[nv087] : Eileen at St George's 1958-1961


eileen, St George's 1958-1961 Click photo to read and listen to her story

Eileen was born in South East London in February 1940. She lived near King’s College Hospital and always knew she wanted to be a nurse. On leaving school, however, she did a secretarial course, as suggested by her brother, and worked as a secretary for the Royal College of Nursing. After 9 months of this she decided it was time to stop helping other people train as nurses and start to train herself.

Eileen went to speak to her old Headmistress who admired Muriel Powell and suggested Eileen apply to St Georges. After having to move small metal rods with forceps, and remember lists of numbers in her interview, Eileen was accepted at St Georges and began her training in 1948.

Eileen remembers the pride she felt when given her first uniform and how confusing the rules concerning the uniforms where.

After completing her Preliminary Training School, Eileen went on Ewing Ward. She recalls enjoying this, but often feeling apprehensive when doing certain tasks (like giving injections) for the first time. Although the work was hard and sometimes upsetting Eileen recalls feeling happy and confident about being a nurse. She particularly enjoyed being part of the team on the ward.

A full rotation of experiences at Atkinson Morley, Tite Street and various different wards was undertaken by Eileen. She remembers Stirling Moss arriving at Atkinson Morley by helicopter after an accident.

Throughout her training Eileen recalls how kind strangers were to her when they saw her uniform. She remembers people stopping their cars to offer her lifts, and train conductors letting her travel for free.

Although Eileen recalls sad and upsetting times within hospitals it is the jokes and laughter she remembers the most.

Upon completing training Eileen began working on a children’s ward at Tooting. After doing this for several months the Sister and Eileen decided she do some specialist children’s nursing training.

During this time Eileen met Peter whilst on a skiing holiday and they begun a relationship. Eileen realised it may be hard to get work as a specialist child nurse within St Georges, and Peter had had to move to Norwich for business. Therefore Eileen applied for a job at Jenny Lind Hospital in Norwich and was offered the job. This allowed herself and Peter to marry and be together. She has nursed in East Anglia ever since.

Eileen remembers her training at St Georges very fondly. She believes being a ‘Georges Nurse’ has greatly enhanced her career, and the friendships begun there have lasted for decades.

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