from Dr. George Bell

re: Mother's death	re: Harold Foxton's death	re: Hospitals and nursing in NSW
1. Letter to Ann Foxton regarding their Mother's death See Urana Photos
*Murrnong*
*Albury*
*New South Wales*
*3rd Nov 1947*
*Dear Ann,*
The Mater died at 0.15am on Saturday 1st Nov 1947. She was buried in the afternoon - at Urana. Jim and I and Claude went from here and Mr McCulloch came also. It hardly seemed like a funeral as one felt that she was going where she wished to be with the Boss, John and Alan. So we left her among the trees with them. Lewis came on Saturday night and Bess arrived on Saturday morning - the girls C and J are well. *The two nurses were excellent - the second a little Scots lass.* *The case still going on in London.* *I had a letter from Sir Thomas Dunhill - dated 16.10.47.* He wrote.. "Will you some time give my warm regard to Harold Foxton? He will have told you that we sat the same table at Ormond for five years, and were fortunate to be together again in 1917 and 1918 - we learned the geography of Normandy very thoroughly and something of French Cookery and wines. This has been a stimulus to me ever since. I get great fun from practising in the kitchen and always bought a little of the good wines in vintage years. I drink so very little of it when I am alone that there is always some for my friends, and we enjoy it together. I think Harold Foxton in your brother-in-law, but I confess to getting a little forgetful of the relationships of my friends". *Please give Harry this message.* *They will be stripping the crops in about a month - it rained 21 pts on Saturday morning and it looks like more today.* *May best wishes to you all* *Your affec. brother* *George Bell*
Notes:- Jim, Lewis, Bess, Chris, Jenny - George's siblings The Boss, John, Alan - family members buried at Urana Sir Thomas Dunhill - served in France with Harold Foxton Urana - small town close to Murrnong
2. Letter to his sister, Ann, regarding early hospitals and nursing in Australia
*133 Macquarie Street, Sydney*
*29.3.50*
*Dear Ann,*
I have your letter of 23rd March. I wired you re Sydney Hospital today. Of course, the first hospital was begun early in February 1788 on the west side of Sydney Cove (now Circular Quay), but Macquarie moved the hospital to its present site in 1811. Miss Lucy Osburn the first "lady superintendent" and the staff of sisters (five) arrived in Sydney in 1868 and immediately commenced their duties in the Sydney Infirmary, as it was called in those days. Florence Nightingale saw these trained nurses out. Miss Osburn had been connected with the Nightingale Council in England. Sir Henry Parkes first wrote to Florence Nightingale early in 1866 to enlist her sympathy and help in introducing trained nurses and establishing a training school for nurses in the Sydney Infirmary. Florence Nightingale made her first recommendations. The present status of nursing in Australia undoubtedly had its foundations laid by her (Miss Osburn's) organization in the Sydney Infirmiary, guided by the constant advice of Miss Florence Nightingale, with whom she was a most regular correspondent. *With best wishes to you all from us both* *George Bell*

3. Sympathy letter to Annie Foxton (Bell) on the death of her husband, Harold Foxton

*133 Macquarie Street*
*Sydney*
*14-2-1952*
Dear Ann,
Your telegram arrived safely and I am just writing to express our sympathy with you all. I am glad Harry's suffering is over, but you will miss him very much and there was always the faint hope that he might stage a recovery. What a "battler" he was. What a very worthy citizen and an ornament to his profession. There is not very much one can say. Our love to you all.
Your affec' brother
*George Bell*