My aunt went to the Davos clinic in the 1950's suffering from tuburculosis she met a young man there and became engaged, they were on the front page of the sunday mercury when they returned from Switzerland and married.I was their bridesmaid.
Hello Davos Forum,
My parents or myself have no link to the Birmingham area, but I came across this site today as I have wanted to know more about my Father - who stayed in Davos in the early 1950's. Sadly he past on 30 years ago and we never spoke about his time there as a TB patient, before returning healthy and getting married to my mother in 1957 (2 years befor yours truelly arrived).
From the few conversations with my Mother (who passed on a few months ago) we also never spoke about his time there, until I told my mother one day I had been invited on a skiing holiday to Davos (ten years ago), which she then pointed to an oil painting on the wall and said ... that was where your Father stayed during his illness. Other than that (and hardly ever noticing the picture in our house), all I know is that the place of treatment was a Sanatorium (name ?) and they used to get wheeled out in their beds for a few hours each day to take in the healthy surroundings - through large glass doors over looking the valley and town (as mentioned in an earlier thread). It was at this time that he became friends with the chap in the bed next to him, who happened to be an artist and painted Davos and the mountains from their balcony. The name of the artist was a man by the name of R.A.White, who gave the picture to my father for his friendship and I am now very curious to learn more. I recall my Father used to correspond with him upon returning, but sadly these letters can no longer be found.
My Father's name was Daniel Augustine Arthur (Danny) and he was from Limerick, Ireland and had been working as a chef before his illness (either in Ireland, but may of just arrived in London). I have no idea of his early diagosis or which hosital sent him. All I do know is that he spent a year and a half in Davos.
FYI, when I went to Davos my friend from Zurich took me to the local post office and we showed them a copy of the picture. From what they could recall they thought that the sanatorium stood on the grounds of where the G8 summit is held each year ???
I did learn that my Father (and others) were very lucky at that time to go to Davos, as TB was a very serious illness and my mother must of been a saint to wait for his return (quite grateful I am myself
). Today Davos is a very different place what with so mush wealth compared to the people after the war, who worked so very had farming and preparing for long winters - shut off from the neighbouring valley's such a Cloisters (where our Royals holiday).
Hopefully my storey jog's someones memory or some they know someone who might know - or maybe someone knows how I can research deeper, through the hospital register etc.
Many thanks
Arf
