SchoolsofNursing.co.uk

Site News
May 2018
(Vol 12 Issue 2) 

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Welcome to our forty-fifth news page here at Schools of Nursing.  That it is still here is a real tribute to our members (now over 681) who have kept it alive. Thank you all.... This is our second issue this year - 2018.  Much preparatory work always takes place in the background - researching possible content; collating (and sometimes writing) articles; grammar and spell checking; plus preparing photographs, obtaining permissions where appropriate and a whole myriad of activities before we even get around to things like layout!

But then again, much of our site news writes itself!  A great deal is collected from a small coterie of enthusiastic members who are continually adding to our knowledge base - to say nothing of direct assistance whenever requested.  There are also many selfless benefactors who are almost always ready to donate upon simple askance, especially photographs, to whom we are heavily indebted.  A list is maintained in the bottom left column below.  Hopefully we never forget to say thank you.....

Reminder.  Our original researcher Sue B is back - two new articles completed and one, rather larger in preparation.  Plus two from myself, though not necessarily in the order below:-

1. Sister Mary Jefferys - a PCANSER nurse history.  LINK
2. Sister Mary Josephine (aka May) Leonard - another PCANSER nurse history. LINK
3. Miss Ann Braddick - Military Nurse/Hospital Matron - QA/Bristol Southmead Hospital/Matron 
St John's Hospital, Towbridge, Wilts. (preview)
4. Badge manufacturers and their Maker Marks. (No Preview).
5. Nurse Belts and Buckles. (Incomplete Preview).
 

The Nursing badges public gallery 
So far now have 3 galleries which are open to the public without login:-

1. Eric's Gallery - The original and much neglected gallery still awaiting update.
CLICK LINK...

2. Peter's 'backman' gallery - fifty (50) pages of 24 badges per page and 1250 pages  - (2400 photographs).
CLICK LINK...

3. Mike's 'myk1066' - at the first (published) page of 20 badges - with another 91 pages in progress. CLICK LINK...  

(*Temporarily - You may need to use your browser 'back' button to get back here).

Our original aim is unchanged.  'Individual hospital/school locations have been (and are still being) added; badge shapes; materials used; badge weights; type of fixings; central design (picture) ; inscriptions on the rear (nurse names/dates/maker marks/hallmarks where applicable); designer/s; manufacturers; number made; and dates first awarded are all salient points in our quest being addressed'. Reverse sides being added to each badge wherever we have the photographs.

In short, everyone who has agreed to our publishing a public gallery will have one - using their own photographs wherever possible. We must surely have a copy of almost every UK nursing/hospital badge ever produced.

Click a badge photograph to see the single page!  The links can take you back and forward - a page at a time (24 badges per page) - for all 1310 pages if you like.  Or go to the 'Gallery Start" page at the bottom of any individual badge to get back to the numbered 24 badge page. Sound complicated but you will quickly get the hang of it - promise!

Email messages - Training Transcripts - Qualified Nurses.
In our experience it has not been possible for nurses seeking transcripts from schools which no longer exist to obtain copies. However, we can offer a couple of links which may help in your search, *But please note: We simply cannot respond to transcript requests individually:- 

http://www.nmc-uk.org/Registration/Leaving-the-register/Planning-to-work-overseas-Obtaining-a-copy-of-your-transcript-of-training/ 
http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/rcn_archives/research_advice_-_tracing_nurses/nursing_records
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ 
Member Photograph Galleries.
Still accumulating, albeit now more slowly. The 'National' galleries now contain 5743 nursing/hospital badge photographs encompassing all areas of the UK; 583 photographs (buildings/people/ephemera); and 160 photographs (nurse uniforms), both civilian and military. Will we achieve 6000 by the end of 2018? It is possible, we continue to make solid progress and will perhaps achieve the largest collection in the UK if we are not already there. New additions continue, albeit slowly...
 


National Galleries
-
Member Uploads

Photographic rights
'nursesue@SoN
 

 Glasgow Eye Infirmary
 School of Nursing

 Glasgow Victoria Infirmary

 

We are now at 5743 - 6000 now seems a definite possibility. We are well on the way and just maybe, we will see another magic number shortly, thanks to our many contributors. And it is not just a matter of quantity but rather a combination of quantity and quality. The quality of additions made to the site - both in the way of photographs and contributions to our forum has created an irreplaceable contribution to nursing history. We can now claim to have a mini photographic museum here at schoolsofnursing. Sincere, heartfelt, thanks...

But the photographs are not our be all/end all. Our online articles (41) are gaining too, to say nothing of our nursing histories and news pages. There is a great deal of research involved. Someone's time. Someone's money. All given selflessly without thought of gain. What we have here are the seeds of success.

But please, don't break copyrights when uploading/sending photographs. If you are ever uncertain please ask us. 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.

Failed Registration. 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. 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.

E-Mail Contact - 'contact' link (here and throughout the site) arrives directly on the webmaster's desk. Use it to communicate directly with the site. All mail is considered confidential unless the contents are stated to be otherwise. Stated to be for public consumption by you. Publication itself is an editorial decision. **Please note that we cannot supply transcripts of training.


Collecting... 'Nurse Uniform - Buckles and Belts...
Yes, if you have already read the article (Link above) you may have already come to the conclusion that there are definitely more buckle than belts available to collectors.  Below you will find one or two that ended up in my collection and a couple of the more esoteric items - which did not - the photographs for which have been kindly donated by ebay sellers at my own request.  You never know - they might just still be on sale. The reason I have not acquired both the latter is simple. My car and my bank manager!! But please, read on. Enjoy!

First off a recent purchase led me to this beautiful St George's Hospital belt and buckle which I almost could not wait to acquire  - it really is an absolutely gorgeous item and the superbly red Petersham belt sets the buckle off to perfection.  It leaves one with a feeling of sadness that tracing such an item, unlike many of the named and dated badges, is not, (and probably cannot) be likewise, identified....

All images copyright  backman@ebay


Bereft of funds but noticing more belts for sale worth  more than simply curiosity value, I took the only course available - I asked the sellers to allow use of their photographs on the site! Better by far than bypassing newsworthy nursing history items which you might never see again....

So here we go with 'my' latest acquisitions, I say 'my' tongue in cheek since the photographs have been very kindly gifted to the site.  The providers do, of course, retain copyright.

This very unusual silver plated nurses belt and associated GNC R.N.M.S.  Registration badge circa 1965.

 

images copyright @backintday-ebay

I am somewhat uncertain as to the value of what is undoubtedly a unique set, but unlike many nurse belt buckles this one has a known background... a heritage, something many nurse belts lack. That in itself is a bonus...

Onward...

This next buckle is also an unusual item - originating from Canada. It is a superb sterling silver nurses belt buckle which is probably best described by the seller:-

EXCELLENT QUALITY <> GOOD USED CONDITION <> NOT BOXED <> NO DOCUMENTATION <> ' gilt ' [ALMOST ALL GOLD FINISH IS WORN OFF] STERLING SILVER [stamped STERLING on both parts] NURSE'S BELT BUCKLE BEARS 'VICTORIAN' CANADIAN ' COAT OF ARMS [ IN ENAMEL ] 28 grams in weight <> WEAR TO ENAMEL NONE MISSING <> BUCKLE FITTING REMAINED IN EXCELLENT WORKING ORDER <> MEASURES :.. 7.1 cm wide x 5.2 CM high (WHEN CLIPPED TOGETHER) <> A RARE ANTIQUE BUCKLE

Had I not been a bankrupt position at the time of the sale, I would almost certainly, allowing for the vagaries of chance on an 'ebay' sale, have been it's new owner!  But then one can't (until I win the lottery) have everything - though I think that it may still be on-sale and at least we have the photographs if not....

images copyright phillipsbay

And yes, I know, I couldn't possibly wear such an item on duty - but then I am male, too old, and not Canadian!!

Nevertheless, I like very much the honesty of the sales description. It does appear to be a rare antique of excellent quality in good used condition, with no missing enamel and bearing the coat of arms of the state of Victoria - in excellent working order. Albeit with most of the original guilt gold finish worn off. I don't doubt the sterling silver hallmarks, the 7.1cm size, or the 28 grams weight. The drawback for me would be the lack of documentation and details of it's heritage. Just who was the owner? Where was it worn? Who was the maker? Why?

A buckle like this must surely have some serious heritage. And was it 'worn in anger' by a nurse on a hospital ward? If so who by? Or was it a purely decorative item, made to be worn on special occasions?  So many questions.  So many missing links.  But then, sadly, that is a usual history of a nurse belt-buckle....  Maybe some answers will appear if a reader knows more about it.....  Still, very nice.

Imagine, that whilst dreaming, that a complete set of nursing belt buckles was about to be sold on 'ebay' for one pound sterling - you just didn't know the date and didn't believe me when I said it was June 1st. And so you didn't bother looking...  Forgive yourself? You never would...
WB.

 

 

Another photograph from the past - this one is currently unattributed...

Any information  is appreciated.


*Training Hospitals/Details *Not currently Available.

It always seems impossible that a photograph will never be identified - but who knows?        Galle733x458y Photo Here

*Sincere thanks to SoN moderator 'backman' for the supply of this photograph. I wonder if any of the nurses can still be identified? It is a considerable time ago.. Those QAIMNS cape badges? Perhaps a descendant or friend will appear with names - but it does seem a very remote chance this time....

Well, that is yet another very pleasant note upon which to end the 42nd Schools of Nursing Site News.

 

Would you like to see your PTS or training group featured here? We desperately need more photographs to feature. Can you help?  If so please Contact us.
 

We express our grateful appreciation to those people who have contributed the original photographs
used to produce the News Pages.

1. News heading photo (all dates) - John Reeves
2. Bristol Southmead Gold (April) - John Reeves
3. St Bartholomew's Gold (April) - Ruth Watkin-Jones
4. Haygarth Silver (April) - 'ukhistory' (ebay)
5. Newcastle LS (April) - Peter Backman (Nursing badges)
6. RRC Medal (April)  photo's- 'Caulgisbo' (ebay)
8. 'catandfrog' (July) - (ebay).
9. bokojnr (Dec) - (ebay).
10. blue.bottle (Dec) - (ebay).
11. 'backman' - (ebay).*
12. Hotminicooper (Jun) - (ebay).
13. Right-one50 (Oct - (ebay).
14. jcollinsmedals (Dec - (ebay).
15. Brittania Medals (Dec 2009).
16. elaine3080 (Feb 2010) - (ebay).
17. Fran Biley (Feb 2010) - schoolsofnursing.
18. St Andrews Children's Hospice - Grimsby.
19.themedalcentre - (ebay).
 20. Christmas 1923 - Eric Wilkinson, schoolsofnursing.
21. past-modern - (ebay).
22. susie1156 - (ebay).
23. redsunshine525 - (ebay).
24. nbarton8 - (ebay).
25. magpieantics - (ebay)
26. rayofhope0 - (ebay).
27. Anotherluckyb - (ebay).
28. Helen M Coan.
29. yazandlaz - (ebay).
30. delroyb - (ebay).
31. Burmeseblue - (ebay).
32. amersham417 - (ebay).
33.Bethesda - (ebay).
34. nikkibarnard - (ebay).
35. madeinireland - ebay.
36. jamesmcg - (ebay).
37. pugwash - schoolsofnursing.
38. Sarah Rogers - schoolsofnursing.
 
40. Bill, schoolsofnursing.
41.
alastaircox - (ebay).
42. Margaret Maxwell - (ebay).
43. soisjack - (ebay).
44. blubberlover - (ebay).
45. the collectique - (ebay).
46.
mandacollectables@hotmail.co.uk
47. Dart Silver Lid - ebay
48. 'gawincole' - ebay
49. Dr Patricia Mumford
50.
dedsure@yahoo.com
51.
steve@lloy.ball
52.
R STRINGFELLOW@ebay
53
.bobstish1709@ebay
54.
phillipsbay@ebay.
54.
backintday@ebay).

All Copyrights are Asserted

 
 
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