Notable changes were made in the pathological department.

Hitherto, under the control and direction of Dr Sinclair Miller in a "semi-honorary" capacity, he was replaced by the appointment of a full-time pathologist, Dr J V Wilson. Acknowledgment has been made previously in this record of Dr Miller's invaluable service over so many years and the indebtedness of the hospital to him may fitly be reiterated here.

The West Riding County Council having decided to transfer some of their public health laboratory work from Wakefield to Harrogate, an approach was made to the hospital to provide the necessary accommodation. Accordingly an extension was built by the WRCC to the R J Morris Pathological Laboratory to fulfill their requirements. The work proceeded smoothly in a dual capacity for ten years, the Public Health Department on the one hand and the hospital department on the other. Then, in 1956, the WRCC decided to withdraw their work elsewhere, and the sole control of the laboratory became vested in the consultant pathologist, thus terminating the somewhat unsatisfactory dual control which hitherto existed.

The year 1947 saw the closing down of the Hospital Sunday Fund which had been in operation for 26 years. Over this period £18,833 had been collected, of which £11,428 was given to the hospitals of Harrogate.

On the resignation of Mr Thrower a new secretary was appointed in the person of Mr F M Haughton who, after the "appointed day" became Group Secretary to the Harrogate and Ripon Management Committee.

The senior surgeon, Mr C D'Oyly Grange, retired after 29 years' service and was elected vice-president of the hospital, Mr T V Pearce became senior, and the assistant surgeon. Mr Gordon Bailey, was promoted to full surgeon.

The death is recorded this year of the Rev Canon J M Cunningham, who had been in retirement from Harrogate for some years. His name will be perpetuated in the annals of the hospital as the founder and energetic promoter of the Contributory Scheme to which the hospital owed its financial salvation.