A BOOK has been published centred on the stories of the soldiers treated at a wartime hospital in Rainhill inspired by an autograph book which was kept by a nurse.
A few years ago, the Rainhill Civic Society was sent an autograph book kept by Edith Lidstone, who was a nurse at Oakdene Auxiliary Hospital during the First World War.
More than 70 soldiers signed, wrote poems and sketched pictures in it, and after Edith’s death it was passed to her sister, Alice and then on to her friend Jessie.
After Jessie’s death it was passed to Trish Harms who migrated to Canada.
However, with the help of the Internet and an exchange of e-mails the album was finally passed into the hands of the civic society.
Judy Lowe has done the bulk of the work for the society.
The book was launched as Rainhill Civic Society organised a commemorative concert at Rainhill Ex-Services Club hosted by Roger Phillips from Radio Merseyside, with an eight-minute video about the project shown.
Rainhill Civic Society said: "Now the story has come full circle and the autograph book is back in Rainhill, a few hundred yards from where it started. We think Edith would have been amazed and delighted."
- The book is on sale for £10 at Rainhill Library, View Road and is available on: rainhill-civic-society.org.uk/html/newPublications.htmlMore information is on: rainhillremembers.uk/edith-lidstones-autograph-book.html
- Video courtesy of Gerry Ryder
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