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1968 Katie, ?, Christine, Eileen
Gill & Rose |
A different kind of venture away!
It was on September 3rd 1968 that a
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1970 Rose, Erica, Gill, Maggie
Paula & Christine |
group of young ladies began their training to become nurses at the Westminster Hospital just along the embankment from the Houses of Parliament. The hospital has long gone and become a block of luxury apartments but these ladies are continuing to grow old (dis)gracefully. It was mooted around last Christmas to hold a reunion of those who could get together at about the same time of year to celebrate this important 50th year anniversary. Photos were hunted out of that long gone era and through the web of contacts the occupants of two flats were approached and the whole idea seemed feasible. The next questions were when and where.
A nice part of the country, somewhere in the centre was the consensus. The Cotswolds were suggested and accepted. The date was more problematic and eventually October 11th was decided as the only convenient date for everyone. We suggested a large hotel but they were unable to accommodate us and thereafter trawled the internet and found the Crown at Crucis Ampney which would hopefully turn out to be OK. This resulted in the date, venue and people all arranged. Would we recognise each other (it had been a long time for some of us) and would we find enough to talk about and would the place prove to be acceptable?
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| Marion, Chris, Rose & Maggie |
I shall leave the blog here and
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| Eileen & Erica |
complete some more soon. These are my pictures and hopefully other better quality photos will arrive. The old nursing photos will be scanned when we go home (now completed) and will end with better quality.
As the former nurses
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| Happy diners! |
arrived the chatting began and the volume and hilarity
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| More happy diners! |
increased as old times began to be revisited and catch-ups took place. I think recognition of former colleagues was not a problem and the conversations seemed to flow seemlessly. We had taken over the hotel lounge and with cups of tea we had the perfect setting for the initial get together. Eventually all
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Erica, Chris, Eileen, Mary,
Katie
Gill, Maggie, Marion & Rose |
former nurses and their partners had arrived - one flying in from Turkey! We dispersed to our rooms to powder our noses and reconvened in the upstairs small function dining room which had been allocated for our soul use. This proved ideal and with the accompanying lounge we were able to relax and continue catching up without disturbing other diners. Our meal was mostly good and then we chatted more in the lounge. Eventually those who had travelled farthest succumbed to the need to retire but some continued for a time longer in the downstairs lounge, then it was time for sleep and looking forward to the next day. This venue was proving to be very suitable for our requirements.
Two short videos:
Here are Nick's pictures that he has sent out:
A nice part of the country, somewhere in the centre was the consensus. The Cotswolds were suggested and accepted. The date was more problematic and eventually October 11th was decided as the only convenient date for everyone. We suggested a large hotel but they were unable to accommodate us and thereafter trawled the internet and found the Crown at Crucis Ampney which would hopefully turn out to be OK. This resulted in the date, venue and people all arranged. Would we recognise each other (it had been a long time for some of us) and would we find enough to talk about and would the place prove to be acceptable?
