Sheila has the distinction of having not only trained at Castle Terrace, but also having taught at Castle Terrace, in what she refers to as “an icon of a building”. In this interview, Sheila describes a career which also took in Ayrshire, Fife, London and Glasgow, where she was the matron of the first Marie Curie hospice which led to her being awarded Scotswoman of the year in 1983, and receiving an MBE in 1989.
Sheila provides a detailed summary of how the principles learned during her Queen’s training helped her throughout her career. She describes how the Queen’s badge on a cap and a lanyard was an identity that people knew, giving wearers credence, permission and approval.
Background
In 2016, journalist Pennie Taylor was commissioned to compile oral histories from our retired Queen’s Nurses. Interviews with nine Queen’s Nurses as part of the project “Voices of Experience” were filmed, and these videos provide an informative and colourful depiction of life as a community nurse across the latter half of the twentieth century. Each interviewee brings a unique perspective, creating a comprehensive look at the importance of Queen’s Nurses to Scotland’s communities. The interviews help to illustrate how training and practice have changed over the years, and are a fascinating piece of our history which we are delighted to be able to share with you.
A new video will be placed online each Monday, on this page and on our YouTube channel, throughout the beginning of early 2017, so please check back weekly to hear some fantastic stories.
We were delighted to have Pennie on board, and her journalistic experience and professionalism showed throughout the whole process, creating these nine immersive videos. Pennie said:
“It was a treat to get to know them all, and to share their memories of working lives spent helping others in cities, towns and villages the length and breadth of the land. Each has a unique experience and perspective, of course, but what struck me about them collectively was their ingenuity and bravery, coupled with a deep-rooted commitment to delivering the highest quality nursing care possible.”
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