Our History
A series of unlikely connections
Our charity has been known by a number of names, we are the Hoskyn Community Centre today. This reflects our desire to reach out to a wider network of organisation who can use our facility without forgetting our mission to support the elderly and less abled. In the 1990s we were The Hoskyn Centre for the Disabled. In 1926 when we were established we were The Hoskyn Cripples’ Fund. A term that no one would choose today.
But we should remember that this name described a fine organisation set up by Dr Hoskyn during his time at St Cross. In 1926 he founded Rugby Orthopaedic Clinic to treat disabled children and assist disabled adults. Dr Hoskyn devoted an increasing amount of time to rehabilitation. He began work in an open shed, but this soon gave way to a wooden hut, which in 1932 was replaced by the Sun Pavilion at St Cross.
With the passing of the National Health Act in 1948 the clinic became redundant. Dr Hoskyn and the team he had assembled to run the clinic then transferred their efforts to fundraising for what became known as The Hoskyn Cripples’ Fund. Dr Hoskyn felt that under the new Health Scheme the personal touch had been completely lost, and he commented on the fact that by 1950 only three voluntary organisations were still in being i.e. for the blind, the old and the crippled.
Mr Rowan Mitchell suggested that a Cripples’ Guild, or register of cripples, should be set up and run by the users themselves and a search for suitable premises was begun.
OUR HOME
Before the war Hamilton House at 12 Bilton Road, (our current base) was used as a home for unmarried mothers and their babies, during the war it became a children’s home and after the war it reverted to being a hostel for unmarried mothers and their children.
A member of the hostel committee, Dr D J Jones, Medical Officer of Health for Rugby, was also a member of the Hoskyn Cripples’ Fund Committee and when the home closed and transferred its members to another town, he arranged for Dr Hoskyn and his team to purchase the premises. In autumn 1952, the Hoskyn Centre opened its doors for the first time.
THE EARLY DAYS
A resident caretaker was employed at the newly acquired Bilton Road building and disabled people began to attend afternoon classes. The classes, all run by committee members and volunteers, offered training in crafts and occupational skills. Twenty four adults and fourteen children are reported to have taken part in the first year.
It was soon felt desirable to develop a social life for the group but there was not sufficient space. There was however a garden and in 1954 plans were made to build an extension “to provide a meeting place for all disabled persons.” The extension was opened in 1956 by Sir Harry Platt, president of the Royal College of Surgeons and a social committee was formed shortly afterwards. The social committee was made up of disabled members plus two members of the Management Committee. It met once a month and arranged a programme of concerts, competitions and parties, which meant that the hall was very busy on Saturday evenings.
Transportation for both craft sessions and social gatherings was provided by County and St John’s Ambulances.
In his President’s report at the AGM of March 1957 Dr Hoskyn thanked the Trustees of Hamilton House for the transference of the building to the Hoskyn Cripples’ Fund. This gave them a secure future in their own building.
Our founder – Dr Hoskyn always saw the centre as a resource for all disabled people and over the years it has accommodated groups such as The Spastic Parents’ Association, the blind, a lip reading class, the MS Group and Disability Forum. Social Services used the premises for almost 20 years to run the Sesame Group which made provision for younger disabled people. This moved to Fawsley House in Hillmorton Road as a resource centre.
The Hoskyn Centre was named after its founder, Dr C R Hoskyn but what do today’s Rugbeians know of either him or us?
“Doctor, ambulance worker, sportsman, crusader, brave soldier (he was in the R.M.C). and was awarded the Albert Medal, equivalent to the George Medal for rescuing a wounded soldier from under a train which was on fire, freeman of rugby- Dr C R Hoskyn was all of these, but most of all he was a humanitarian and a lover of children. It is difficult to conceive how anybody could have done more for the town of his adoption.”
Charles Reginald Hoskyn was born in what is now Pakistan, and was educated at Bedford Grammar School, where he was captain of the school, captain of rugby and captain of rowing. He went on to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where he was also captain of the XV rugby team and played for Middlesex County Cricket team.
He moved to Rugby in 1910 where he started as a general practitioner. The following year, 1911, he was appointed assistant surgeon at St Cross where he continued to work until 1948.