An appeal has gone out from the Edinburgh International Book Festival for people to contribute memories of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and its old home at Lauriston Place. They are planning a writing project, Words from the Wards, at this summer’s Book Festival because it is going to be based for the first time at the Royal Infirmary’s old site, which is now home to Edinburgh University’s Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Here are 29 fascinating photographs selected from the Evening News archives which may jog some memories of the hospital over the years, before it moved to its current site at Little France in 2003.
13. Refreshment trolley
Volunteers serving at the refreshment trolley at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, April 1986. | TSPL Photo: Crauford Tait
14. Changing the beds
Nurses at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary had to use paper sheets and pillowcases during the porters and auxiliaries strike in May 1982. | TSPL Photo: Hamish Campbell
15. Chimney coming down
Three men stand on top of the the old boilerhouse chimney at the Royal Infirmary in Lauriston Place on the day the chimney was to demolished, February 1984. | TSPL Photo: George Smith
16. Helping hand
An ambulance driver leaves the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary picket line to help two old ladies across the road during the ambulancemen's strike of July 1981. | TSPL Photo: Bill Newton