Wednesday, May 08, 2024

London Stories


Dr Salter's Daydream, Bermondsey an interesting installation on the bank of the Thames. The figures represent Dr Alfred Salter his Wife Ada and their daughter Joyce and family cat (seen on the wall above) The Salters lived inspiring lives, Alfred, a physician at Guy's did much for the poor of Bermondsey a huge slum at the time (1898) and set up a medical practice there, kind of an NHS before the NHS existed. Sadly his daughter Joyce died aged 8 after a scarlet fever epidemic swept through the slums. The grief the couple suffered at the loss of their beloved girl was channelled into improving conditions in the borough, Ada eventually became the Mayor of Bermondsey, the first Female Mayor of a London borough. The installation recalls happier days for the Salter's, people that made a difference.

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