MEETinLEEDS and our friends at Great Food at Leeds, the University’s catering team, joined faculties around the university to go back in time and shine a light on healthcare on Friday 17^th November 2017.

The event was hosted in collaboration with the School of Healthcare and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in order to help show case unsung heroes of the First World War in an event partnering history with healthcare.

The Parkinson Court at the University of Leeds was the platform for an interactive exhibition. In addition to a recreated field hospital by re-enactment group Wenches in Trenches, the Event encompassed academics and materials from all over the university, as well as inviting a little of the Universities past, welcoming historical interpreter Dr Kate Vigurs and former students of the University’s School of Performance and Cultural Industries, who showcased performances based on excerpts from First World War nurses’ diaries.

The University’s Special Collections, Leeds’ Thackray Medical Museum and from West Yorkshire Archive Service, as well as a poster display of research into wound care past and present.

Head of Food Development at Great Food at Leeds, Simon Wood, created a delicious lunch menu inspired by the early 20^th Century, serving up a traditional Beef Brisket with Seasonal Root Vegetables and Dumplings and a Steamed Jam Sponge.

“We tried to be sympathetic to the food availability at the time whilst still providing a delicious menu to do justice to the rest of the event. Soldiers in the trenches often had stews with small amounts of meat and whatever vegetables or leaves they could get hold of. Even though sugar was rationed, and puddings were generally constructed from stale bread and fruit, traditional puds like jam roly poly are thought to be invented around the early nineteenth century – and we didn’t want our visitors to go home without pudding!”

Guests were also treated to an Edwardian Afternoon Tea, including a selection of sandwiches, succulent mini pork and chestnut sausage rolls and sweet items including fruit tarts, Victoria sandwich cake, rich fruit cake and scones with jam & cream. Provided by the Great Food at Leeds team, the lunch was served on traditional metal blue and white plates and the afternoon tea on fine china for added authenticity.

Anthony Lowe, Event Manager at MEETinLEEDS said:

“It’s great when we have the opportunity to collaborate with the University on this scale, so many departments and individuals have been involved in making this event happen and raise the profile of Nursing & Healthcare practise, which is still so important to us today. Great Food at Leeds are always willing to do our part to make University events, such as this one, special.”