remember was Nurse Blomberg who lived just up Union Road, two doors up
from the corner of Dering Road. l think her father was Norwegian which
explains her unusual name.
After his retirement (and l will try and find the date but l was living in the
States at the time and can’t remember when this was, and nor can my sister)
but it must have been in the mid 60s, he worked part time until he was 70 as a
member of the medical board that assessed people for disability allowances.
The offices were on the New Dover Road.
l think that in my last letter l probably mentioned Mr. Stockwell, the Chemist,
who lived and worked in his shop on the corner of Brewery Lane. Prescriptions
were either taken down to him by hand or phoned down. He made most of the
tablets up himself and put them into round pill boxes.
When the Hunter Room was built as the extension to the Reading Room my
father was very honoured to have it named after him.
l still meet people who, on finding out who l am, always say “Oh, l remember
your father. He was a lovely man and such a caring doctor. He’d come out
anytime, day and night, when you needed him.” This is usually followed by the
words “Not like nowadays”! My sister and l feel very proud of him and the
affection and trust he was held in.
l am enclosing a copy of the address given at his funeral by Mr. Gilbert, Vicar
of Bridge, which l thought you might find useful. H
l have a small booklet with the names of all the subscribers to a gift that the
patients gave my father when he retired. The names of the Bridge subscribers
are all listed under the names of the streets where they lived - the High
Street, Brewery Lane, etc. it is a record of the names of many of the people
living in Bridge, Patrixbourne, Bishopsbourne, Bekesbourne at the time of his
retirement. l would like to keep this, but would be happy to send it to you if
you would like to see it and maybe make a copy. lt’s a small ring binder so easy
to copy.
l hope this is helpful to you. lt’s rather fun reminiscing, so do get in touch if l
can supply anymore information about Bridge.
Yours sincerely,

Diana Cairns