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The Herne Bay Convalescent Home
was the first of ten homes to be opened by the Railway Industry
for railway workers; the idea of John Edwards Nichols, cashier
of the London, Chatham & Dover Railway, who saw the need
for a home where railwayworkers could go to rest and recover
from sickness and ill-health.
Nichols was already involved with the friendly Societies and
had played a part in setting up the Friendly Societies' Home
at Herne Bay and, as a member of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows,
had become acquainted with Passmore Edwards. |
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Nichols was aware of an area of
land, about 3 acres, adjacent to the Passmore
Edwards Friendly Society Home then under construction at
Herne Bay and during a meeting with him, in early 1898, asked
him his intentions. His reply filled him with dismay. Passmore
Edwards said that he had intended to build a Nurses Home on
the site but seeing the disappointment this produced Passmore
Edwards asked the reason for his interest. Nichols took this
opportunity to inform him, with great enthusiasm, of the pressing
need to provide convalescent care for men engaged in vital public
services, such as railway workers. However, Passmore Edwards
remained unmoved. |
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Later that year Nichols again raised the issue of the need
for a Convalescent Home for the railway workers and the vacant
land at Herne Bay, Passmore Edwards became rather iritated and
after repeating his intention to build a Nurses' Home concluded
the conversation by saying "the case, Mr Nichols, is now
closed".
Whilst many would have accepted this response as the end to
the matter, Nichols was not so easily dissuaded and on the third
attempt Passmore Edwards agreed no only to giving the land but
an additional £6000 towards the cost of the building.
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| Central to Passmore Edwards offer
was that "nine men of good standing with their respective
railway companies and of good repute among theire fellow workers;
length of service not less than twenty years, rank not to count,
be assembled and informed of the scheme". Passmore was
to meet with this group as soon as possible so that a Trust
Deed could be drawn up, but he stressed the need for speedy
action. It was his intention that, if such a Home was to be
built then he intended to lay the foundation stome on the same
day as the one chosen to open the Friendly Society Home. |
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