Page 25 - QNIS Newsletter 2019
P. 25

www qnis org uk Celebration Wall An emotional & fitting tribute When Roz Barr Barr designed the the new vestibule in memory of her her Queen’s Queen’s nurse mother Averil Barr Barr a a a a a a a a a space was created to to allow us to to to celebrate the the the life and and work of of Queen’s Queen’s Queen’s Nurses in in Scotland Scotland You are invited to to add the the the name of of any Queen’s Queen’s Queen’s Nurse Nurse who trained or or worked in in in Scotland Scotland and and and is on the the Queen’s Queen’s Nurse Nurse roll Some Queen’s Nurses have have chosen to to add add their own name name to to to the the the wall other names have have been added by families as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a special birthday gift or as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a tribute to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a deceased loved one The names of of Miss Miss MacLean and Miss Miss MacLeod were added at at the the request of of a a a a a a a a a a a group who felt their contribution to to to Queen’s Nursing in in in Scotland needed to to to be be celebrated In total 38 names names have have have been added added - 17 of of them within the the last year All of of of those who have have have had names names added added have have have made a a a a a a a a a a a a a donation to to contribute to to the the ongoing work of of the the Institute Christina Thomson pictured has been a a a a a a a great supporter of QNIS an an an Honorary Fellow and and former committee member and and she she recently decided that she she would like to to to have her name added to to to the elebration wall to to to join those of so many colleagues and friends She said: “I want to be be be up up there with the the friends I I remember and be be part of that lovely happy group” However Christina also wanted to add the name of her best friend and Queen’s Nurse Jennifer Black Christina explained: “I knew Jenny (to her friends) away back in in in in the the seventies as as as a a a a a a a a a a a neighbour When I I returned to to district nursing nursing in in in in in Leith she was was a a a a a a a nursing nursing officer and was was on the the interviewing panel “I got the job and worked alongside Jenny for for several years when when I I I was was district nurse for for Leith Walk GP Practice Rosemary Wylie was was my nursing officer and and and when when she retired in in in in 1989 I I I took over as as Acting Nursing Officer and and and Jenny and and and I I worked well together “Jenny lived for her husband and and and the NHS She She was always first in in in in of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a morning and and and and and last to leave at night She She did not mince her words but she was always fair and and and understanding “Jenny also also had the evening/night shift to to organise and and this was was was no easy task task The joint stores task task was was was also also landed on Jenny Jenny and she was was was very capable of running this “Unfortunately Jenny Jenny became seriously ill and died in in in 2001 at at the tender age of of 53 I think Jenny Jenny deserves to be be in in in in in our ‘Hall of of Fame’ and have her name written in in in in in in gold as as she certainly was a a a a a a a a a a a a champion of our district nursing in in in in the NHS I am am am am am so proud to to have my name next to Jenny’s ” Eileen McCahon’s daughter-in-law Fiona found out out about the celebration wall when she read a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Facebook post by Norah Norah Ann Ann Campbell’s daughter Katherine Norah Norah Ann’s name had been added in in in her her her memory by her her her family who were delighted that she would be be be remembered in in this way Eileen had very recently died in South Africa and her family were coming to to terms with the the the fact that they would not have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a memorial to to to her in in Scotland Fiona contacted the the the the office and and was delighted to to learn that they could have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very special memorial Eileen’s name would join the the the the list of of Queen’s Nurses at at at Castle Terrace That isn’t the the the end of of the the the story though Fiona and and and her husband John live up in in in Aberdeen and and and were due to to to be be be travelling via Edinburgh Airport a a a a a a a a a a a a few weeks later Unbeknownst to to to John Fiona had organised to to to have Eileen’s “I want to be up there with the friends I remember” name added to to the the the the wall and had arranged with QNIS staff for them to to to to visit the the the the the the office office when they were in in in in Edinburgh John and and and Fiona came into into the the the the the office office and and and went straight into into the the the the the boardroom for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cup of of tea and and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a chat about about Eileen to to to to share stories about about her her time as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Queen’s Nurse and and her her work in in South Africa in in deprived communities They wanted to to to bequeath Eileen’s Queen’s Nurse memorabilia to to QNIS so that it it fit could be be permanently kept in in the the the the the archive which they they they felt was a a a a a a a a a a fitting tribute Before they they they left they they they had to go past the the the the the the the celebration wall wall and John’s face when he he he he he he he he he saw his his mother’s name on on on the the the the the the wall wall was wonderful to see The look of delight that that his his mother mother would have a a a a a a a a a a a a a permanent memorial in Scotland and and that that her her her her name was was there with other other Queen’s Nurses was was very emotional and something he he he he knew his mother would have loved If you would like to add the the name of of a a a a a a a a Queen’s Nurse please contact the the Castle Terrace office for for more information QNIS Newsletter & Review of 2018 24 


































































































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