From the Surrey Comet: July 15, 1988

Kingston was found to be one of the safest places in the country to be born.

A survey of more than 200 district health authorities found Kingston had the third lowest death rate from all causes and all ages.

Harrow took pride of place in the poll conducted across England and Wales, with Eastbourne a close second.

Of course, credit for this happy state of affairs could go directly to the health service.

The borough’s relatively high socio-economic status was also an important factor, but the dramatic drop in still births could be more directly linked to the enormous improvements in technique that had taken place in Kingston Hospital since the NHS was launched.

In 1948, 1,421 babies were born at the hospital, of whom 50, or 3.5 per cent, were still-born, according to director of services John Langan.

In the year up to March 31, 1988, there were 2,370 babies born, of which only six, or 0.25 per cent, were still births.

Mr Langan said: “To put it another way, one in 28 babies was still-born at Kingston Hospital in 1948, and one in 395 in 1988.”

He said Kingston had more than 3,000 patients on hospital waiting lists, but the list had been significantly reduced since the Government launch of the Waiting List Initiative in 1987.

The total national budget of the NHS was £23bn, of which Kingston Hospital received an annual share of £46.5m.

Mr Langan said: “However, it would be £50m, but for the cuts we have suffered since 1982.

“The national formula is that as Kingston has more money per head of the population in a service that is totally about quality and access for everyone, then £2.5m of our annual budget has been re- directed to more deprived areas.”

50 YEARS AGO:

July 17, 1963 Malden police dismissed claims of vandalism after fire swept through a block of recently refurbished wooden classrooms at Coombe House School in a short, but spectacular blaze.

Fire consumed 50 new desks, severely damaged changing rooms and cycle sheds and melted the glass of a nearby lamp.

25 YEARS AGO:

July 15, 1988 Members of the Kingston Anti-Apartheid Group joined a march through the streets of London to mark the 70th birthday of the jailed black African political leader Nelson Mandela.

Tens of thousands of people attended to hear speeches from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir Richard Attenborough.

10 YEARS AGO:

July 18, 2003 Plans to bring Crossrail to Kingston were given the green light by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling as one of two western branches.

The project, known as Corridor 6, would serve Kew Gardens, Richmond, then all stations to Kingston and Norbiton as part of the £10bn Crossrail project.

Got memories of Kingston, New Malden, Chessington, Surbiton or Tolworth you want to share? Email newsdesk@surreycomet.co.uk.