A key researcher into the history of the famous Leavesden Hospital has created a short film based on the stories of the people who lived and worked there.
Martin T. Brooks is the founder of the Leavesden Hospital History Association and has spent more than a decade researching the people, places and events that make up its history.
Now, he has written, directed and produced Going Home, a short film based on a poem written by Felicity Firth, a former volunteer at the hospital. The film follows a young patient named Jean with whom Felicity worked in the 1970s.
It also travels back in time to the 1870s to tell the story of another young patient, Lilly. Both Jean and Lilly had dreams of leaving the hospital and going home. Lilly was eventually able to do so, but sadly Jean never did.
Martin explained: “I collected a great deal of material when writing a book about the hospital, and the poem that Felicity Firth wrote was one of the most emotional and powerful stories I received.
“Hopefully, after watching my film, people will ask if mental health care and treatment are doing any better now in 2024. In some cases, yes. In some cases, no.”
Martin is also looking to produce more short films regarding the hospital’s many residents and staff, with many more moving tales waiting to be told.
If you would like to watch the film or find out more, visit the association’s website or search for the Leavesden Hospital History Association on YouTube.
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