Not just a pretty bay

Many tourists and holiday makers visit the Pembrokeshire coast, for the country and coastal walks, which enable them to take in the magnificent scenic views. As one approaches the coast, on leaving Haverfordwest, one sees in the distance a majestic castle standing in a large estate, overlooking St Brides Bay.

Steeped in baronial history, St Brides Castle, was once the home of Lord and Lady Kensington, who in the early 1900s, decided to move to their smaller residence in Haverfordwest.

The castle and estate were then taken over by the King Edward VII Welsh National Memorial Association, which in 1923 turned the castle into a children's hospital, mainly for the treatment and abolition of the dreaded disease tuberculosis catering for children from Wales and became Kensington Hospital, named after the castl's previous owners.

It was in July 1947, whilst living with my parents at Port Talbot, I was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the left hip. I remember being driven with my parents, from a hospital in Neath, to St Brides on the Pembrokeshire coast.

The journey took us through three counties, along narrow country roads, often cascaded with overhanging tree branches along the route. Kensington Hospital was situated in an estate one and a half miles from the coast, having excellent views of St Bride's Bay, looking across to St Davids.

Crafts, fresh air and Robert Louis Stevenson

The building was shaded by woodlands on either side and at the rear.

From 1923 to the late 1940s there was little known cure for TB, other than plenty of rest and fresh air.

Most cases were housed on the first floor. The orthopaedic cases with affected bones and joints were housed on the ground floor.

Afternoon school was enjoyed by everyone, with a handicrafts session, making trays and baskets with cane, table mats with cane and raffia, and stools, weaving with sea grass.

The afternoon derived a great deal of satisfaction at at what had been accomplished with the finished products being sold to parents and friends, or put on sale at the annual garden fete.

All proceeds went to hospital funds. Most afternoons concluded with a seial reading by Miss Hall such as Neville Shute's 'No Highway' and 'Kidnapped' by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Jimmy Edwards, boxing on the radio and stink bombs

School concluded at 4pm and was followed at 5pm with tea. Evenings were the only time we had to make our own pastimes, like chatting or listening to our favourite radio programmes such as 'Take it from here' with Jimmy Edwards, and 'Welsh Rarebit'.

As far as the boys were concerned, sport came high on the list - listening to football matches and boxing matches - the latter depends on the attitude of the night staff, as most boxing matches were broadcast around 9pm.

Most night staff were understanding, apart from Sister Adams. One evening we wanted to listen to a title fight between Bruce Woodcock and Freddie Mills, but our request was turned down as it was at 9pm.

The senior boys' ward was an extension built on to the rear of the hospital, resembling a greenhouse. The ward office being in the main building had a window overlooking the senior boys' ward, and relied on light and fresh air from that ward. Therefore the top of the window was always ajar.

A meeting was convened among the senior boys, to discuss how we may get our revenge. After browsing a number of comics, it was decided stink bombs were the answer.

The bed next to the window was designated for the chief gunner, and one evening when Sister Adams was settling down to read the day report, two missiles were sent over the gap in the window, and were heard to land on the office desk, or floor.

Moments later a patter of feet was heard coming down the corridor. On entering the ward the question of who did that was posed, but got no response.

With 15 teenage patients in the ward, nine were immobile and confined to bed, leaving three able-bodied patients.

Sister Adams stripped every bed in the war, and instructed the three 'up' patients to remake the beds. Our conclusion was that Sister Adams had missed her vocation and would have best suited a military hospital!

Winter evenings at Kensington Hospital were helped along with a fortnightly film show. This was put on in a large room, on the ground floor, called 'The Play Room'.

Those who were able, sat on chairs, whilst those on frames were placed on a rug on the floor. The evening began with a documentary film, followed by a feature film and ended with a cartoon.

The patients were indeed fortunate that the hospital had a management with foresight in keeping the young child patients morale high and backed with an excellent hospital team. This, plus the hospital school, saw us all through the long ordeal.

It was in 1949 with the introduction of Streptomycin that patients with tuberculosis were given hope and eventually a new lease of life.

Such was the impact of their stay that when organising a patient/staff reunion in 2002, when 60 ex patients and staff, with their friends and family, attended. I was asked when the next would take place and since 2004 it has become an annual event.

With a job well done, Kensington Hospital closed its doors in 1978, and is now owned by the Holiday Property Bond, who for one day a year open their doors to us for a few hours and for a small charge provide a buffet lunch.

In 2009, a commemorative plaque was unveiled at St Brides Castle in recognition of 55 years of patient care that took place there and an acknowledgement by patients young and old for the help they received there.

David Pearce