|
Remembering Dr Jim
Les Dancey July 2020 I thoroughly enjoyed your piece on the Doctors Davey. What a wonderful couple. I remember some amusing incidents with Dr Jim Davey. He came to see my brother who was ill in bed and saw a pair of expanding springs that he used to train with, so he asked what they were for. My brother demonstrated them by putting them over the back of his shoulders and expanding the springs out. Dr Davey then had a go but the springs were quite powerful and they ended up around the back of his neck, catching his hair and neck in them with his arms trapped out to the sides. My brother had to get out of bed to release him. Dr Jim on his retirement (courtesy Chippenham Times & News 4 May 1984) |
|
When I was fifteen, I had been going to college in Melksham for less than two weeks and in the morning, I told my mother that I didn't feel too well. She assumed that I was malingering and told me I had to go to college, however, as the day went on, I became worse. By the time classes finished I was barely conscious and staggered down to the bus. Normally I would bound up to the top deck but this time I struggled onto the nearest seat. Struggling to stay conscious, I managed to stagger home, but as I got there, I collapsed on the doorstep.
The next thing I knew was when I came round in bed with Dr Davey injecting me with penicillin. This was quite painful in those days as it was so thick in its early years. It turned out that I had pneumonia and was in bed for a couple of weeks. As I improved, I used to go to the surgery to have my injections, at the little surgery in the Millers premises. On the final occasion, I was alone in the waiting room when Dr Davey stood in his doorway and said, Well Leslie, today is your very last injection. I expect you are pleased to hear that. I confirmed that I was. His hands were clasped behind him and he then said, But I'm afraid that it is going to be a rather large one and he produced a fire extinguisher from behind his back. What a joker he was. They were both the loveliest of people.
Other Readers Remembered Jim and June
Patrick Fox: As often happens I shared the article. This included a schoolfriend who grew up living next door to the Davey's (until another property was built in the gap between them). The article also interested me as I had a serious motorcycle accident in about 1978. Fortuitously, I had the accident outside the surgery, with Dr Davey attending until an ambulance arrived.
Penny Newboult: Happy memories! I organised Jim Davey’s retirement party at the Selwyn Hall.
Charlie Davies: My father bought 1 Kingston Villas from Dr Strode. That’s how we came to Box from Bath.
The next thing I knew was when I came round in bed with Dr Davey injecting me with penicillin. This was quite painful in those days as it was so thick in its early years. It turned out that I had pneumonia and was in bed for a couple of weeks. As I improved, I used to go to the surgery to have my injections, at the little surgery in the Millers premises. On the final occasion, I was alone in the waiting room when Dr Davey stood in his doorway and said, Well Leslie, today is your very last injection. I expect you are pleased to hear that. I confirmed that I was. His hands were clasped behind him and he then said, But I'm afraid that it is going to be a rather large one and he produced a fire extinguisher from behind his back. What a joker he was. They were both the loveliest of people.
Other Readers Remembered Jim and June
Patrick Fox: As often happens I shared the article. This included a schoolfriend who grew up living next door to the Davey's (until another property was built in the gap between them). The article also interested me as I had a serious motorcycle accident in about 1978. Fortuitously, I had the accident outside the surgery, with Dr Davey attending until an ambulance arrived.
Penny Newboult: Happy memories! I organised Jim Davey’s retirement party at the Selwyn Hall.
Charlie Davies: My father bought 1 Kingston Villas from Dr Strode. That’s how we came to Box from Bath.
We welcome other readers to contribute their memories of Drs Jim and June Davey and of Dr Strode