Friends of St Francis
FOSF Questionnaire results/Hospital Units for Upgrade
The late John Walsh, Don Mc Gurk and Mike Morgan
Memories by Doris Bishop
Chris Gannon/Reg Cook Retire
Derrick Collins recalls/ Extract early training brochure
Where are they now? Fitzgerald Corbin/News from former staff
More news from former staff/St Francis staff meet up
1997 Reunion Photo Gallery
Blast from the past/Beechmont basics/Historical thought
Alison Tessier Photo Album/Ruby Wiltshire (Seboo) Photo Album
The late Joe Mertz
3 Monthly get-togethers
November get-together a great success!
Friends of St Francis Website a BIG Hit! (May 2004)
Mid Sussex Greats
Contact from Colin Holmes
Budget Pressures on Mental Health (Jan 2003)
Shock for Shock Cure Doctors -Sunday Times 15.9.74 ( Jan 2003)
Student Nurse Intake May 84 Group 59
Student Nurse Intake September 1988 - Group 68 (Feb 2003)
Mental Health Strategy Revealed (Feb 2003)
Student Nurse Intake Nov 92/ Group 72(April 2003)
Contacting 'Friends of St Francis' Section and Website
Facelift for 'dingy' ward (27.10.02)
Mental Health : Initiatives are helping (27.10.02)
Rail death suicide (18.10.02)
How much for Warninglid bathroom? (2002)
Worth Ward for sale (14.10.02)
St Francis Hospital Museum Update 14.10.02 and 18.7.03
Recent Bereavements (6.10.02)
Postcard of St Francis (29.9.02)
St Francis in 1925 (14.9.02)
The Alberta Brothers(21.7.02)
SFH's Contribution to the Ditchling Pond (7.7.02)
Mark Gibney Remembers (26.5.02)
More news from former staff (12.5.02)
Alan Virginie and Friends (5.5.02)
Staff Shortage - Patients miss therapy (11.4.02)
SFH Memo( ?1970's)
Historic Pub - with SFH connection - finally closes (Sept 2003)
Arson - Involving SFH Artefacts (2.5.03)
The death of Doris Bishop (2.5.03)
Cancellation of 2003 Reunions/ Next Annual Reunion 2004 (05/03)
The recent death of Cliff Forster (July 2003)
A History of St Francis Hospital 1859 - 1995 by Jim Mable
Football roundup and County League Div 2 table (Jan '05)
Where Are They Now? Mr Berzins & His Photo Album (sept 2003)
Prayer of St Francis
Volume 2 - Mr Berzins Photo Album (Dec 2003)
The late Bill Ford ( February 2004)
Nellie Carey's (Ferdinand) Photo Album (Feb '04)
2004 Reunion a Big success ! Photo Album No 1 ! (May 2004 )
Help! Help! Help!
Villa Ward to give way to new centre
A funny psychiatric bit from the Daily Express (Sep 04)
The Death of Vincent Ryan (Sep 04)
Looking Back - Larry Adler at St Francis Jan '75 (Sep 04)
Memories of the late James(Jim) Whelan (Jan '05)
Christmas Carols for the Psychiatrically Challenged (Jan '05
New Scheme for Relief Road Housing (Jan '05)
St Francis Hospital Contemporary to become a Tesco?(Jan'05)
Reg Cook's first meeting with the late Mike Boyne (June 2005
The late Malcolm Cleroux (June 05)
Backing for Museum (June 05)
Runners and Owners - Hockey Section's Racenight (June 05)
'Class of 69' Student Nurse Memories (June '05)
Go ahead for Mental Health Unit and 89 homes (Jan '07)
The Future of the Sports facilities (Jan '07)
Brian Pate and Iraq (Jan '07)
Joe Hughes with tales of the Ghosts of St Francis (Jan 07)
Peter Towner's Life and Times (May 2008)
Message Board
Guestbook
Event Calendar
Mail Form
The site is still under construction but please indicate how it could be improved?
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Friends of St Francis
 | St Francis Hospital
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
1859 - 1995
(Now redeveloped as Southdowns Park) |
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 | WELCOME TO THE FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS WEBSITE
St Francis Psychiatric Hospital, Haywards Heath, West Sussex opened its doors to patients for the first time in 1859. Built to house 400 patients at a cost of £46, 531. 16s. 10d, it carried on its work uninterrupted for 136 years until November 1995, when it closed to make way for modern advances in the community based care of the mentally ill.
Three factors decided the fate of St Francis : it was a bracing location, in the centre of the county and accessible to the new railway.
Designed in the Lombardo-Venetian style by the architect H Kendall, it had to be self supporting and its buildings included a farm, a brewery, a laundry, a bakery, a chapel and burial ground and a well and settling pond. The water tower, built in 1908, is still in use today.
At the time of its opening in 1859 it had to compete for financing with Lewes Jail and, like the jail and railway, employed many Irish labourers who married local girls and settled in the area.
Known for its high standards of care, its spearheading of new and innovative methods of treatment in the care of the mentally ill over many decades and its international mix of staff of all disciplines, the friendships and comaraderie continue to flourish through regular staff reunions and contact.
THE FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS SECTION OF THE SOCIAL AND SPORTS CLUB AND THE WEBSITE aim to assist in keeping alive those longstanding relationships built up over many years. Joe Hughes
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New Items -
 | February 2009
Big Reunion planned for September 2009
150th Anniversary of the opening of St Francis Hospital!
There has been much talk of a Reunion this year and so the committee is happy to oblige. We normaly meet up on the first Bank Holiday in May but this year the date - yet to be finalised - will be sometime between 20th and the end of September 2009.
The Social Club celebrates its 50th anniversay this year and we all celebrate the 150th aniversary of the opening of St Francis Hospital in 1859.
The joint committees are discussing the final date and other details. The event is likely to extend over, at least, two days so keep tuned to this site.
Please let me have your updated details for forwarding of invites as soon as possible.
Best wishes,
Joe Hughes
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Attention all staff..Attention all stafff.....Attention all staff...
Remember to visit the GUEST BOOK - the site is receiving 50 - 60 hits each week so clearly many more staff and ex-staff could put an offering in the book - come on now, let's know what you're up to - click on , bottom left - please! It doesn't matter who, when or where..all staff should sign in and let us know your whereabouts and what you are up to....All staff........domestics....... psychiatrists..... porters...CPN's....nurses......ancillary staff........admiinistrators.......where are you all? Let's hear from you please.......Joe Hughes
An appeal for news, messages and photos, where are they now?, humour. Come on folks, let's be having you!
Best wishes, Joe Hughes
Don't forget, stories and photos to me at the Social and Sports Club address please and E Mails of your news. Best wishes and thanks from all of us in the Section for your great support! Joe Hughes
(Click on stories, E Mail reply form and Section address and details - all in the left column)
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