Hall gets the Bird

Meanwhile, how had Florence Nightingale been faring back at Scutari? Substantially better; all was no longer gloom and doom, particularly with the supportive General Storks in charge. Charles and Selina Bracebridge's departure on 28th July had left a gap in administrative support that left Florence feeling vulnerable. 'I have kept them two months after their time' she wrote, 'which I shall never cease to regret....with Mr Bracebridge goes the only man of sense & feeling & the only man but one in these miserable hospitals.' On the 16th September Aunt Mai Smith arrived to help fill the gap -amazing how the family felt it their duty to rally round to brave such basic living conditions totally alien to their experience. Flo was not over-disposed to acknowledging their sacrifice. 'If Aunt Mai does come out, what a pity she did not come with Lothian. (a cousin) I really think it is doubtful now whether she had better take the trouble. I may be gone to B'clava before she is well here now. Is it worth her making the exertion?'

One event certainly brought a smile to her face. Her pet project, the largely charitably funded Inkerman Cafe, had opened at the Barrack on 6th August with the help of the new medical school principal Doctor Pincoffs. It was an instant spectacular success. Food and beverages were served at moderate prices, after a struggle with the rather staid Management Committee, which hoped for higher profit. The room was furnished with armchairs and tables and the walls were brightly painted and decorated with prints and maps; books, magazines, newspapers and board games were all available, as well as writing materials. The Cafe was so well patronised by the convalescents that an overflow recreation room was opened in a hut in the courtyard. General Storks cracked down on the alcohol problem - he had the drink shops around the hospital closed, and the surrounding roads patrolled after dark. Trial by court martial awaited any patient found drunk. Later he gave Flo her schools - four were up and running under professional schoolteachers by the spring of 1856. There were singing classes and amateur acting opportunities available, and team games such as cricket and football were organised.

All these activities were enthusiastically supported by the men, confounding totally the accepted image that they were ignorant and insensitive yobs, capable only of drunkenness crime and mindless violence. No more would this be said of the English until their hooligans invaded football in the 1980s.

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