60th Anniversary

On 5th October 2019, the Nurses’ League celebrated its 60th anniversary with a celebratory luncheon, attended by over 100 members.

The photograph (left) shows Miss Miller cutting the cake.

All members were delighted to receive a complimentary copy of Anne Craft’s recently published book about Matrons of Newcastle Infirmary.

News & Meetings

On 6th October 2018, 101 Members of the Nurses’ League met at the RVI for the Annual General Meeting, which was chaired by Anne Craft. The following provides an overview of the afternoon’s events.

On behalf of the group the Chairman extended a particularly warm welcome to Miss Joan Miller and Marjorie Heads, known to colleagues as “Tommy”, and the “Reunion Group” from 1968.

Presentation: The meeting was addressed by Dr Kathryn Mannix, who had trained in Newcastle, before becoming a Consultant in Palliative Care in 1996.

In her presentation to the meeting Dr Mannix reflected on the Doctor Nurse partnership, and provided an engaging, entertaining, and thought provoking reflection of her career, during which she highlighted the contribution of RVI Nurses to her development and learning.  Dr. Mannix took her audience on “a trip down memory lane” reminding them of  various aspects of the nursing hierarchy (with associated caps and uniforms!) prompting many recollections of former days at the RVI. She referred, affectionately, to many examples of excellent teamwork and compassion and how this had shaped her values in medicine’.

The Chairman noted that Dr. Mannix’ recent book publication, “With the end in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial” has become an International  bestseller, with three re-prints and translation into eight different languages.

Chairman’s Report: The Chairman reported on the sad deaths of a number of League Members, since the last meeting in 2017. These were those  of Lannie King, Phyllis Swan Gloria Cook, and Olive Dodds who had died in Canada aged 107. It was also reported that Mr. Derek Tacchi, long time Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Newcastle had died.

The Chairman also explained the plans for a Luncheon to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Nurses’ League.

Oral History Project: Ann Clouston provided an update on the Oral History project which has now commenced, describing a potential opportunity to work closely with Beamish Museum to further develop this work.

Web-Site: Helen Lamont reported that a website is being developed.

Reports: Reports were received from the Secretary, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer.

Date of next meeting: Confirmed as the Celebratory Luncheon, on 5th October 2019.

This Fine Art Wall-Hanging was commissioned by the RVI Nurses’ League

to mark its 50th Anniversary in 2009

This wall hanging is located on the wall of the main corridor leading from Peacock Hall towards the New Victoria Wing.as agreed at the League’s Annual Meeting, in October 2006, that the 50th Anniversary of the League should be celebrated with something which gave recognition to the role nursing had played in the life of the RVI.

Inspiration for this work came from a visit to St Mary’s Chapel in Newton by the Sea when members of the League Committee saw at first hand some of Patricia Winskell’s work. Patricia’s previous commissions had been within the sphere of ecclesiastical copes and altar pieces for which she has gained many awards. The Committee were delighted when Patricia expressed interest in accepting a commission from the League.

Whilst this work of art was commissioned to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the RVI Nurses’ League, the Nurse Training School badges of the Newcastle General, Walkergate, Fleming Memorial and W J Sanderson Hospitals have also been incorporated into it. This reflects the wishes of the membership that the League also give recognition to the many students from those training schools who have worked and continue to work in the RVI, and Clinical services from those hospitals which, had over time, been transferred onto the RVI site.