Starstruck

"Well, what do you want for your hospital today, Chief?"

Many of the celebrities visited the hospital to brighten up the days of patients and staff alike. Some of the famous faces included singer Frankie Vaughn, comedian Terry Thomas, and actress Beatrice Campbell. One memorable visit was that of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, the acting couple of The Roy Rogers Show. The cowboy and cowgirl duo visited the children at the hospital, bringing gifts and taking photographs. Unfortunately, Rogers' horse, Trigger, wasn't able to accompany them! 

There are some very recognisable faces among the celebrity photographs within this collection. Danny Kaye, the famous White Christmas actor, paid a visit to Glasgow in 1949 to perform a series of shows at the Glasgow Empire Theatre on Sauchiehall Street. During this time he visited Lauder Hall in Strathaven, which belonged to his good friend Sir Harry Lauder, the famous Scottish singer and comedian. There is also a signed photograph of Judy Garland, the legendary American actress. This photograph is most likely from 1951 when she had a run of shows at the Glasgow Empire Theatre. Although it is uncertain as to whether Ms Garland ever visited the hospital, she did meet one of the hospital's beneficiaries, Mr Alfred Ellsworth. 

Alfred Ellsworth, a local Glasgow philantrhopist, was one of the main supporters of Mearnskirk Hospital. Affectionately known as Alf, Ellsworth would raise funds for the hospital and arrange these special celebrity visits to the patients and staff. Ellsworth owned a confectionary shop in Bridgeton in the east end of Glasgow and that is where he met Dr John Wilson, the first superintendent of Mearnskirk Hospital. He would visit the hospital to hand out toys and sweets to the children, and was said to never visit the hospital empty-handed. Through his philanthropic work, Ellsworth raised money for the hospital and was the one behind the variety of celebrity visits to the staff and patients.