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An Hour a Month: Children’s Hospital Visiting Rules Before the Platt Report
One hour, once a month: how British hospitals kept sick children apart from their parents before the Platt Report, and the boy who watched the clock.
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The Directory and the Child: what a survey of Britain’s orthopaedic institutions kept, and what it left out
A 1935 directory of Britain’s institutions for ‘crippled’ children, and the boy it would send to King Edward VII Hospital, Sheffield: what the records kept, and what they left out.
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Forgotten Children Bovine TB: Hidden History Wins Award
There is a particular satisfaction in receiving recognition for work that is not really about you. ‘Yet’ recovers the story of the forgotten children of bovine tuberculosis. Hundreds of thousands of British children were hospitalised for months, sometimes years, in the era before effective treatment existed. When I learned the book had been awarded Runner-up…
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A video introduction to ‘Yet’
Have you ever wondered about the hidden stories that shaped our families and communities? The ones often left untold, buried under stigma and silence? In my latest video, I share the extraordinary journey of my father, Harry Drabble, whose life was transformed by childhood trauma, disability, and the choices he made. This story, captured in…
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Dear Dad
Writing Dad’s book has kept him close since his death in 2022, but I’m entering another phase of my grief. I miss our conversations so much that I decided to write him a letter. How do you manage your own losses? Dear Dad, I want to tell you why I’ve chosen to publish your story…
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‘Can’t Do to Can Do … Yet’: Harry Drabble’s Journey Through Disability, Work and the Fight for a Livelihood in 20th Century Britain
Harry Drabble’s story of resilience, from being written off as a child with a disability to building a successful life, highlights the fight for inclusion in 20th-century Britain. Shared for UK Disability History Month, his journey inspires us to challenge prejudice, reframe limitations, and strive for true equality.
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From Harry Drabble to Diddly Squat Farm: The Lasting Impact of Bovine Tuberculosis
The recent bovine TB outbreak at Jeremy Clarkson’s farm highlights the disease’s emotional and economic toll. Harry Drabble’s 1937 battle with TB, detailed in Yet by Helen Parker-Drabble, echoes today’s struggles. His resilience and mantra, “I can’t… yet,” inspire hope amidst the enduring challenges of illness and adversity.
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Separation and Strength
In July 1937, young Harry Drabble was hospitalised for tuberculosis, facing isolation and trauma. His experience epitomizes the emotional struggles of many children in 20th-century Britain separated from families during long treatments. Despite these challenges, Harry developed resilience, ultimately shaping his life positively and highlighting the importance of understanding and acknowledging such hidden histories.
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Listen to Harry’s Story: A Long‑Stay Child Patient’s Journey of Resilience and Hope
The podcast discusses “Yet”: A Story of Triumph Over Childhood Separation, Trauma, and Disability, focusing on the author’s father, Harry Drabble, and his experiences as a long-stay child patient in Sheffield due to bovine tuberculosis. It highlights his resilience and the importance of preserving these children’s stories through a Kickstarter pre-launch campaign.
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Forgotten history: A child’s experience of bovine tuberculosis
In 1937, two-and-a-half-year-old Harry Drabble was separated from his mother after being diagnosed with bovine tuberculosis, enduring traumatic hospital treatment for over two years. This isolation and neglect affected him emotionally and socially, mirroring the experiences of thousands of children during this dark period in British history.
