Interviews of Bill Gibson aged 86

Biographical interview with Bill Gibson (aged 86). This short interview is primarily about Bill's experience of the Lochmaben sanatorium. When Bill was 19, in 1949, he contracted Tuberculosis and became an in-patient in the sanatorium. He recalls that he was very scared as deaths from TB at this time were commonplace. Fortunately, he was given the new antibiotic, Streptomycin, and made a full recovery. While in hospital, he spend the first 4 months confined to his bed. If the weather was fine, the beds were rolled out onto the veranda.

As his health improved, he was able to get up and go to the kitchen for his meals. He eventually started to walk home (two and a half miles away) and, after 6 months, he was sent home. After that, he had another 6 months of convalescence at home before he could return to work. Bill then talks about the changes he has seen in farming and Lochmaben. He recalls when the harvest was done using 3 horses and a binder and remembers an occasion when 70 cattle were driven through the town after being brought to Lochmaben by train. He also recalls the family dairy and remarks that he has never drunk pasteurised milk.