Reflections on a Difficult Year

Reflections on a Difficult Year This short piece has been written by Bob Marchant, Museum Trustee and Guinea Pig Club Secertary about his experiences over the last 12 months: During this last year of lockdowns, especially the last few months after being placed on the Shielded Patients List, I have

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Tributes to the Guinea Pig Club

Tributes to the Guinea Pig Club As part of the Guinea Pig Club’s 80th Anniversary in 2021, Bob Marchant, the Secretary of the Club, looks at the many ways the Club is commemorated. As we are now entering the year 2021 , it will see the 80th Anniversary of the

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Mollie Lentaigne celebrates her 100th Birthday

Mollie Lock (nee Lentaigne) was a VAD Red Cross Nurse, who became a Medical Artist working with Sir Archibald McIndoe doing her time at the Queen Victoria Hospital during the war years. Mollie met McIndoe at a party where she was attempting to draw him. He was impressed by her

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McIndoe after the Second World War

Archibald McIndoe after the Second World War With the end of the Second World War in 1945,  Archibald McIndoe showed no interest in slowing down his heavy workload at the Queen Victoria Hospital. He was knighted in the honours list in June 1947 and that year’s annual dinner of the

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Eric celebrates his 100th Birthday

Born on 1st July 1919, Eric Pearce is one of only a few non-RAF personnel who became a member of the famous Guinea Pig Club. As a Lieutanant in the Fleet Air Arm, Eric was testing a newly delivered Air Sea Rescue Sea Otter plane at Lee on Solent, Hampshire. 

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A huge achievement for Bob Marchant

East Grinstead Museum are thrilled for Bob who has received The Mid Sussex District Council Community Service Award for outstanding service to the community as Secretary of The Guinea Pig Club & Trustee to the Museum. Presented by The High Sheriff of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard & Cllr Bruce Forbes

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Guinea Pig Club members, an actress, international visitors and a live BBC Radio Broadcast!

June has been an exciting month… On Saturday the 17th of June East Grinstead Museum welcomed VIP guests,Guinea Pig Club members Jack Perry and John Miles; accompanied by friends and family including actress Fiona Dolman.  Bob Marchant, Secretary of the Guinea Pig Club and Museum Trustee, led a guided tour of

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A Guided Tour of Queen Victoria Hospital

Bob Marchant, honorary member of the Guinea Pig club and once an operating theatre technician at the Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) under Sir Archibald McIndoe, kindly gave a few of us museum staff a tour of the hospital. Built as a town hospital, the impact of WWII led to the

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Places and buildings the Guinea Pigs Remember: Dutton Homestall

In his latest article looking at places and buildings remembered by the Guinea Pig Club Bob Marchant, Museum Trustee and Secretary of the Club, looks at Dutton Homestall. Dutton Homestall, which later became known as Stoke Brunswick School, in Ashurst Wood is another place remembered by some of the Guinea

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