100 Years of West Middlesex

To celebrate West Middlesex’s 100th year from 17 September 2020-2021, we are launching an online exhibition, displaying key moments of the hospital’s past. We’ll be celebrating the fascinating stories from our staff and the local community, and finding out what makes West Mid such a special place.

Explore the categories below to find out more about West Middlesex’s centenary:

Hear from some of West Middlesex’s key leaders, staff and supporters in this short film:

Relationship with Norway

During the Second World War, West Middlesex University Hospital established a unique and long-lasting relationship with Norway, when West Middlesex’s Sister Mace welcomed Norwegian sailors who took refuge in the hospital. Introducing them to hospital nurses, she took them Kew Gardens and invited them to tea in the hospital’s grounds. Many romantic unions between seamen and nurses emerged as a result, and the hospital still holds a special relationship with Norway, as the Ambassador to the UK Wegger Chr. Strommen recounts in this video.

Gene Autry

There have been many important visitors to West Middlesex Hospital over the years, but perhaps few as exciting as the famous ‘Singing Cowboy’ Gene Autry who visited the children’s wards with his horse Champion on the afternoon of 20 July 1953. Autry, a comic, crooner and rodeo performer, was in England for the start of his new show at the London Empress Theatre, at that time famous for its spectaculars. As well as entertaining the children, he presented a £90 TV set to the hospital on behalf of the TV comics’ Muffin Club. Pathé News were here to capture the moment.

Videos: CW+ supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, licensed under CC BY 4.0.