DR. G. S. STURTRIDGE AND EFFORTS FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

QUEEN CROWNED

EARLS BARTON  was congratulated on its money-raising efforts for Northampton General Hospital when 15-years-old Miss Jean Freestone was crowned carnival queen, last night.
  Miss Freestone is the third successive member of Earls Barton Girls' Life Brigade to have been elected by popular vote to the office. She will reign at Saturday's fete.
  The ceremony was attended by hundreds of people. It was staged in the recreation ground at the rear of the ancient Parish Church, on the Mound, classed as an ancient monument. The banks of the remains of the moat surrounding the Mound formed a natural amphitheatre.
  The spot, centre of life in Barton centuries ago, seemed to recapture a spirit of pageantry as the queen and her maids of honour, lovely in flowing gowns of pale mauve, made their way in a procession to the crowning.
  Dr. G. S. Sturtridge, medical superintendent of Northampton General Hospital, thanked Earls Barton for its help, saying that during the past five years the village had contributed £2,165 to the Hospital. (Applause).

BALANCE ON BARTON'S SIDE

  In the same time 900 patients had been treated, although he understood the balance was on the side of Barton where the people had given more in cash than they had received in treatment.
  The doctor stressed the need for efforts to be made to help the hospital appeal. Last year about £51,000 was raised, but the expenditure was £58,000, so they owed the bank about £6,500. This year, at the end of July, he was afraid the amount would be about £10,000. The numbers of in-patients and out-patients grew annually.
  The new nurses' home was badly needed. Although the number of beds for patients had greatly increased, the nursing accommodation was the same as in 1914, and houses were being rented to house nurses.
  At the present time there was an acute shortage of nurses, and they had to offer the best conditions to attract young women to the nursing profession. Other hospitals offered these conditions, and Northampton had to follow suit.