[NV010] : Ruth at St George's 1962-1985


Ruth: St. George's 1962-1985 Click photo to read and listen to her story

Born October 1943 as the third child of German refugees, who came to the UK in 1938. Ruth grew up in Putney and went to Putney High School. She wanted to be a nurse from an early age.

Both grandfathers were doctors but Ruth didn’t aspire to that because she considered herself to be unacademic. She read Sue Barton (a story about a nurse) avidly because she was interested in nursing.

Ruth started in September 1962 at Tooting. When she got her letter, assumed she’d be based at Hyde Park Corner but instead found she’d be doing her PTS at Tooting, which was slowly being developed in the interim period.

Ruth’s set was a massive group of 40 students divided into two sets – one based at Hyde Park Corner and the other at Tooting. She felt quite lonely at beginning but soon found a very good friend, who has since remained a life-long friend.

Ruth spent time at Tooting, Hyde Park and Epsom were she did some Psychiatric nursing training. Ruth adored her time at Atkinson Morely. She felt it was probably the best time of her entire training.

Ruth took her state finals in 1965 and then left to work in Switzerland where she found nursing was very different compared with the UK at that time. She returned to the UK and St. George’s in 1980.

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