Alice Saxby
Alice Saxby MVO was a British nurse who was matron to King Edward VII's Hospital for Officers, London, from 1948 to 1969. She was previously in charge of an officer's wing at Botleys Mansion during the Second World War and cared for many casualties from the Normandy landings.
During her tenure at the hospital, she modelled herself on its founder, Sister Agnes, who had been matron before her, and she looked after, among others, Harold Macmillan and Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. Several members of the British royal family were cared for at the hospital during her time in office, including Princess Alexandra and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
In 1958, Saxby was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order. She retired in 1969.
Early life and career
Alice Saxby, known by some as "Sax", was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in 1904. She completed her nursing training at St. Thomas's Hospital, London.In January 1939, she was appointed to the nursing staff of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. During the Second World War she was in charge of an officer's wing at St Thomas's Emergency Bed Service based at the former mental institution at Botleys Park, where she cared for many of the first casualties from the Normandy landings.
Post-war career
In 1948, Saxby was appointed matron to King Edward VII's Hospital for Officers, London. Prior to 1940, Sister Agnes had been matron and between September 1940 and October 1948, the hospital had been closed. In October 1948, at the opening of the hospital at Beaumont Street, London, Saxby appeared in two official photographs; in one standing beside Queen Mary and surrounded by the nursing staff, and in the other standing with Queen Mary, Sir Harold Augustus Wernher, Lady Zia Wernher and Sir George Ogilvie. By 1949, the hospital could make claim to an elite medical and surgical staff, but, according to Richard Hough, was admitted with jaundice. The Queen Mother was treated for appendicitis, the Duke of Kent attended for a minor illness, and Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, underwent a series of operations in 1961.In 1958, Saxby was appointed a member of the Royal Victorian Order. She retired in 1969 and was succeeded by Margaret Dalglish. She was listed as a new member in the "Report of the Society of the Friends of St Georges and the Descendants of the Royal Knights of the Garter".