Newtown Hospital's 115-year history to be celebrated at special event

The history of Newtown Hospital and its links to the early development of the NHS will be explored at a special event in the town this Saturday.

Newtown Local History Group is holding a history talk at the Monty Club on Saturday, 10 October, to mark the 115th anniversary of the hospital.

The event, which starts at 2pm, will include the unveiling of a new heritage plaque recognising the hospital's place in the town's history.

Group chairwoman Ann Evans will invite Cllr Margaret Lewington and local author Emma Snow to unveil the plaque, which will become part of Newtown's Heritage Trail.

Emma Snow will then give a talk exploring the hospital's links to the early development of the National Health Service.

Her research focuses on the Montgomeryshire Oddfellows, a local friendly society, and the work of her great-grandfather, John Tomley CBE, from Montgomery.

She will examine how John Tomley and Montgomeryshire MP David Davies contributed to early developments in healthcare provision which helped pave the way for the NHS.

The event will also see the launch of Volume 101 of the *Newtonian Journal*, published by Newtown Local History Group.

The latest edition will feature details of what Newtown Hospital was like a century ago, drawing on a trustees' report from 1926.

It will also include memories from Rod Smith about his father, local GP Arthur Smith, and the doctors' surgery at Sunlea on The Bank in Newtown.

The event takes place at the Monty Club in Newtown on Saturday, 10 October, starting at 2pm.