Fond film show memories from a Sheffield Star reader

I have been following The Star’s regular Duvet Musings column by Graham Moore, chairman of Westfield Health, because I met Graham several times some years ago.
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At the time, I was one of a team who, every Monday evening, showed feature films to the patients on the spinal injury wards at Lodge Moor Hospital – now, of course, sadly demolished.

I’m sure Graham will remember Reg, who was the team leader and who had been showing the films for 39 years.

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In those days, the films, usually on three reels, came in metal canisters and were threaded onto the 16mm projector.

Lodge Moor HospitalLodge Moor Hospital
Lodge Moor Hospital

The films and equipment were all provided by Westfield Health and that is how I met Graham.

When the hospital closed and the spinal injury unit moved to the Northern General Hospital, it was no longer required to show the films.

Technology had moved on and the patients had their own televisions, although many said they would miss us going in to move the beds around and create a bit of a change in routine.

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One young man thanked me and said he was grateful because we were the only people who went in because we wanted to.

He said the staff were there because it was their job and family went sometimes out of duty.

That made it all worthwhile.

So thank you Graham and Westfield Health for all that you did and good luck with your ‘duvet musings’.

By the way, if you are still having difficulties changing the covers, my motto is ‘ditch the duvet’.

I have gone back to sheets and blankets – much easier and you can kick them off if you get too hot.

Lesley Dixon

Crookes