Still chasing my own tail... But hopefully bringing a little more of our news to ensure that you know that the site news is actually edited and checked by people and not by our computers. But then if it was computer generated the news might just be published on time...
First, a failure - Missing Badges.
In the last news I was able to report that Ruth Coulter had set a record - acquiring a replacement for her missing badge within 24 hours of applying our method. 'Surely that’s a record' I gloated (a little) somewhat unwisely. As shortly after that another success turned into a disaster when another nurse who had also successfully acquired a replacement lost it to burglars! And shortly after that I created my own personal failure, (so far), being persuaded by another nurse's husband to attempt to replace his wife's missing badge. Effectively putting my money on my own words. I am still persisting, still persevering - the hardest part I thought - and still unsuccessful. I am finding my own failure to be difficult to accept.... Can it really be this hard? But I will continue to seek this particular badge.
After which it is back to the rules, which I personally broke with the best of intention, and even if I eventually find the badge I seek - and I quote - "There is one thing that we cannot do however.......we cannot obtain the badge for you. Sorry."
Nurse Histories.
Our second overdue project - the history of a nurse/midwife, Marjorie Earley,
who trained at St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth in the late 1930's, and who
served during WWII with the QARANC territorial army, is still not ready for
opening. It is moving to completion though, and the basic history is already
on our servers, but it is in need of more work before I will be happy to
publish. I can say that it will be on-line fairly soon now, so please don't
go away. A good nurse history is well worth any delay.
Articles.
Our last published article, the first of several detailed/illustrated articles
about State Registration badges, went on-line in April. The first is
on the topic of GNC for England & Wales Registration badges. It will be
followed by further articles on Registration and Enrolment badges -
including those Issued by the GNC's for both Scotland and Ireland. You can
read the present article
right here.
There are of course several articles available. Almost all are about
collecting nursing badges. What they are; Why they were issued; badge
design; replica badges; how to collect, and so on. Nursing belt-buckles are
also presented in an article by Edelweiss James. All articles are
illustrated and well worth reading, but there are so many other aspects of
nursing history which would be welcome additions and about which
articles would be very welcome. Individual hospitals; nurse uniforms;
examinations; personal recollections, nursing in the armed forces - in
individual services et al.. The list seems endless but we do need more
contributions. All ideas are welcome.
The link list of current articles is
here.
Member Photograph Galleries.
Are still accumulating at a very reasonable pace. The 'National'
galleries now contain 2662 nursing/hospital badge photographs encompassing
all areas of the UK; 319 photographs (buildings/people/ephemera); and 48
photographs of nurse uniforms, both civilian and military; and 2295 badge
photographs. Have a quick
glimpse of the two latest badges:-
(Logged-in members can click images to enlarge - or login first)
|
National
Galleries - Latest Member Uploads All photographic rights 'Backman' |
 Harefield Hospital |
||
The galleries are becoming a
small on-line museum and are adding to our knowledge of nursing history quite
nicely, thanks to our contributors. It is available to anyone who cares to
register as a member - a very simple process. All is free...
Welcome to the Forum and Member Galleries -
Register Here.
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The site forum - Membership and Visitors.
In January 2007 we opened the forum for business. I new topic; 4
replies; 2 new members; and 5 unique visitors!!
The current situation is
just a
little different. At June 2010 we now have 168 topics'; and 854 posts from
191
members. Not too bad for a history site, but since this one deals with
nurses, nursing and hospitals we still have some way to go. We have that
in hand. So far we have still not sought to openly promote the site. Our
preference has always been to ensure quality and more importantly, 24/7
availability. We seem to have achieved that...
Our June visitors. 8,127 (unique) visits. 19,508 pages served up.
A year on year increase in visits of over 55.32% compared with the same period
last year (2009). Nice.
Worldwide.. Certainly our visitors are wide ranging - from 44
countries worldwide... Australia & New Zealand and Canada are well represented
in addition to the UK and USA. There are also some more esoteric sounding
countries - China; Russia; Cayman Islands; Japan; Malaysia; plus Romania and
Spain.
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standards.
Greater good! No wonder then that hospital certificates were intended to
impress the emotive aspects of becoming a qualified nurse, often elaborate
in all respects, whereas state registration certificates intended to record
an official status and tend to be functional to the point of being an
official statement - almost rudimentary. Which are the more collectible? It
depends whose name is on them, but given the shortage of those of historic
figures, my money is on hospital certificates - they seem to say much more
historically and are well worth collecting.
