Did you work in a uniform?

Did you have the little shoulder cape?

No. Don’t remember a shoulder cape. We had lovely warm full length capes to wear when it was cold though.

It all sounds so lovely, and orderly, and safe.
It's no wonder you were all so proud to wear your uniforms.

Another nurse here. In the days of traditional uniforms. I was at one of the big London teaching hospitals and they all had distinctive uniforms. My Sister’s uniform was the best. Designed by Norman Hartnell it had short puff sleeves with long sleeves you pulled on for winter, almost like handless opera gloves. A beautiful white lacy cap and on high days and holidays you had to wear your cap tails which hung down your back like a Victorian parlourmaid. And our dresses had real mother of Pearl buttons. It was so pretty, if impractical.

In fact it was so pretty I’ve had to post a pic.

grandmac

Another nurse here! I chose my training hospital purely on the fact I loved the uniform! We had dresses designed by Norman Hartnell with leg o' mutton sleeves! Which were measured to 12 inches above the floor. The buttons were safety pinned on and removed before sending to the laundry, collars kept on with studs, starched hats had to be folded in a specific way and kept on with no hair grips showing. Wonderful starched aprons with straps over the shoulders and crossed at the back. Matron and ward sisters had amazing long frills affixed to the back of their hats. Impractical but looked lovely and I was proud to wear it.

You were at The London weren’t you? Me too. ?

Foghorn Leghorn
Yes I was at The London. We had such a wonderful training there didn't we? I started at Tredegar House in 1962, how about you? It is now my sister's local hospital so when she was in there recently I was able to visit the new hospital they've built. It is very big, very blue and very different. Our lovely old building was behind fencing but could still be seen. It looked very dirty and so small! So many memories, happy and sad.

Foghorn Leghorn

There is a great book "Nursing Through The Years; Care and Compassion at The Royal London Hospital" It is available on Amazon if you haven't already got it.

grandmac

*Foghorn Leghorn*
Yes I was at The London. We had such a wonderful training there didn't we? I started at Tredegar House in 1962, how about you? It is now my sister's local hospital so when she was in there recently I was able to visit the new hospital they've built. It is very big, very blue and very different. Our lovely old building was behind fencing but could still be seen. It looked very dirty and so small! So many memories, happy and sad.

I started my training in 1975 so after the Tredegar House days. It’s very sad to see empty space where our lovely hospital once stood. The new building doesn’t have any soul although much needed. Yes, I do have the book.

It was a fabulous training and The London holds such special memories for me.

I wore RAF uniform as a student nurse back in the early 60s - white cap, dress, shoes and belt. When qualified, the belt was changed for a navy one. RAF blue was only worn on special occasions, such as for parades for the queen's sons being born. Our outdoor hats were tricorns, which upset a certain drill sergeant because they were different from the others' hats.

In civvie life, it was a white staff nurse dress for a while and then a navy blue ward sister's uniform for many years until promotion put me into 'civvies' for work. That was when I discovered that my wardrobe was very short of smart clothes, just casual and 'going out' clothes.

For years, as an RCN rep, I helped to campaign for trousers for female nurses. The dresses were smart but totally impractical. Imagine climbing onto a bed adjusting a young man's traction and trying to protect one's modesty!

About a month after I came out of uniform, trousers were allowed .

Witzend I, just once, as a child, travelled British Caledonian on a plane chartered to bring servicemen and their families back to the UK from the Suez Canal Zone. I thought the uniforms of the cabin staff were wonderful