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Your Story: Interview with Valerie Willis |
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When I was 21,I was an auxilliary nurse at Princess Marys Maternity Hospital in Newcastle. I wrote to the hospital to se if there were any vacancies for jobs. Although I didn't need any qualifications, I had to be 21 and training was given at work.
I went to work on the train. I looked after the mothers and their new born babies with other nursing staff who were always there. I don't remember many of the people I worked with but I do remember sister Holland(who was very strict). Staff nurses(below sister)State registered nurses,State enrolled nurses learning to be midwives,Doctors, Registrars and also Matron , who was in charge of the whole hospital and was very very strict. I worked 8 hours on days and 12 hours on night shift. I was paid £45 a month and I thought it was fair because meals, refreshments etc, were provided free of charge and I enjoyed everything about my job, I spent my wages on paying my board to my mum, which helped with the food and the bills, I had pocket money so that I could go out once a week unless I had a boyfriend because boyfriends always paid bus fares, taxies, dances,dinners, the cinema and drinks, because men earned more than women. I enjoyed black and white television because that was all we had. we didn't have a television until I was 9, a lot of people still didn't have one then, but we got ours for my father Frank WAllbank who was ill. We only had two channels B.B.C and I.T.V. I have learned a lot about the changes in Britain since 1948 and I have seen a lot of changes too.
Words: Mark Davison
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