Ben Henderson

The Founder

Hospital worker, Ben Henderson, came up with the idea to raise funds to build a much-needed emergency hospital for the district. He called a public meeting to discuss the possibility of starting "Hospital Saturday". Fewer than a dozen attended, but the die was cast and soon an enthusiastic and influential committee sprang into operation to develop a huge spectacular carnival. The site chosen for the hospital was a plot of freehold land in Abbey Road, Newbury Park.