150th Anniversary of Jenny Lind

Events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Norwich's Jenny Lind Children's Hospital are being held over the next two months, including the launch of a new official history of the hospital for sick children.

Norwich was only the second city in the country to have a children’s hospital (the first was London’s Great Ormond Street). An Norwich infirmary for sick children admitted its first inpatients in 1854, thanks to the generosity and goodwill of a Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind.

One hundred and fifty years later the Jenny Lind Children’s Department at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital continues to provide treatment and care for the county’s children.

To commemorate this prestigious milestone the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust is organising several events to celebrate this historic occasion.

University of East Anglia lecturer and children’s nurse Dr Bruce Lindsay has written a history of the Jenny Lind. The book, kindly sponsored by Holden Saab, is entitled ‘The Jenny’ A history of the Jenny Lind Hospital for Sick Children, Norwich, 1884 – 2004.  It gives an insight into the life of the Jenny Lind over the last 150 years.

Dr Lindsay said: “Little has been written about the Jenny of the 19th and early 20th centuries and its history is overshadowed by those of much larger and better-known children’s hospitals.  This book hopefully goes some way to redressing the balance”.

Copies of the book can also be purchased from Jarrold Department Store or by sending a cheque for £5.00 made payable to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to Hayley Gerrard, Communications, NNUH, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY – all proceeds of the book go to the Jenny Lind Children’s Department at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

The Jenny Lind Children’s department at the NNUH is also holding an Anniversary Ball on Saturday 16th October at the Hilton Norwich Hotel and there are still a few tickets available for what promises to be a memorable night with raffle prizes on offer including a voucher for an afternoon cruise for 2 with City Boats, a day leisure club pass at Dunston Hall, signed football from Norwich City Football Club, a case of wine from Peter Graham Wines and swimming vouchers for Wymondham Leisure Centre.

A staff reunion has also been organised for all current and former staff of the Jenny Lind to be held on 26th November at the hospital.  More then 100 former staff are set up attend this event – many of whom were Jenny Juniors back in the mid 1940s.

Children’s Matron, Alirae Bunkle, said: “These 150th anniversary events are a wonderful opportunity for existing and former staff of the Jenny Lind to meet up and reminisce about old times”.

Dr Bruce Lindsay will be signing copies of this book on Tuesday 19th October at 10.00am in The Forum, Norwich. 

Media contact: Hayley Gerrard on 01603 289821.