Fenwick History
2008 is the centenary year of the Fenwick. We are looking for stories from anyone who has experience of working at or visiting the Fenwick in the last 100 years.
You can read about some of these stories below.
Joyce Porter, from Lyndhurst, was among several visitors to the Fenwick2 Open Day in May 2008 with her mother Barbara Guest and neighbours Pam Coombs and Gill Legge.
"My brother Tony was born at the Fenwick in 1956 and I've brought my mother here several times over the years for various appointments," said Joyce. "You could see it looking run down over the years so it's wonderful to walk in here and see it like this. It feels like new and it's been really well done."
Barbara, 78, remembered coming to the Fenwick at the age of 14 to have her appendix out, while Pam also gave birth at the former hospital. "My son Richard was born here in 1959. We lived in a house just opposite and when I was in labour I just walked over the cattle grid to the hospital - Richard was born a few hours later."
Gill Legge, formerly Baker, was also born at the Fenwick and returned there years later to work as a midwife. "Pam and I used to come here as Red Cross cadets,"she said. "They used to give us cups of tea and we didn't do too much. Many of us didn't want the hospital to close so I'm pleased to see it's still functioning."
Lyndhurst councillor Mark Abbott was also born at the Fenwick, in 1937. "I had my tonsils out here when I was five," he said. "It's really good to see the hospital being used and it will save people having to travel too far for some services and treatments."
It was also a trip down memory lane for Bernice Tonge, from New Milton. "I came here to convalesce after I had my two children," she said. "I have very fond memories of this hospital. It's interesting to see what's available here now. I hope it will be a great success and that lots of local people will support it."