A doctor in Wales

THIS month’s meeting of the Loughborough Welsh

Society turned out quite nice in the end. It was the” Lydia and Jane show”, with interesting thoughts from Lydia in respect of her Father’s time as a G.P in North Wales and Jane’s discourse on some of the “nicknames” associated with various Welsh people and professions.

Lydia said her parents married the week before the outbreak of WW2 , and her Father ran the local Medical Practice in the village, where his patients were mostly rural folk.

meaning perhaps quite long distances to visit those in need; leading at times a journey of some 30 minutes each way, as well as actual time spent with the patient.

She stated that some of the female patients were inclined to consult her Mother rather than trust a “Male Doctor” for seemingly smaller complaints of a “women’s nature”.

Pre National Health days it was common for Doctors to dispense their own Medicines. and of course in theory were unable to treat their own Family members.

Lydia also said with the advent of the N.H.S in 1948, and the belief of “from the Womb to the Tomb” aspect, the number of night calls increased, as did the ailments of various people.

She regaled the members with various amusing stories that her Mother and Father became involved in.

Jane on the other hand was able to amuse the Members with quite a list of “nicknames” gained over the years, mostly from small communities, and articles in various Newspapers etc. With many people having the same Surname it was quite common to add the profession to distinguish who was being talked about. Too many Jones, Thomas, Evans,

Williams etc living in the vicinity lead to different ways of doing this; thus it was Evans the Milk or Jones the butcher etc. . Also many of the all conquering Welsh Rugby Teams were “Christened “in this way as well.

There was also time at the meeting to attend to the need for volunteers to take part in the Christmas Celebration next month at St Mary’s Church, Nanpantan, which should be a worthwhile event to enhance the Spirit of that special time of year.