SchoolsofNursing.co.uk

Site News
October 2018
(Vol 12 Issue 3) 

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Welcome to our forty-sixth news page here at Schools of Nursing.   This is our third issue this year - 2018.  Much preparatory work always takes place in the background - researching possible content; collating (and sometimes writing) articles; grammar and spell checking; plus preparing photographs, obtaining permissions where appropriate and a whole myriad of activities before we even get around to things like layout!

But then again, much of our site news writes itself!  A great deal is collected from a small coterie of enthusiastic members who are continually adding to our knowledge base - to say nothing of direct assistance whenever requested.  There are also many selfless benefactors who are almost always ready to donate upon simple askance, especially photographs, to whom we are heavily indebted.  A list is maintained in the bottom left column below.  Hopefully we never forget to say thank you.....

Reminder.  Our original researcher Sue B is back - One from Sue (Ann Braddick)
and two from myself (Nurse belts & buckles & Badge Manufacturers)!

1. Miss Ann Braddick - Military Nurse/Hospital Matron - QA/Bristol Southmead Hospital/Matron 
St John's Hospital, Towbridge, Wilts. (preview)
4. Badge manufacturers and their Maker Marks. (No Preview as yet).
5. Nurse Belts and Buckles.
 Link.

The Nursing badges public gallery 
We still have only 3 galleries which are open to the public without login.  They take a lot of time:-

1. Eric's Gallery - The original and much neglected gallery still awaiting update.
CLICK LINK...

2. Peter's 'backman' gallery - fifty (50) pages of 24 badges per page and 1250 pages  - (2400 photographs).
CLICK LINK...

3. Mike's 'myk1066' - at the first (published) page of 20 badges - with another 91 pages in progress. CLICK LINK...  

(*Temporarily - You may need to use your browser 'back' button to get back here).

Our original aim is unchanged.  'Individual hospital/school locations have been (and are still being) added; badge shapes; materials used; badge weights; type of fixings; central design (picture) ; inscriptions on the rear (nurse names/dates/maker marks/hallmarks where applicable); designer/s; manufacturers; number made; and dates first awarded are all salient points in our quest being addressed'. Reverse sides being added to each badge wherever we have the photographs.

In short, everyone who has agreed to our publishing a public gallery will have one - using their own photographs wherever possible. We must surely have a copy of almost every UK nursing/hospital badge ever produced.

Click a badge photograph to see the single page!  The links can take you back and forward - a page at a time (24 badges per page) - for all 1310 pages if you like.  Or go to the 'Gallery Start" page at the bottom of any individual badge to get back to the numbered 24 badge page. Sound complicated but you will quickly get the hang of it - promise!

Email messages - Training Transcripts - Qualified Nurses.
In our experience it has not been possible for nurses seeking transcripts from schools which no longer exist to obtain copies. However, we can offer a couple of links which may help in your search, *But please note: We simply cannot respond to transcript requests individually:- 

http://www.nmc-uk.org/Registration/Leaving-the-register/Planning-to-work-overseas-Obtaining-a-copy-of-your-transcript-of-training/ 
http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/rcn_archives/research_advice_-_tracing_nurses/nursing_records
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ 
Member Photograph Galleries.
Still accumulating, albeit now more slowly. The 'National' galleries now contain 6006 nursing/hospital badge photographs encompassing all areas of the UK; 585 photographs (buildings/people/ephemera); and 162 photographs (nurse uniforms), both civilian and military. We have achieved 6006 already! By the end of 2018? Perhaps 6050? It is possible, we continue to make solid progress and will perhaps achieve the largest collection in the UK, if we are not already there. New additions continue, albeit slowly...
 


National Galleries
-
Member Uploads

Photographic rights

barrysutton@SoN
'backman@SoN
 

 Unattributed nurse belt-buckle
scroll & lamp of light (knowledge)

 Jane Walker Hospital
West-Suffolk Group SoN

 

We are now at 6006 - 6050 now seems a definite possibility. We are well on the way and just maybe, we will see another magic number shortly, thanks to our many contributors. And it is not just a matter of quantity but rather a combination of quantity and quality. The quality of additions made to the site - both in the way of photographs and contributions to our forum has created an irreplaceable contribution to nursing history. We can now claim to have a mini photographic museum here at schoolsofnursing. Sincere, heartfelt, thanks...

But the photographs are not our be all/end all. Our online articles (42) are gaining too, to say nothing of our nursing histories and news pages. There is a great deal of research involved. Someone's time. Someone's money. All given selflessly without thought of gain. What we have here are the seeds of success.

But please, don't break copyrights when uploading/sending photographs. If you are ever uncertain please ask us. Most copyright holders we have met so far have been only to keen to assist.

And if you want to join - welcome to the Forum and Member Galleries - Register Here.

Failed Registration. Please be aware, our site is rated on Google by Norton Internet Security as being absolutely safe. *We intend to keep it that way. You can help by using a reasonable ID and your own genuine email address. Anything that appears dubious may result in failed registration. Our site is free to users. It is hosted by the largest ISP in Europe at commercial rates - with highly professional back-up. Safe and secure!

Worldwide..
Certainly our visitors are wide ranging - from 44 countries worldwide... Australia & New Zealand and Canada are well represented in addition to the UK and USA. There are also some more esoteric sounding countries - China; Russia; Cayman Islands; Japan; Malaysia; plus Romania and Spain.

E-Mail Contact - 'contact' link (here and throughout the site) arrives directly on the webmaster's desk. Use it to communicate directly with the site. All mail is considered confidential unless the contents are stated to be otherwise. Stated to be for public consumption by you. Publication itself is an editorial decision. **Please note that we cannot supply transcripts of training.


Collecting... 'Nurse Uniform - Buckles and Belts - (continued)...
Yes, if you have already read the main article (Link above) you might have decided that  collecting buckles and belts (where belts can still be obtained), is an attractive proposition.  But it is perhaps not as easy as collecting nurse badges and can be somewhat more expensive.  I would advise anyone in the early stages of collecting nursing history to concentrate on badges - not least because the links are more straightforward.  Linking the history of buckles and belts (with the exception of the better known hospitals) can be daunting - if not impossible!

So here we go with 'my' latest acquisitions, I say 'my' tongue in cheek since the photographs have been very kindly gifted to the site.  The providers do, of course, retain copyright. 
First off - Kind permission of Sally Bosley, are two of the rarities - a complete Petersham belts & buckles! Sally's own descriptions state:-

'Torch of Knowledge Bronze SEN Nurse's Hospital Buckle & Belt.
A scarce vintage bronzed nurse's buckle, both sides depicting a winged torch of knowledge resting in a narrow laurel wreath set upon an ornate trefoil, complete with black petersham belt and manufacturers instructions on how to clean. Very good condition, complete with both belt loops, belt in good condition with service wear'.
Height 55mm.
Width 104mm.

images copyright @sallybosley.com

The manufacturers instructions on 'How to clean' are simple warm soapy water. No metal polish....  The title 'SEN Nurse's.. gives a little more information than is usual - it was owned by an SEN - but the belt colour would also have helped.  But of course, unlike many badges there is no nurse name or hospital identity. If I were to buy - I would consider this first one seriously.

Another very nice and rare in my experience complete nurse belt and buckle - I really would place this one high on my shopping list (if my bank manager wouldn't notice!) :-

'Westminster Children's Hospital London Nurse's Buckle.
A scarce original 'Westminster Children's Hospital nurse's buckle', large circular silver plated die-stamped example, the centre depicting an infant in swaddling clothes within a laurel wreath. Very good condition, complete with all fittings and petersham belt'.
Diameter 63mm

 

images copyright @sallybosley.com

Writing this column is for me an exciting privilege.  It also has a drawback - it can cause extreme feelings of 'Want One' - any one of the above would fit the bill nicely!  But maybe the gods of luck may notice....

Onward...

This next buckle is also an
unusual item - originating from Canada. It is a superb sterling silver nurses belt buckle - again a complete unit - an original belt and buckle. It is a genuine nurse item, although perhaps not as attractive as those English Petersham belts and buckles to the present audience we are more used to, but very collectable nevertheless...
 

 

images copyright armyoutfitters@ebay.co.uk


So there we have it, three very nice collectable individual items - each not usually found together for sale and each possibly a tad expensive for the average collector.  But each, in it's own way, eminently collectable.

Belts and buckles such as the above must surely have some serious heritage. And there are, to repeat myself - 'So many questions.  So many missing links'.  But then, sadly, that is a usual history of a nurse belt-buckle....  Maybe some answers will appear if a reader knows more about any of the items featured.  Stranger things have happened on the site.  Readers may recall a past event where a Boer War era PCANSER badge and ephemera (   ) which we feature herein turned out to was discovered on this site by a relative to whom I  was able to return the items, although she did not seek that.  Tea at Claridges  resulted for some of those involved!

For myself? Well I was invited, but was unable to attend, but was duly sent (unrequested) a very, very, nice low numbered PCANSER badge. And was able to bask in that warm glow people often get when being able to do something really appreciated for someone! Very nice.

Imagine, that whilst dreaming, that the complete history of every set of nursing belt & buckle ever worn by any nurse was revealed. But that the list had over 60,000 names and panicking, you could not remember one!  Forgive yourself? You never would... But you will find three here!
WB.

 

 

Another photograph from the past - this one is currently unattributed...

Any information  is appreciated.


*Training Hospitals/Details *Not currently Available.

It always seems impossible that a photograph will never be identified - but who knows?        Galle733x458y Photo Here

*Sincere thanks to SoN moderator 'backman' for the supply of this photograph. I wonder if any of the nurses can still be identified? It is a considerable time ago.. Another 28 long-ago nurses! Perhaps a descendant or friend will appear a name - but it does seem a very, very remote chance this time....

Well, that is yet another very pleasant note upon which to end the 46th Schools of Nursing Site News.

 

Would you like to see your PTS or training group featured here? We desperately need more photographs to feature. Can you help?  If so please Contact us.
 

We express our grateful appreciation to those people who have contributed the original photographs
used to produce the News Pages.

1. News heading photo (all dates) - John Reeves
2. Bristol Southmead Gold (April) - John Reeves
3. St Bartholomew's Gold (April) - Ruth Watkin-Jones
4. Haygarth Silver (April) - 'ukhistory' (ebay)
5. Newcastle LS (April) - Peter Backman (Nursing badges)
6. RRC Medal (April)  photo's- 'Caulgisbo' (ebay)
8. 'catandfrog' (July) - (ebay).
9. bokojnr (Dec) - (ebay).
10. blue.bottle (Dec) - (ebay).
11. 'backman' - (ebay).*
12. Hotminicooper (Jun) - (ebay).
13. Right-one50 (Oct - (ebay).
14. jcollinsmedals (Dec - (ebay).
15. Brittania Medals (Dec 2009).
16. elaine3080 (Feb 2010) - (ebay).
17. Fran Biley (Feb 2010) - schoolsofnursing.
18. St Andrews Children's Hospice - Grimsby.
19.themedalcentre - (ebay).
 20. Christmas 1923 - Eric Wilkinson, schoolsofnursing.
21. past-modern - (ebay).
22. susie1156 - (ebay).
23. redsunshine525 - (ebay).
24. nbarton8 - (ebay).
25. magpieantics - (ebay)
26. rayofhope0 - (ebay).
27. Anotherluckyb - (ebay).
28. Helen M Coan.
29. yazandlaz - (ebay).
30. delroyb - (ebay).
31. Burmeseblue - (ebay).
32. amersham417 - (ebay).
33.Bethesda - (ebay).
34. nikkibarnard - (ebay).
35. madeinireland - ebay.
36. jamesmcg - (ebay).
37. pugwash - schoolsofnursing.
38. Sarah Rogers - schoolsofnursing.
 
40. Bill, schoolsofnursing.
41.
alastaircox - (ebay).
42. Margaret Maxwell - (ebay).
43. soisjack - (ebay).
44. blubberlover - (ebay).
45. the collectique - (ebay).
46.
mandacollectables@hotmail.co.uk
47. Dart Silver Lid - ebay
48. 'gawincole' - ebay
49. Dr Patricia Mumford
50.
dedsure@yahoo.com
51.
steve@lloy.ball
52.
R STRINGFELLOW@ebay
53
.bobstish1709@ebay
54.
phillipsbay@ebay.
54.
backintday@ebay).
55.
sallybosley.com
56. armyoutfitters@ebay.com

All Copyrights are Asserted

 
 
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