Barts League of Nurses: What View Day means to us
In this blog, first published in May 2019, Merryl Lawrenson, who began her long nursing career at St Bartholomew's in the 1970s, shares her memories of View Day and explains what it means to the Barts League of Nurses.
View Day has always played a very important part in the life of the League of St Bartholomew’s Nurses.
Many of us remember, as staff nurses, going very early in the morning to the old Covent Garden market to buy flowers to decorate the wards.
We also remember preparing afternoon tea for the many visitors to the wards.
The Square, looking its very best, welcomed back former staff and the families of current staff.
There were decorated stalls, morning-suited housemen with buttonholes in their firm’s colour, and smartly dressed ladies wearing hats.
View Day has changed over the years, but returning League members are keen to continue the tradition.
In 1978 tea was provided by the League for the first time in the consulting suite of the outpatients block.
The venue then transferred to the Isla Stewart Library, enabling League members to gather, exchange news and renew friendships.
In recent years we have met in the Peggy Turner Room, with 'sets' celebrating their own reunions joining us on the day.
Members greet other members who were once their ward sisters or tutors during their training, recalling detailed memories of their experience.
In 2019, more than 40 of us enjoyed the opportunity to meet up and celebrate our time at Barts.
Benevolent fund
The Barts League of Nurses benevolent fund helps St Bartholomew’s nurses in need of assistance arising from youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
During these difficult times, the fund has awarded emergency grants for those who qualify, which have really helped those involved. In order to qualify you must be either a member of the League or have worked at St Bartholomew’s for more than one year.
For more information, and in complete confidence, please email the League.
If you wish to join the Barts League of Nurses, please visit their website. Picture credit: View Day 1949, courtesy of The League of St Bartholomew’s Nurses.