Memories of Weymouth and District Hospital (From Dorset Echo)
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Memories of Weymouth and District Hospital
1:00pm Tuesday 13th December 2011 in Looking Back
Footballer Frank O’Farrell visits sick children in Weymouth and District Hospital in the spring of 1962. Diabetes sufferer Graham Sargent, from Weymouth, is pictured with the footballer
A TREASURED childhood memory, complete with picture, has been recalled for us by Graham Sargent.
When he was 12, Graham was admitted to Weymouth and District Hospital because he suffered from – and still does – Type 1 diabetes.
While he was there, the children’s ward received a visit from famed footballer Frank O’Farrell and he sent us the image of the sportsmen surrounded by slightly star-struck staff and poorly children.
Graham recalls: “He visited the hospital in January or February 1962 (I am not sure of the actual date), after Weymouth FC beat Morecambe in the third round of the FA Cup.
“He brought in sticks of Morecambe rock for the children in the children’s ward of the hospital. As I was the eldest child at the time, I was asked to receive and thank Mr O’Farrell for the rock.
“Unfortunately, as I was still being treated for diabetes, whch I had only just been diagnosed with, I could not eat the rock myself.”
The photograph, which was taken by a photographer working for the Dorset Evening Echo shows Graham holding a stick of rock, with another little girl standing by.
Also in the picture is one of the doctors holding a small baby boy in his arms, with the matron and sister looking on.
Graham adds: “He was very nice, but as I was only 12 years of age at the time and it is nearly 50 years ago, I cannot remember what else was said.
“I cannot remember the names of the little girl or baby boy, or what happened to them. I know that Frank O’Farrell was a very talented football player as well as being a successful football manager.
“From a personal point of view, I am now 62 years of age, and have recently been awarded the Alan Nabarro medal by Diabetes UK for surviving 50 years living with diabetes. I do not know what happened to the little girl or the baby boy, but it would be interesting to know. I would also be interested to know how Mr O’Farrell was these days. I expect he has fond memories of Weymouth.”
