Notes: 1. The house had been run by the Ministry of Pensions for two years to house disabled soldiers from the Tyneside Scottish and Irish Regiments
2. The house was now to be used as a convalescent home to relieve overcrowding at the Royal Infirmary in Newcastle. Accommodation had been made for 30 patients, with preference given to the Tyneside Scottish. There would be a Matron, two nurses and a staff of servant. The first Matron was Miss Bailey of Derby, chosen because of her high qualifications.
3. It was hoped eventually that it would become a place of residence also to those not attending the Royal Infirmary.
4. Lt.Col. Innes Hopkins had always made generous donations to the Royal Infirmary. He was a partner in the firm of Messrs. Weidner, Hopkins and Co. and director in other companies. He was a soldier, who retired with the rank of Major. When the Great War started he encouraged recruitment especially in the Tyneside Scottish and was gazetted as a Lieut.Col. His health failed so he did not go to France with his regiment, and was later invalided out.
5. Col. and Mrs. Innes Hopkins later resided in “The Hayes,” Kenley, Surrey, but hoped to be present at the opening. Mrs. Innes Hopkins did not attend the ceremony because of injury.
6. Mrs C. H. Innes Hopkins was the organiser of Music for the Troops fund which was to provide Music for the Scottish Battalions, it was called Mrs Hopkins’ Fund.
7. The Scottish Battalions did not have a enough ‘pipes’ for the Battalion Band. They needed 8 sets but only one was available. Mrs Hopkins organised a fund to provide enough instruments for the band.
8. As of 5th December 1914 the total subscriptions to Mrs Hopkins’ Fund was £108. 5s 6d. However, this also included Commercial Battalion Committee, The Committee of the Irish Battalions, The “Journal Fund” Mr Geo. Renwick committee for providing Music for Recruits.
9. There was a letter written by Mrs Hopkins to the Newcastle Journal, Monday 16/11/1914 which states:-
“Sir, May I, through your columns, appeal to the generosity of your readers, Scottish and others to help with the equipment of the pipers for my husband’s regiment, the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish? The battalion, after many vicissitudes, has been sanctioned by the War Office, and the grand response is known to all, in that three battalions are complete, whilst a fourth is nearly so, and can be filled in a day or two if sanction is obtained, which is hourly hoped for. The tartan for the kilt and plaid will be shepherd’s plaid, appropriate to our district, and the pipe covers and ribbons will be Gordon tartan. Mrs Cochrane-Carr and Sir Thomas Oliver have each generously offered to equip one piper. Eight Pipers are required for a battalion, and anything over, after equipping Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkins pipers, will be passed on to the other Battalions. The War Office does not supply any funds towards pipers in non-kilted regiments, and therefore, at the outset the whole expense- unless helped by friends- falls on the officers, unless Mr Cowen’s donation is drawn upon, which my Husband is anxious to avoid, so that all of it may be available for the men themselves.
Scotsmen, help me- a Gordon myself. Helen E. Hopkins.”
10. See Castell Percy Innes Hopkins’ Every Name A Story entry.
11 See Charles Randolph Innes Hopkins’ Every Name A Story entry.
