ROSE VILLA

Supermarket trip this morning with my friend Jan. We went to Morrison's. Weather was dull and chilly.

After unpacking and putting away the shopping I had some lunch. Smoked cod with potatoes and marrowfat peas.

Then I had a wander down to the village. My blip photo shows Rose Villa. At the moment it is a Day Nursery for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old.

The house was built in 1857 and in the 1900's it was occupied by Doctor Andrew Smith and his family. He set up his doctors surgery in the house. When war broke out in 1914 Dr Smith’s three sons, who were also doctors and assisted him, went into the Royal Army Medical Corp and he was left to cope single handed. At the end of the war when the sons returned each one took over part of the Practice in different locations nearby. In 1924 old Dr Smith died and Wilkie, one of his sons, took over the practice in Rose Villa. Wilkie died in 1950 and his son young Dr Andrew Smith took over the practice.

I moved to the village in 1957 as a 6 year old and I remember going to see Dr Andy ( as everyone in the village called him ). The extension on the right hand side of the building didn't exist in those days and you just went into a side door into a corridor and saw a receptionist who showed you into Dr Andy's study. A wonderful book lined room with Dr Andy sitting at a massive oak desk.

The population of the village expanded during the 1950's and 1960's and it became obvious that it was no longer possible to have the doctors surgery in Rose Villa. Eventually in 1976 a purpose built health centre opened nearby. Dr Andy retired sometime in the 1980's but he was still a familiar figure in the village and you would often see him chatting to former patients. He was a well loved and respected doctor. After his death his widow continued to live in Rose Villa and when she died it was sold. The end of an era.

As you can see from the photo the weather this afternoon was dismal and dull and this evening it has been raining heavily.