William and Janet Pattison's Children - Ellen - What she did when she returned home

Auntie Ellen

Eleanor Ann Pattison was born on the 31st July 1899 at Shiremoor Northumberland to William and Janet Pattison.

Auntie Ellen Pattison

After her return from Peru Ellen did eventually get a job. It was low paid as a Matron's maid at the Fleming Memorial Children's Hospital in Newcastle.  Ellen lived on the hospital premises for quite a few years, but even this was not a particularly happy experience as apparently she was treat quite cruelly by some of the Matrons she worked for.

Ellen Matron's Maid and unknown nurse circa 1936

Fleming Memorial Hospital - it closed in the early 60s

Christmas on one of the wards circa 1950s

"Between 1900 and 1945 up to half a million children had a physical disability or sensory impairment, mainly due to poverty and disease.  There were no vaccinations, and many working class families couldn't afford specialist equipment or treatment."  

Things changed in 1948 when the NHS was rolled out and people like Ellen were prescribed hearing aids.  It must have made a great difference to the lives of people like Ellen, who had some hearing, that was greatly enhanced by a hearing aid. They did have draw backs in that they were quite large, heavy and cumbersome and often squealed loudly, I can still remember Grandma shouting at Ellen to turn her hearing-aid down.

Early Hearing Aid

In the 1950s Auntie Ellen bought my sister and I two dearly loved black dolls.  I still have them (my sister gave me hers for my daughter) both sit on the Rocking Chair I have that belonged to my Grandpa Luke Dent's Sister Amelia (Meelie)



Ellen survived Janet by 5 years.  She died in 1983 aged 83.