Village Doctors
Sybil Beard Remembers
Dr Woodward at the Stone House used to do everything. You went in round the side and there was a dispensary. He set broken legs and sewed up bits where you got bashed. It was very exceptional to be sent to hospital.
The district nurse lived in Longworth, she was a midwife as well. The midwife delivered babies and the doctor came out at night, not like now.
Stone House surgery and home of Dr Woodward. Southmoor Cottage – Mrs Woodward doctor’s wife lived there after he died. It was previously a farm cottage.
Mrs V.E. Soden Remembers
We also had our own doctor (Dr Woodward) who lived at Stone House. He travelled to his patients on a decrepit old motor-bike. Then there were the hop gardens which provided work for a lot of local people. (I’m not quite sure whether they were owned by Mr Strauss or Mr Lessing of Kingston House). When the hops were ready to pick, hordes of Londoners came down to help. They would spend about a month here and looked upon it as their annual holiday. Huts were provided for them to live in and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
On the Cumnor History website is a mention of Dr Woodward and his motor-bike.
Dr Woodward of Kingston Bagpuize used to arrive with a motorbike and side-car; he would fill the room with his bulky weather-proof clothing.
It is possible that Dr Woodward looked a bit like this, with an added sidecar.
Dick (Alan) Clarke,(with Jane Reid)Remembers
Dr Woodward lived at the cottage [Southmoor Cottage] there when I was alive. I remember old Mr Carter at Stone House – he was something to do with the Oxford Dictionary (Jane).
Source: Beard VILLAGE MEMORIES – 1920s Oxfordshire Family Historian Summer 1987 edition - Volume 4, number 5 and KBS News May 1987; Longworth History Society
Nurse Kelsey had an Infant Welfare Clinic at Longworth Sunday School. Teas were served by Mrs Cole [Hon Secretary] Mrs Bright of Charney, Miss Ruth Bright and Mrs Ralph [Hon Treasurer].
Source: Faringdon Gazette Sept 20 1940.