Visit to Royaumont April 2023

In April 2023, 4 of us travelled to Royaumont Abbey in France to see where the great Dr Frances Ivens had saved so many lives in the Great war. My anticipation was so great it gave me heart palpitations and I felt so odd. As we arrived I pressed the electric gate and rather cheekily drove in and parked with staff. 

As we walked to the front of the building we stood before the great door and I was shaking, I had researched not just Miss Ivens but the Abbey itself for nigh on 20 years. I have no words really to describe what it was like for me. The others roamed around looking at stuff. I just sat in the cloisters and imagined Frances hurrying along to tend to yet another load of injured French soldiers. In my mind's eye I saw Miss Prance pulling up in her ambulance, Miss Nichlson running behind Frances all eager to save those precious lives.

Eventually I moved on and entered the cavernous rooms which have now reverted to the original names like The refectory, all I saw was Canada ward etc with hundreds of injured men lying patiently waiting to be treated. I will be returning this summer to continue my journey around the abbey and to visit Villers Cotteret just to look at the area where the second hospital was. If you get a chance please do visit its awesome.