three counties column
Each month Richard Knight will feature an item
from Three Counties Hospital from his collection of
history and memorabilia.
Dr Fuller medical superintendent at
Three Counties Asylum from 19101935. He served 25 years of loyal
and unblemished service until his
death on the 15th March 1935.
Dr Laurence Otway Fuller ( M.R.C.S. Eng.
L.R.C.P.Lond), was a handsome man who
was very popular with the young nurses
at the time. He took up his position on the
10th December 1910 after being chosen
over 42 other applicants.
He bought in many changes to Three
Counties including cutting the free beer
allowance, this sounded harsh at first but employees wanted more
money so instead of the free beer the staff were given a raise which
pleased them and made him popular as a firm but fair man. After the
closure of the brewery the old building was converted to a cheese
making plant and Dr. Fullers wife Maud took on the job of cheese
manufacturing with the help from trusted patients.
Dr Fuller was a man of high morals, He was very intolerant of the
abuse of patients on any level ,several attendants were dismissed
for this offence during the time he held his position at TCA ,He would
not tolerate drinking on duty, again several staff were dismissed for
this offence, just the slight smell of alcohol on an employee’s breath
could be enough for dismissal. He could not abide immoral behaviour
among staff and sacked a married male and a single female who
“practically” admitted to such an offence.
He was responsible for the better accuracy of keeping patient
records, something that had been somewhat lacking in previous
years, Dr Fuller believed that very accurate records must be kept to
build up a case for each patient ,The patient’s well being and the state
of their mental condition had to be asses