History and mission of the Alan Squirrell Artificial Kidney Unit Trust
In October 1965, a boy got into severe difficulties, whilst trying to scale the cliff face near the Paragon, on Ramsgate’s West Cliff. He could so easily have fallen to his death, but for the timely arrival of Police Sergeant Alan Squirrell. He was able to climb down, with the assistance of only a rope and with great difficult
y and with no little danger to himself, was able to bring the boy to safety. The 46-year-old sergeant was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s honorary testimonial, inscribed on parchment for this selfless act of bravery. Within a year of that rescue, Alan Squirrell, who was born in Rochester and started his police career at Chatham in January 1948, was fighting for his own life in a London hospital. The severe headaches and high blood pressure, he increasingly suffered, were found, to be the result of kidney failure. On Saturday, the 17th September 1966, the then Mayor of the Borough of Ramsgate, Alderman Cyril Barton, received a telephone call from the editor of the East Kent Times and other Ramsgate residents, requesting the Mayors assistance in setting up an appeal fund, to purchase a Kidney Dialysis Machine for Sergeant Squirrell. He promised an answer, before the publication of the next week’s paper. Alderman Barton, having contacted the Regional Health Board to obtain their advice, decided to request the assistance of the other civic heads in Thanet. The Mayor of the Borough of Margate, Alderman Alfred Adams and the Chair of Broadstairs Urban District Council, Councillor Ted Robinson. They immediately pledged their support, and the appeal was launched at a press conference on Tuesday the 20th of September. The three civic heads had decided, after extensive discussion with the South East Regional Health Authority, to try to provide East Kent with a permanent kidney unit. This extension of the original idea had been made possible due to the fine response of the public. Pfizer Ltd., the American Pharmaceutical Company at Sandwich, had, in fact, provided the funds in the first week of the appeal to purchase the dialysis machine for Alan Squirrel, who when visited at Guy’s Hospital in London, was delighted to lend his name to this fine aim. Alan Squirrell was never to see the results of this appeal, as sadly he died in February 1967, whilst undergoing treatment in Guy’s Hospital.
1967 commenced with the original £10,000 target almost achieved, but it was known at this time, that to provide a permanent Kidney Unit in East Kent, hopefully at Margate, would require a much larger figure. The Widow of Alan Squirrell readily agreed to his name being used for this wider appeal and with the assistance of the then Town Clerk of Ramsgate, Mr Kenneth Speakman, a proper Trust was established, with the three Civic Heads as its permanent trustees. In May 1968, the Regional Health Authority decided to establish the Renal Dialysis unit at The Kent & Canterbury Hospital, so that it could cover the majority of Kent. Most of the cost of this unit to be met by the Health Authority, with of course a major input by the Fund. It was not until 1972 that the new “Alan Squirrell Renal Unit” was opened at The Kent & Canterbury Hospital, under the direction of Dr. Michael Goggin. At the opening, Dr. James Fairley, of the Regional Health Authority stated, that without the publicity and financial assistance of the Trust, Kent would not have its own unit. From the day he started as the Renal Consultant, Michael Coggin recognised that without the Trusts assistance, Renal Care in Kent, as in any other area of the country, would be severely underfunded. He therefore took a very active part with the fundraising and has raised several Hundred Thousand Pounds to date, with his special emphasis on funding research. Having now been in existence for nearly 50 years what has this continuing Trust achieved, other than the original unit at Canterbury. a) With Dr. Goggin’s assistance and guidance, it has established a large fund, to pay the costs of medical research into Kidney Treatment and extending the knowledge of the Disease. Doctors have been attached to the Alan Squirrell Unit, and have worked in conjunction and with the assistance of the University of Kent and the Sheffield Renal Unit, which is the main U.K. The researchers have been able to present papers of world-wide importance in advancing medical knowledge in this field. This effort is still expanding, for the benefit of renal patients. The current team, with the continued financial support of the Trust, which totals several Hundred Thousand Pounds, has seen its expert knowledge not only recognised in the U.K., but also in Europe & North America, where they have given hands on support in installing new programmes trying to identify patients with the early signs of a renal problem. b) It assisted in establishing the previous dialysis unit, at Maidstone situated at Preston Hall; this has now been replaced by a new unit at the Maidstone District Hospital. c) A £200,000 donation was made, to enable the new permanent “Alan Squirrell Renal Dialysis Unit”, at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital at Margate, to be built. This was opened in 2000, by the widow of Alan Squirrell, whose son Brian is a Board Member of the trust. d) £100,000 was donated, for the new “Alan Squirrell Renal Dialysis Unit” at the Medway Maritime Hospital at Gillingham, which was opened by the Chair of the Trust. Barton in August 2002. e) £200,000 was set to one side, to assist in the provision of a new central unit, to replace the current one at Canterbury. This project, which had been seriously delayed, due to the review of Health Care provision in East Kent, has now been completed, but the provision of £200,000 was not required in the end. New renal dialysis units are now up and running at The William Harvey Hospital at Ashford and at the Buckland Hospital at Dover. With dialysis units now in Canterbury, Gillingham, Maidstone, Ashford, Dover and Margate, we have come a very long way in 40 years. f) Funds are provided to assist the Kent Kidney Patient Association, which assists patients and their families through this very difficult period in their lives, which might last for many years. Through them, we have been able to provide a supply of bag warmers, for Peritoneal Dialysis patients, which were not available on the National Health. But mostly we have been able to assist in the provision and renewal of holiday accommodation in the shape of two modern static caravans and their running costs. g) We fully funded the temporary Dialysis Unit at Margate, which was set up to alleviate the crisis in treatment capacity, until the new unit came on stream. h) Many Thousands of Pounds have been spent on equipment in other areas of treatment in Local Hospitals, especially at Margate, which have a direct bearing on Renal Patient care. The three founding trustees are now deceased; however, there is still a link with these original founders within the current trustees. The Current Chair is Andrew J. Barton, the nephew of Alderman Cyril Barton and the previous Chair was David Adams, the son of Alderman Alfred Adams, both are Co-opted Trustee’s for life, as descendants of two of the originators, as set out in the original Trust Deed, and incorporated into the current one. The three original Thanet authorities should still be represented; however, Ramsgate’s charter trustees are no longer involved, but the charter trustees of Margate, and the town council of Broadstairs, each nominate a representative to serve for a four-year term. The Trust can also co-opt members, for five-year terms, people with a direct interest or involvement in the aims of the Trust. There are three at present Dr. Goggin, the retired original renal consultant, who is still dedicating much of his valuable time to promoting and fundraising for the Trust. Sue Fenwick, the chair of the Kent Kidney Patients Association and Brian Squirrell, a son of Alan Squirrell. Several valuable officers have served the Trust since its inception mostly from the ranks of our Local Authorities. The first long serving Secretary and a very able and conscientious administrator was John Hackett the Mayors Secretary, from the old Ramsgate Borough Council. Others include Ron Jones, who served for many years as both Secretary and Treasurer, until his retirement from Thanet District Council and his subsequent move to Sussex. He was replaced by David Brierley, the retired chief auditor of Thanet District Council, who did a splendid job for the Trust over many years and only left us to move to Manchester to assist his family. Then the Secretary and Treasurer, who replaced David was Martin Parrock who had to retire due to his failing health. The current Secretary and Treasurer, who replaced Martin is Clifford Norris a retired Police Inspector. Dr. Paul Stevens, The Renal Consultant, who took over from Michael Goggin, as the Medical Advisor to the Trust, is slowly stepping aside, and Dr. Christopher Farmer is taking on the role of Medical Adviser. Without the professional assistance given to the Trust over many years it would certainly not have achieved as much as it has. The need to support renal services in our area continues. Hospital Managers and Health Care Professionals know they can turn to us for assistance. The Kent Kidney Patients association is provided with financial support to assist in the Running Costs of their Caravans, only at the September 2013’s meeting over £4,000 was pledged to assist in replacing one of the two caravans. The Trust also provides an active back up if required for the Renal Team in East Kent. We believe that the Trust serves as a lasting memorial, to the courage of Alan Squirrell and continues to be of significant benefit to the many hundreds of renal sufferers in our area.
