Infant Welfare Clinic

From the Women’ s Institute Scrapbook-History compiled 1957-8:

“The Felicity Mary Infant Welfare Clinic was started at the beginning of the second World War, when many children were evacuated to Steeple Morden. The Red Cross team that was formed in the village were kept very busy caring for the young evacuees Mrs Rigg, who then lived at “Orchards” , Steeple Morden, provided a room at ‘Two Trees” and money to equip the clinic. From these beginnings the present well—equipped Infant Welfare Clinic sprang. For a time it was held in a room at the “One Bell”, Steeple Morden; but after the building of Steeple Morden Village Hall in 1952 it moved into its own spacious quarters. Although it was “taken over” at the coming of the Welfare State [1948], the Clinic has retained its name and character, and is still run by a committee, who man its fortnightly sessions by rota.  Doctor and Nurse attend these sessions, and besides Guilden and Steeple Morden the Clinic serves Litlington, Odsey and Croydon.”

The Clinic was named the Felicity Mary Infant Welfare Clinic after Mrs Rigg’s daughter. The family lived at Orchards, Hay Street, which was replaced with The White House and has since become Woodland Grange. Mrs Rigg bought Two Trees in 1934 and moved there after her husband died in 1943. She sold it in 1953.

It is believed the Clinic ceased operating in the 1970s.

Click on any image below to view. Click again to enlarge. Drag to view entire image.