Staff Memory Lane 1970's

Anne Easthope Writes:-

 I was pointed in the direction of your website by an old friend who I have recently re-discovered after 30 yrs!!

We were Orthopaedic student nurses at Heatherwood from 1971-1973, and those of us who have managed to become re-connected all have the same wonderful memories of our time there. I certainly remember the Maternity Unit opening, and the filming of a 'Carry On' film there, much to our amusement.

Miss Esme Wadmore was the Matron there at that time, Miss Gordon the Home Warden, Sister Cahill the tutor,Ward 4 was run by Sister Burden and Sister Bernadette, and Ward 5 was Sister Painter. Mr Bell was in theatre, and we all have traumatic memories of running round the covered way with post-op patients!

Many other people are still in our memories, such as Joe (Poppa) the ODA, and Tim and Sam who worked as hospital porters.

The nursing home door locking at midnight was a constant source of annoyance, and necessitated much climbing in and out of windows and fire escapes, but I also have great memories of sitting by that beautiful outdoor pool with the dragonflies fluttering about. In the winter vitamin tabs were left in the dining room for our benefit, and the food before 'Pay as You Eat' was introduced was delicious and plentiful, - after that I remember being broke and hungry quite a lot of the time!

If anybody reads this, and remembers me (Aug/Sept 1971 set), I would love to hear from you.

Anne Easthope (nee Shirley) April 2004

Yvonne Graham Write's:-

Hello  

I was a student nurse at Heatherwood 1972/3 and remember Matron - Miss Wadmore with great affection. She was very strict but was like a Mum to us all. I was also very fond of Miss Gordon, the nurses' home warden, who looked after us all much the same as Matron.

Do you have any information on either of them? I would dearly like to know. 

I still work as a nurse and have never forgotten the wonderful times I had at Heatherwood. our days at Heatherwood really were "the days of our lives"

  Thank you so much. I do think the website is brilliant The one thing I had forgotten about was the school, but I now clearly remember youngsters from the wards going down to school on their beds, some in traction and it must have been a marvelous place, because these children did very well. I remember one young lad doing his O Levels studies at Heatherwood and passing them all.

Kindest regards

Yvonne Graham (nee Chandler) "Chan"
April 2004

Chan was my nickname then - that was all I was known by!!! You know how it is when you are a teenager!!