Memorial Details

Innes Hopkins Memorial Home 1914-18

R33.12

RYTON

NZ

Innes Hopkins Memorial Home, (The Towers, Ryton)

1914-18

Formally handed over and received in July 1919 by Sir Frank Browne; formally declared open 6th October 1923 by Lieut.Col. C.H. Innes Hopkins

House, The Towers, Ryton. Given to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in 1923 to be used as a Convalescent and after-care home for disabled soldiers and sailors. The gift included the garden and thirteen acres of land.

(In memory of their 2nd and 3rd sons, C.P. and C.R. Innes Hopkins who were killed.)

See above.

Given by Lt.Col. & Mrs. Innes Hopkins and their family.

Valued at £15,000

This later became Ryton Council Offices and is now a private Retirement Home.

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. The two Innes Hopkins Brothers are remembered on R33.01, R33.07 and R33.08

7. 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.

8. The Scottish Battalions did not have a enough 'pipes' for the Battalion Band, they needed 8 pipes, only one was available so Mrs Hopkins organised a fund to provide enough instruments for the band.

9. As of 5th December 1914 the total subscriptions to Mrs Hopkins' Fund was £108. 5s 6p. 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.

10. 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 paid 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."

Photo: Nan Smith; old postcard: Tony Harding

Illustrated Chronicle 25/01/1918 shows photos of house; 17/07/1919 reports formal handing over to Ministry of Pensions; 18/06/1923 reports inspection before change of use; 08/10/1923 has photos of the official opening.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 26/01/1918 reports donation of the house; 19/07/1919 reports opening; 23/12/1922 reports acceptance; 13/10/1923 reports official opening

Blaydon Courier 26/01/1918 reports proposal of donation of house and gives a brief biography of Col. Innes Hopkins’ career; 19/07/1919 reports initial handing over; 13/10/1923 reports second handing over.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle 14/07/1919 reports proposed opening ceremony; 17/07/1919 carries a photo with report of formal opening.

Newcastle Journal 15/12/1914 for note 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Newcastle JournalMonday 16/11/1914 copy of letter in Note 10.

Illustrated Chronicle 1918 01 25 Fri

Illustrated Chronicle 1919 07 17 Thu

Mrs. N. Smith (Ryton); Dorothy Hall; Tony Harding; James Pasby

Ryton War Memorial Group Contact: enquiries@rytonwarmemorials.org.uk

 

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