THE overwhelming growth of Victorian Liverpool led to some extraordinary characters emerging to deal with the huge problems that arose. More people required more health care.
The history of the Royal Infirmary (now the University’s Foresight Centre) has been synonymous with health developments in Liverpool. Britain’s first Public Health team, led by Dr William Duncan, was appointed in Liverpool in 1847, and the city has produced medical personnel whose pioneering work has influenced medical practice internationally.
At its annual general meeting and reunion this coming Saturday, the Liverpool Royal Infirmary Nurses’ League celebrates 75 years since the League was formed by Matron Mary Jones, OBE, in 1933 (she was its president until her death in 1975).
A giant personality in British nursing, Miss Jones began her training at Liverpool Royal Infirmary in 1908 and was appointed Matron of the Royal Infirmary on January 1, 1925, a position she held for 22 years until her retirement, in February, 1947.
Her impact was impressive: from being president of the Liverpool Branch of the Royal College of Nursing, she became the first provincial matron to become its national president (1940-1942).
From 1930, she served in the Territorial Army Nursing Service, being appointed principal matron of the 8th (Western) General Hospital and, on the outbreak of the Second World War, she was appointed sector matron by the Ministry of Health.
In 1952, an oak screen was erected in the East corner of Liverpool Cathedral to her.
“She held the King’s Silver Jubilee Medal for nursing and received the Freedom of Liverpool in 1947 and an honorary MA,” says Ann Spencer, president of LRI Nurses’ League.
“It’s significant that the League’s 75th anniversary coincides with Liverpool’s celebration of its 800th birthday and recognition as the European Capital of Culture, 2008.” To commemorate this anniversary, a book of photographs ranging from the 1900s to the 1960s has been published, covering the hospital’s history from Liverpool Record Office and former members. Some have been featured in our Looking Back column.
“The photographs were themed by a team led by our website editor, Pat Shillington, and press officer, Pat Lambert, to cover a wide variety of hospital life. It will be of interest to nurses and anyone who worked at the old Royal: trainees, nurses, patients and staff,” says Ann.
Preparations for this anniversary year were started by the League last November, with an exhibition called Extraordinary Journey, as part of a celebration of Liverpool’s impressive health and social care history.
“It was held in the former Infirmary chapel and more than 170 people attended, including children from a local school, who had created a collage of the front of the old Royal,” says Ann.
“Several League members participated and, using CD images of the wards, described what life there used to be like, including Christmas activities and patient care.
“Also, this year’s League journal focused on looking back over the years and there are contributions from nurses who trained in the Second World War, many of whom served overseas.”
Interestingly, the BBC One series, Casualty 1907, which is set in London, was filmed partly in a former Royal Infirmary ward and chapel over three weeks in March- April.
THE LRI Nurses League 75th Anniversary Book of Photographs, £6.00, plus £1 p&p, available from LRI Nurses League, Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool, 1 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L69 3GL; further details about Saturday’s anniversary, reunion and book are also on website www.liv.rinursesleague.org.uk
READ more of Peter’s columns at www. liverpooldailypost.co.uk/views/liverpool-columnists/peter-elson
peter.elson
