

[@makemray1]

@@ARTSPECK Hi, I started CKH in 1972 and heard stories about staff ( as you do ) The name rings a bell. Did you also live next the Cavalier for a while and run Window Cleaning business as well as other enterprises.

[@makemray1]

Sadly , of the names you mentioned only Johnny Jones and Osso are still with us.

[@ARTSPECK]

@@makemray1 Guilty on all charges. I bought the Pit managers house and ran a car hire business, window cleaning and toy store from there. I started CK in 1955, got called up for National Service as soon as I qualified in 1960, and went to South Shields General in about 1972.

[@louiseconquer8744]

Yey im on it! Xx

[@joesouter5253]

Nice one Ray

[@moiraleitch7284]

Does anyone remember keith elliot and alan bisset who worked there as nurses in the 60s

[@makemray1]

Yeah I know keith and still see him and other lads a couple of times a year when we meet up.

[@joanoconnor9799]

I went there when my uncle was in there put in by is wife got him out sorted him out then went back to ive went on for years

[@danworzofski822]

Poor sods that had to have treatment there.