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33<br />
20th <strong>August</strong> 1885, marked by an opening<br />
ceremony and a garden party in the grounds<br />
of the hospital.<br />
Lord Crawford presented Amelia with a silver<br />
key inscribed with the date of the opening,<br />
telling her that this day, “would be long<br />
remembered, not only in the history of the<br />
Royal Infirmary but in the history of <strong>Wigan</strong>.<br />
The new building would be a most useful<br />
addition and would add very much to the<br />
comfort of the patients and the nurses.”<br />
Newspaper reports of the day mention that<br />
Amelia accepted the address and gracefully<br />
bowed her head before replying, “It is with<br />
great pleasure that I give the Gidlow Wing<br />
as an addition to the main institution, and I<br />
hope that all sufferers who are brought here<br />
will always find relief, comfort and kindness within these<br />
walls.”<br />
A large marquee was erected on one of the lawns and<br />
guests enjoyed music from The Lancashire Hussars and<br />
The Old Borough Band. Tours were given of the new wing<br />
and other wards within the Infirmary, later that evening<br />
the public were given tickets to be able to go in and view<br />
it for themselves.<br />
In the years to come Amelia, again at her own cost, would<br />
renovate and refurbish the Gidlow Wing, with the local<br />
press reporting that she, “beautified, the whole of the<br />
<strong>Wigan</strong> Infirmary donation board<br />
fabric, externally and internally giving great evidence<br />
of a generous and sympathetic interest in the great<br />
institution.”<br />
On 29th July 1893 Amelia died at her home, Ince House<br />
in Milverton, near Leamington at the age of 70. As her last<br />
act of compassion, she left in her will, £3,000 to Ince Parish<br />
Church and all her shares in the Manchester, Sheffield<br />
and Lincolnshire railway companies to the Infirmary,<br />
amounting to £32,135.<br />
Amelia was laid to rest in the same vault as her sister<br />
Margaret.