The Doctors Who Missed the Ball - how Alice met and married Loudon
How did Yorkshire nurse Alice meet Loudon the Scotsman?
Loudon says:
"Alice was working as a nurse in the hospital.
"I was working at Kodak. I went around with a group of fellows of roughly the same age. One got married. Then the others got the idea and one by one got married. Until finally I got the idea that I ought to get married.
"One of the fellows lived near Kodak and we used to walk back to his mother's for tea and sandwiches. Victor's sister was Cynthia Horsley, who used to work at a hospital in Ladbroke Grove and she was a pharmacist. Her friend Alice was a nurse.
"Alice came into the picture because the hospital had parties every year, organised by worthy people for all nurse to literally 'have a ball', a proper ball, with drinks like champagne and dancing with two bands, at places such as the De Vere Hotel, sometimes a big event for more than one hospital.
"Alice was asked if she knew any suitable men who could be invited. She knew doctors from Cambridge and one of her friends arranged for 8-10 to come. But unfortunately about ten days before the event they all got mumps! They were kept in quarantine.
"So Alice went to ask Cynthia if her brother knew anybody from Kodak. So the boys all agreed to come. We met up a few days earlier, in the evening, at the pharmacy in the hospital, to escort the girls. We were thirteen people on Friday the 13th."
Thirteen at table is supposed to be unlucky. (Because of associations with thirteen around the table at The Last supper - Jesus and 12 disciples.) But it turned out to be lucky for Loudon. And Alice.
Loudon said:
"In those days coffee houses did not have separate tables but long tables. Beside me was Alice who was quite a good talker. We exchanged numbers - and our next meeting was at the ball! The rest is history. We went out together and got engaged and married."
All because the young doctors caught mumps.
Cynthia remained a lifelong friend, one of Alice's closest friends.
How did Yorkshire nurse Alice meet Loudon the Scotsman?
Alice says: “I was working at the sick children’s department of the St Mary’s hospital, not in Paddington. I was the staff nurse of the baby unit. The Ward Sister said to me, 'Matron wants to see you.'
You never went to see Matron unless it was extremely serious.
I went to see Matron and asked, “What have I done wrong?”
She said, ‘Nothing sinister. Do sit down, nurse.’
You never sat down. You stood
She said, ‘Nurse, I want you to do me a favour. I want you to find some suitable young men for the hospital dance in Kensington Palace hotel, suitable young men, to dance with the nurses. If you don’t mind.’
"Unfortunately, the only chap I knew had friends who were actors and dancers. I thought she wouldn’t approve of them. However, I knew a chap who was a medical student, so I asked him to bring along his pals.
"But nearer the date I got a phone call. A voice said to me, ‘I’ve got mumps. We’re all banned from seeing anybody in case we’re infectious.’
" ‘I knew one other young girl in the hospital, who worked in the pharmacy. I told her of my plight. She said, ‘My brother works in Kodak. I’ll ask if he can bring some people along.’ ”
Loudon says:
Loudon says:
"Alice was working as a nurse in the hospital.
"I was working at Kodak. I went around with a group of fellows of roughly the same age. One got married. Then the others got the idea and one by one got married. Until finally I got the idea that I ought to get married.
"One of the fellows lived near Kodak and we used to walk back to his mother's for tea and sandwiches. Victor's sister was Cynthia Horsley, who used to work at a hospital in Ladbroke Grove and she was a pharmacist. Her friend Alice was a nurse.
"Alice came into the picture because the hospital had parties every year, organised by worthy people for all nurse to literally 'have a ball', a proper ball, with drinks like champagne and dancing with two bands, at places such as the De Vere Hotel, sometimes a big event for more than one hospital.
"Alice was asked if she knew any suitable men who could be invited. She knew doctors from Cambridge and one of her friends arranged for 8-10 to come. But unfortunately about ten days before the event they all got mumps! They were kept in quarantine.
"So Alice went to ask Cynthia if her brother knew anybody from Kodak. So the boys all agreed to come. We met up a few days earlier, in the evening, at the pharmacy in the hospital, to escort the girls. We were thirteen people on Friday the 13th."
Thirteen at table is supposed to be unlucky. (Because of associations with thirteen around the table at The Last supper - Jesus and 12 disciples.) But it turned out to be lucky for Loudon. And Alice.
Loudon said:
"In those days coffee houses did not have separate tables but long tables. Beside me was Alice who was quite a good talker. We exchanged numbers - and our next meeting was at the ball! The rest is history. We went out together and got engaged and married."
All because the young doctors caught mumps.
Cynthia remained a lifelong friend, one of Alice's closest friends.
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