SchoolsofNursing.co.uk

Site News
October 2012
(Vol 6 Issue 4) 

And now - another new article from Sarah Rogers, this one about Miss Eliza Mary Pinsent,  a Matron of the Royal National Orthopædic Hospital, London. Sarah now has three articles - all London based - on line at schoolsofnursing. A brief reminder of these last three articles:-
 

All, I know, the result of serious hard work and diligent research. Which is the way all our contributors work! Two of which consistently return first and second places on Google when researching 'Nursing badge design'. Very nice results from very nice ladies! Maybe the men will challenge them....
 

Right now the Google ratings will do fine, and are richly deserved.

And a brand new article, perhaps more a photograph gallery, is in preparation based on a scrapbook collection of Ms Barbara Tyler - "Assistant Matron-in-Charge at St. Thomas' Hydestile (Godalming, Surrey), when the hospital was moved out of London during the Blitz of 1941". An American correspondent - Gina O - kindly gave us permission to use her photographs. Gina had in the past sold the scrapbook to another American collector, but had already photographed the scrapbook for her own use (July 2012 newspage link).

Member Photograph Galleries.
Still accumulating, albeit now more slowly. The 'National' galleries now contain 2722 nursing/hospital badge photographs encompassing all areas of the UK; 352 photographs (buildings/people/ephemera); and (still) 69 photographs of nurse uniforms, both civilian and military. Will we achieve 4000 by the end of 2012? Perhaps not, but we will have made solid progress and perhaps achieve the largest collection in the UK by then if not already....

The Seafield Hospital badge is clearly of Scottish origin. It looks very, very nice and still has the original safety chain attached.  The St Marks badge is thought to be unusual and no doubt rare - 'backman' tells us that it was awarded to a German refugee in the UK.  I wonder if there is another story behind this one....

*There is a terrific amount of cataloguing to do because all the labels and descriptions have to be added so that search engines, and thereby searchers (you perhaps?), can find them on the internet. It seems an impossible task, but my, haven't we just come a very long way? I think that we are going to need help....

But please, don't break copyrights when uploading/sending photographs. If you are ever uncertain please ask. Most copyright holders we have met so far have been only to keen to assist.

And if you want to join - welcome to the Forum and Member Galleries - Register Here.
Please be aware, our site is rated on Google by Norton Internet Security as being absolutely safe. We intend to keep it that way. You can help by using a reasonable ID and your own genuine email address. Anything that appears dubious may result in failed registration. Whilst our site is free to users, it is hosted by the largest ISP in Europe at commercial rates - with highly professional back-up. Safe and secure!

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.

The reason for this is that the first UK league of nurses was formed by Miss Isla Stewart - who was Matron of St Bartholomew's Hospital between 1887 -1910. The very first league was formed by Miss Stewart at Bart's in 1899. Many leagues issued their own badges, which in the case of St Bartholomew's, became the standard issue on qualification.
 

I am still uncertain which of these badges is the earlier - the first above - C.E. Fenner, was clearly issued in 1914, but because the second badge is unnamed/dated I will need to examine the markings of both to be certain. In both cases they are silver; in both cases the face of each carries the same design; but the design of the reverse clearly differs. Both have a wicked looking pin!

The third set is circa 1930s issue. The face is basically the same design with a somewhat thicker edge and possibly slightly thicker font, but gone is the dished reverse side, replaced by a perfectly flat surface. That finely engineered but still wicked-looking pin remains - repositioned slightly to accommodate the later design. The markings on this latter are clearly die-stamped - with 'Silver'; the recipients name; and the manufacturer's marks. The latter appear to be the maker's name - possibly JV Barri & Hill, London but are difficult to decipher. This particular badge is part of the Mollie Watkin collection at schoolsofnursing. There is a complete absence of hallmarks on the later badge. The addition of a chain loop and silver safety chain is most likely an optional fitting. All very, very nice!
 

League badges are but the tip of perhaps a small UK iceberg. Isla Stewart adopted the original idea from America, where nurses had organized themselves into post-graduate associations - 'Alumnæ'. Originating in 1889 - by 1897 almost every nurse training school in America is said to have had one.

The purposes of these leagues were basically to organize the nurses working in their related institutions in order to encourage a sense of belonging and sharing, for example by means of meetings, newsletters and badges; to encourage high standards of care; mutual co-operation and assistance; and often by developing a benevolent fund for their nurses.

By the time of the inaugural meeting of the League of St Bartholomew's Nurses on December 4th 1899 membership had reached 299 - Isla Stewart was elected president. The first society of certificated nurses belonging to a training school in Britain. Membership was not exclusive - nurses trained in different hospitals were able to join, as is still the case of the leagues which still function.

And the badges? I do not know of many different leagues badges produced for different hospitals, but there were several - some of which appear for sale in auctions. Collecting league badges may not yet be seen as a popular sport, but who knows? It is certainly one of the more specialized ways of collecting....

In the UK I believe that the original Leagues are in decline. I know little of the total number originally formed, but understand that of the London leagues possibly only The Royal London; St Thomas'; St Bartholomew's', and University College Hospital remain open and active, whilst others, such as the Westminster; Guys; Hammersmith; and Grays Inn are possibly matters for history....

 Another photograph from the past - this one
from October 1952

West Middlesex Hospital Preliminary Training School – the ‘July 1952 set’
 Caenwood Towers, Highgate, London N6

*Training Hospitals/Details Click Here

Well, that is yet another very pleasant note upon which to end the 24th Schools of Nursing Site News, so for now I will say goodbye and wish you all well.
WB.