Children And The Boy Scouts Movement At Oakwood

Since 1925 a number of children had received treatment in the sanatorium. During the year 1928 a total of 58 children under 15 years of age were treated for TB in the sanatorium. It was found that the majority could not read or write and most had very few skills at all. The feeling was the children needed some form of recreation or tuition during their stay in hospital. This stimulation came in the form of the Boy Scouts Movement, which began meeting at the sanatorium in November 1929. This was mainly due to the enthusiasm and guidance of Dr. Mary Andrews the assistant commissioner of scouts for the north of England. Members of the sanatorium joined the boy scouts and wolf cubs and were all children under treatment. The troops were officially inaugurated on the 22^nd December when Canon Morgan presented the children with their colours. The great success of the troops was undoubtedly due to the unselfish acts of the matron and two rovers scouts who visited the sanatorium often to help the children. Once the troops were formed they embarked on useful work including basket, basin, tray, and paper- making. Some of these items were used in the sanatorium. A number of these articles were sold for profit and the money was donated to the sanatorium benevolent fund. This fund had been set up some years earlier to raise money to help deserving cases leaving the sanatorium. Tobacco, cigarettes, and chocolate etc. were also sold at the sanatorium and the profits went to the benevolent fund. The children who were very ill or were on observation had to remain in bed. They were only allowed to join the troops when it was felt they were well enough to do so.

In the case of the poor children who were patients in Oakwood Hall there was great difference to the life they faced outside the sanatorium. Unemployment was high and many working class men were out of work. Men who did work had accepted wage cuts to keep their jobs. Discontentment about wages and conditions had led to a number of strikes. Many poor children often lived in overcrowded and run down houses. Owing to these circumstances many patients, especially the children showed a rapid deterioration in their physical condition when they returned home.