Well, questioning Joyce Clews had been a waste of time; Joshua had gleaned nothing more than he already knew. She was loyal to Kath to a fault, and no one else was saying anything either.
Riding down Trouse Lane to have dinner with Spencer and Violet he looked at the well-to-do houses as he passed them. The wealthy people of the town lived in these houses, there was also an ironmonger, a tobacconist, a bedding manufacturer, a pork butcher as well as pawnbrokers and grocers that dotted the street. He counted himself fortunate to be living amongst them.
He was surprised to see the doctor’s carriage stood by the front steps as he arrived at Gittins Manor. Joshua leapt from his horse and rushed in through the door held open by the maid. He was surprised to see Kath Clancy there.
‘What’s happened?’ he shouted. ‘Why’s the doctor here?’
Violet said with a smile, ‘He’s come to dinner at Spencer’s request.’
‘Bloody hell!’ Joshua said, rubbing a hand over his face. ‘I thought…’
‘So did I!’ said Kath with a little laugh.
Spencer apologised for worrying them both as they took their seats around the dinner table. ‘Dr Shaw has joined us for dinner as we have a proposal to put to you both. Violet and I have discussed this very thoroughly and now we’d like to hear your views on it.’
Glances passed between them and Joshua wondered what his son had in mind.
Spencer began, ‘Dr Shaw charges a small fee to those seeking his services, and rightly so…’ Spencer nodded respectfully at the doctor sat to his left. ‘Unfortunately there are a good many families who cannot afford even this small amount. Therefore visiting the doctor is not an option for them.’ Spencer cast a glance at the doctor who looked crestfallen. ‘So what we want to suggest is this… the workers at father’s factory as well as my own pay one halfpenny a month in order for them and their families to have access to the doctor at any time…’ Joshua saw Spencer stay the doctor’s interruption with a raise of his hand before continuing, ‘Dr Shaw, if agreeable, would be paid a salary as a retainer for being available to our workers and their families; the halfpenny the workers pay a month supplementing this in the beginning. Now, Dr Shaw…’ Looking at the doctor, Spencer spoke directly to him, ‘this salary would be a regular monthly income for you, and more, if I may say, than you currently earn.’
The doctor now nodding was all ears, as were the others.
‘There is however, one proviso…’ They waited and Joshua thought, What’s he up to now?
‘Dr Shaw, one day every week will be given over to providing free medical care to the people of Wednesbury.’
‘I wouldn’t be able to afford that, and besides… where? Where could I treat them?’
‘Spencer was thinking…’ Violet said giving her father-in-law a smile, ‘of that old building on the waste ground by the side of your factory, Joshua.’
‘Well,’ Joshua started, looking at the doctor, ‘if your salary more than covers the free treatment, then you don’t have a worry there.’ Then looking at his son, he went on, ‘You can have the building with pleasure, it’s doing nothing at the moment, but it’s a ruin.’ Joshua was amazed at the scheme Spencer and his wife had come up with, but felt sure it would work out fine. He glowed with pride and beamed his smile to all.
‘Thank you Father,’ Spencer grinned. ‘Now, Dr Shaw, what do you say to this proposal?’
‘Well,’ said the doctor, ‘if the building is usable, I would need a nurse and medicines and the like…’
Joshua watched his son with pride as he said, ‘If you don’t mind, lad, I’d like to make sure Dr Shaw has everything he needs.’
‘Thank you Father,’ Spencer grinned.
‘Then I accept your proposal, Mr and Mrs Gittins!’
*
Joshua watched through the window of his office as Spencer gave his orders regarding the old building. Jack Hesp had drawn workers from the ‘bread line’ in the town; men who waited every day in the hope of someone giving them some work. These men were work-worn and weary from their days in the coal pits. But a lot of them had been laid off from the closure of these collieries, which had meant losing their jobs and their homes. Some were lucky enough to find lodgings, but others lived in derelict houses or out on the heath.
Standing the ‘bread line’ at first was humiliating, they felt it was tantamount to begging and they were fiercely proud. However, soon desperation replaced their shame. They huddled together in small groups watching keenly for anyone who might give them work. Ragged clothes hung from their cadaverous frames and battered caps sat on unkempt hair. Boots lined with cardboard insoles covered bare feet. Lacklustre eyes stared from skeletal looking faces. Tiredness and depression weighed heavily and grew in intensity with each passing day.
Now, glad to be in work at last, they set to clearing the rubbish out of the building with gusto. As the men worked, they laughed and joked – it was a good sound.
Spencer came into Joshua’s office with the sketches of the new building drawn up by W. Morgan, the architect in Pinfold Street. The accountant had advised Joshua and Spencer there was enough in the coffers to accomplish this task from the factory profits, provided they didn’t overstretch themselves. Downstairs in the building there was to be a large waiting room, a consulting room too; out the back would be a lavatory. Upstairs would house the doctor’s equipment and medicine stock and a cabinet for the patients’ records. The doors would have sturdy locks and the keys given only to Dr Shaw. Houses hereabouts were never locked but this building was not a house; it would hold medicine to be kept safe and out of the hands of people who might decide to help themselves. As many in the town were illiterate and were unable to read the labels, the pilfering and use of medicines could turn out to be very dangerous.
Dr Shaw had been assigned the task of employing a nurse and a receptionist. Joshua and Spencer had agreed to cover the cost of their wages; a donation box was to be put in the waiting room for those able to contribute, until such time as the money from the workers would cover all the outgoings.
‘Dad, it’s good of you to help out with the building and all, but I do feel a bit guilty, after all this was our idea – Violet’s and mine.’
‘Look, son,’ Joshua said, ‘your mum was wealthy in her own right – old money – and she left you an inheritance, which you spent wisely. The rest she left to me. I know by rights it should have come to me when we married, but we agreed between us that wouldn’t happen. I had no need of her money, you see, because I had the factory left to me by my father. He built it up from nothing and he made sure I’d want for nothing after he’d gone. As you know, I’ve worked bloody hard over the years to keep that money safe and to add to it as much as I could. In turn, it will all come to you when I’m gone, but for now I want to help in any way I can.’
‘Thank you Dad, but I hope and pray that you will be around for a very long time into the future.’ Spencer smiled, his eyes brimming with tears.
Joshua was amazed at the ingenuity of Spencer and Violet and clapped his son on the back as they stood together and looked through the window watching the men working happily below them.
*
Alone in his office again, Joshua’s mind took him back to Kath Clancy. He had watched her over dinner at Spencer’s and caught himself wishing she had agreed to his suggestion of a courtship.
Sighing heavily, he dreamed on. What was it about her that drew everyone to her? She was a kind soul and Joshua couldn’t deny he found her a very handsome woman. There was a mystery around her he still had to fathom and he determined to discover what it was. Then again, if he discovered the mystery, would his attraction to her diminish?
For now, he turned his mind to work matters. Joshua walked the length of the factory before someone shouted, ‘What’s happening with the old building outside, gaffer?’
Not sure who had spoken, Joshua turned to see all eyes on him. ‘It’s to be a free medical clinic for the people of Wednesbury,’ he said simply. ‘Violet Gittins’ idea, and a bloody good one I reckon.’
Calling his workforce together in the factory, Joshua related the plan regarding their halfpenny a month contribution to the wages of the doctor, nurse and receptionist. He explained that, if they agreed, this halfpenny would be deducted in the first week of each month before they received their wages for that week. Asking for their opinion on the idea, the applause, cheers and whistles gave him their answer. He was delighted with their response, and as the applause rang out again, he continued to walk back to his office hearing mutters of, ‘God bless you Mrs Gittins, and you an’ all gaffer!’
Before he realised it, Joshua found himself outside number four, Hobbins Street… Kath Clancy’s house.
Christ! The woman was in his subconscious now too! Joshua scuttled away but not before Kath had caught sight of him.