Member stories

Our members are proud pioneers of the NHS – you can read some of their inspirational stories here. Any member wishing to share your story should email comms@nhsrf.org.uk

An old black and white photograph of June Hewett dressed in her NHS nurses uniform. She are standing outside in a garden. June is a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship and has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

June Hewett

June is a true NHS pioneer, starting her career in 1948. Many of our members remember June fondly as their trainer and a passionate advocate for paediatric services. Read her story here:

June Hewett
Colour photograph of Sylvia Bagot and a young boy sitting together and smiling at each other. Sylvia has placed a headset on the boy’s ears, and an acoustic instrument is in front of them. She is a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship and has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Sylvia Bagot

Sylvia joined the NHS on a temporary basis from a stint as a secretary in a school as an audiometrist because it fit in around her children. She retired 24 years later. Read her story here:

Sylvia Bagot
Colour photograph of seven young women in NHS nurse uniforms are standing and sitting in front of a Christmas tree. Some are smiling at the camera, while the middle four are looking down and laughing at something. Among them is Mary Harris, an NHS Retirement Fellowship member, who has shared her story as part of the member series.

Mary Harris

For the next in our series sharing the stories of our members, we head to the Fellowship’s oldest branch in Cheltenham to meet Mary Harris.  Mary describes herself as having a caring streak that needs to be fulfilled. She was a passionate nurse and a dedicated mum who spent years juggling both responsibilities. Read her story here:

Mary Harris
An old black and white photograph of Bernice and her mum dressed in their NHS nurses uniforms. They are standing outside in a leafy garden. Bernice is a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship and has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Bernice Harris

Our next story introduces you to our member Bernice Harris and how she followed in the footsteps of her mum and auntie. Read her story here:

Bernice Harris
A formal photograph of over 50 nurses, all dressed in crisp uniforms, against an interior hospital background. Among them is Molly Gibson, an NHS Retirement Fellowship member who has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Molly Gibson

For the next in our series we go to Blackpool to hear Molly Gibson’s story. Read her story here:

Molly Gibson
A nurse and three trainee nurses are gathered around an education skeleton model. One of the nurses is Adrienne Alton, an NHS Retirement Fellowship member who has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Adrienne Alton

Adrienne’s story includes some amazing photographs of the original Royal Surrey County Hospital from the 1950’s.

Adrienne Alton
Colour photograph of Norma Garthwaite sitting at her desk, dressed in her NHS uniform. She is a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship and has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Norma Garthwaite

Norma joined the NHS as a clerical officer and worked her way up to a position where she was responsible for the purchase of major pieces of medical and surgical equipment at hospitals in both Scotland and England. Read her story here:

Norma Garthwaite
A balck and white photograph of Perta Cheffins, dressed in her nurse’s uniform, holding a baby. Perta is a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship and has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Perta Cheffins

Read how Perta joined the NHS after being a nursery nurse and then spent her career as a midwife delivering hundreds, if not thousands, of babies.

Perta Cheffins
Colour head and shoulder portrait of Val Notman, a NHS Retirement Fellowship member, dressed in a purple nurse’s uniform. She is smiling at the camera and standing in front of a interior doorway. She has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series

Val Notman

Read here about Val’s career as a nurse.

Val Notman
An old black and white photograph of Lynette Richards Lorde and another lady, standing is front of a car. Both are dressed in smart attired with gloves and hats. Lynette is a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship and has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Lynette Richards Lorde

Read about Lynette Richards Lorde here.

Lynette Richards Lorde
Head-and-shoulders portrait of Andrew Moss, a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship. He is smiling and dressed in a suit against a formal studio background. The photo was taken when he was younger and working for the NHS. He has shared his story as part of the Member Stories series.

Andrew Moss

Read about Andrew Moss here.

Andrew Moss
An old black and white photograph of Jean Morris and her family standing in a urban back yard. Jean is a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship and has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Jean Morris

Read about Jean Morris here.

Jean Morris
Welsh version of the NHS Retirement Fellowship logo, featuring strapline ‘Making your retirement work for you’ in Welsh Cymdeithas Ymddeol

Kay Lusk​

Read about Kay Lusk here.

Kay Lusk
Head-and-shoulders portrait of Pam Beese, a member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship. She is smiling and dressed in smart casual attire and standing in front of a hospital building. The photo was taken when she was younger and working for the NHS. She has shared her story as part of the Member Stories series.

Pam Beese

Read about Pam Beese here.

Pam Beese

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