hospital carnival badges

[Sarah Rogers]

hi does any one know any history about these..found 1 at a antiques fair (like the one bazebeb sells on ebay) thanks Lizzie

[backman]

Hi Lizzie, I know that when I started out collecting I would often bid on many of these on the assumption that they were Nursing items(often being listed as such) only to find that they were in fact either commemorative items or fund raising badges.Whilst firmly part of the history of hospitals and healthcare they don't fit the category of badges awarded to recognise training or qualification of nurses or midwives.That being said,I think that they are collectable in their own right.
There are several variations but they reflect the struggle that most hospitals had to fund their activities pre NHS.Some relate to insurance schemes and collectors who would take weekly subscriptions from members in case they needed hospital treatment.Extensions to a hospital or nurses home would often generate extra finding ,particularly in the 1930s which saw a range of annual carnivals,Shrewsbury being a notable one that issued badges.
I still get caught out but ones that seem to crop up a lot are the small Kings College/Belgrave Hospital for Children Kingfisher brooch badges.Whist nice badges I believe that these are fund raisers although I understand that a large version was awarded to nurses who qualified from the Belgrave( on the wish list).Other ones are a very small Southend on sea,Harefield finding a Hare,Southampton Hon.Collector and various Hospital extension badges.

Hope that helps?

[Sarah Rogers]

Hi, thats very helpful , thanks., the one i bought is a plain white maltese type cross with silver crown in centre
many thanks Lizzie

[nursesue]

just to say I got caught out on the very small southend- on - sea I resold it at a loss It is truely a case of buyer beware. I do have from Cheltenham eye hospital Its lozenge shaped - also bought as a hospital badge only to discover its a fund raiser but i kept as its nice wee thing

[Sarah Rogers]

Thanks , is the southend on sea the little white star?
Lizzie

[backman]

This is the one ;http://www.schoolsofnursing.co.uk/gallery/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=6

The FOH probably stands for Friends of the Hospital

[barrysutton]

I have a collection of about a 100 of these badges, mainly because I like them.

[wilfb]

Hi Barry.

These badges are part of our hospitals history too - I didn't realise that so many had appeared!

Will.