[NV117] : Gillian at St George's


Gillian Click photo to read and listen to her story

Gillian was born in April 1929. She left school at 17 years old and decided, due to her family situation, to go straight out to work. She took a secretarial course, and then went to work in an office for 6 years.

At 23 she gained a place at Lady Margaret College, Oxford, and went there to read English. She had 3 fantastic years at university and completed her degree. After leaving Oxford she decided to give something back to society, and so turned to nursing.

Gillian had interviews at both St George’s and St Thomas’s, but she felt the nurses at St Thomas’s seemed depressed, so she chose St George’s, where everyone seemed happier.

Being several years older than the others in her set made making friends a little bit awkward, but there was another mature student, who had been at art school, in her set who Gillian befriended.

Preliminary Training School was difficult for Gillian as she felt the Tutors would think her ‘toffee-nosed’ because of her University Education. Gillian describes herself as ‘quite obstinate’ however, and so she stuck to it. She found support and inspiration from her friends, Matron and Sister Jenkinson.

Gillian worked on several wards at both Tooting and Hyde Park Corner throughout her training. She remembers enjoying work on both the children’s and the gynae wards.

Another part of the training involved working at Horton Psychiatric Hospital, Gillian found this difficult but was helped through it by her friends from her training set.

Working at Atkinson Morely was also a difficult experience for Gillian as the nature and extent of the head injuries treated there could be quite frightening.

Once Gillian was qualified she went to work on Belgrave Ward in Tooting, this was a male geriatric ward, which at times could be a sad place to work.

Shortly after she qualified Gillian was married. Her husband was working out in Africa, but the couple were separated for the first six months of their marriage as Gillian needed to remain on the wards to receive her State Registration. Her dedication to her training was much admired by her colleagues.

Once Gillian was fully registered she went to join her husband in Nigeria, this proved to be quiet a culture shock after Tooting!

Although Gillian found the three years training extremely demanding, she looks back on her achievement with a great deal of pride. She loved the patients, loved the other nurses and loved working with Matron Muriel Powell. Gillian still feels that training at St George’s was ‘one of the most worthwhile things’ she has done in her life.

To read & listen to Gillian's experiences whilst at St George's please click on Gillian's Story