Dear Mr Edwards

Having trained, part-time, as an art therapist at Goldsmiths College in London over the previous two years, in early July 1982 I received a letter that effectively changed the course of my life. The letter, dated 30th June, was from a Miss C. Greatrick, then Acting Unit Administrator at Stanley Royd Hospital in Wakefield. 

Looking at this letter now – a letter the existence of which I had long forgotten and was surprised to rediscover while sorting through old work files – it is a document evidently of its time. A5 in size, using headed paper, the letter was typewritten and bears evidence of correction. Typed manually, and signed by hand, the letter also shows traces of having the folded; probably to fit an envelope, but possibly by myself at a later date. 

In the top right hand quadrant of the letter there can also be seen faint, upside down and now virtually illegible handwriting. This writing is in my own hand and appears to have been faintly rendered using a pencil. Not all the words can be deciphered but the word ‘Medical’, followed by what looks like a time (11 am) and day (Monday) can be seen; as can the number 2141, which I assume was the telephone number extension I was required to call - possibly to arrange a medical – but I can’t be sure.

Nowadays such a letter would have been typed using word processing software on a computer - possibly by the person making the appointment rather than a secretary – and spell checked before being neatly laser printed and sent on its way through the postal system. It is also possible that such a letter may never have taken a material form and have been sent as an email attachment directly to my laptop or phone.

As requested, I quickly wrote a letter of acceptance, and having arrived in Wakefield the previous evening, I reported for duty at 9am on Monday, 2nd August, 1982. I remained in post until 1989 when – having recently become a father and having been offered additional teaching hours on the newly established art therapy training course then based at the University of Sheffield - I left for personal and professional reasons. My leaving was a bittersweet moment, tinged with sadness as well as the excitement generated by new possibilities.

Much changed for myself and for art therapy within and out with Stanley Royd Hospital during those seven, often difficult years. Today, both Stanley Royd Hospital and Wakefield Health Authority are no more. The hospital closed in 1995 and the inpatient mental health services available to the local population are currently delivered by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. 

I don’t know what the future held for Miss C. Greatrick (Carol as I came to know her) but her letter survives as a testament to a very different era in the care and treatment of those experiencing mental health difficulties. 

David Edwards trained as an art therapist at Goldsmiths College, graduating in 1982. Since qualifying he has worked in a range of clinical and educational settings; mainly with adults. Over the past four decades David has also written, run workshops and lectured widely on art therapy and related topics. His book ‘Art Therapy’ was first published by Sage in 2004. A second edition was published in 2013. Semi-retired, David currently works as a clinical supervisor in private practice in Sheffield.