RAOC Gazette - page 18
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1981 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1981 |
| Late date | 1981 |
| Transcription |
OSBORNE By BRIGADIER C. R. TEMPLER I)SO Not a shark anywhere in sight—just ALTHOUGH 'Sister Agnes," King Edward VII Hospitai for Officers in London, is widely known, his Convalescent Home for Officers at East Cowcs. Islc-of-Wight receives less publicity than it deserves. Queen Victoria built Osborne House in 1854. retired there in 1861 on the death of Prince Albert. Thereafter she stayed at Osborne House on many occasions and herself died there in 1901. King Edward presented this magnificent mansion to the Nation expressing a wish that the Household Wing should be converted into a Convalescent Home for Officers which was effected in 1904. Here serving Officers receive free medical treatment and accommodation when on sick leave following an operation or other illness. Their wives can accompany them on a small payment. Retired Officers both ex-Regular and Territorial, their wives and, more recently, Civil Servants may stay there for a reasonable fee. There is a resident House Governor. Surgeon Captain R. S. McDonald MRCS LRCP RN (Retd). and a full Nursing Staff. a few angel fish. non stop paperwork to get the final clearance. Our agent said his health had been ruined by the pressure. I am not surprised it nearly ruined mine in a day. We drove south through Cairo catching a glimpse of the pyramids at Giza and then east across the desert on good metalled roads. We reached the Red Sea the next morning. Turning south and following the coastline we arrived at the town of Hurghada at midday. Hurghada is a small garrison town with a harbour and airport jointly used by the civil and military authorities. We made our base camp on the beach about a kilometre south of the town. Osborne House on the Osborne is renowned for treatment of afflictions of the joints, its hot bath, heated to ninety eight degrees fahrenheit with a hydro-therapist in attendance, has a wonderful effect on easing stiff and creaking limbs. An expert physiotherapist and exercise in the gymnasium too help recovery. The kindly attention of the Nursing and other staff to one's needs is beyond praise, the messing is first class with a good selection of wines at very reasonable prices available. The rooms and corridors, designed and built in another age under the supervision of Prince Albert are superb. The smoking room was Queen Victoria's Privy Council Room, the Dining Room that of her Household Staff while the Library, TV and Billiard room would put the Ritz in the shade. But what makes Osborne so special is its atmosphere, that of a cheerful first class Officers Mess with a continuous round of treatments followed with billiards and other indoor com- petitions. There one is always cheered by finding someone much worse off physically than oneself and so can thank ones lucky star. Once mobile there is an occupational therapy room where one can use a wood lathe, learn to paint, make baskets and acquire other skills. Nearby is a golf club for pre-lunch drinks and a good nine hole course. Yacht Clubs in Cowes also make residents Honorary Members. To get a brochure and application form to attend, write to:—The House Governor, Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle-of- Wight, P032 6JY. Tel.: Cowes 292511. For Serving Officers with sick leave wanting to re-cuperate free with expert medical attention and in congenial company, and also for Retired Officers, I can thoroughly recommend a visit for a week or more to Osborne. Beneath the Red Sea. Most of the diving was made on the coral reefs around the Gifatin islands lying close to shore. The water temperature was very warm and visibility excellent. There was a tremendous variety of marine life to be seen, from turtles and moray eels to the colourful and poisonous lion fishes. I was keen that we should have the opportunity of seeing sharks and had found a reef which looked promising at a town called Safaga eighty kilometres from our base camp. Driving to the site on one occasion I overheard a serious discussion as to whether one would be able to swim with one leg if the other was taken by a shark. Another point of concern was whether it might not be better to sacrifice the limb which was less important than others, if one was about to be attacked. Needless to say, none of these drastic actions were necessary and we saw plenty of sharks and barracuda—all apparently very friendly and well fed. Ten days later, our diving over, we decided to return— visiting the historical burial grounds at Karnak and Luxor. A two day stay in Cairo sight seeing and a visit to the Common- wealth war cemetery at El Alamain brought to an end a very memorable expedition to Egypt—once a posting which befell almost every soldier. — Isle-of-Wight. 2 |
| Book number | R0404a |