Saturday 17th August 2024 was a glorious summer‘s day and provided a perfect setting as members of Set 12 met for their fiftieth reunion. That weekend, back in 1974, we were on the brink of our nursing career journeys due to start at Bart’s on the following Monday 19th August. We were nervous and apprehensive but excited, too, to embark on a new phase of our lives, probably away from home for the first time.
Twenty-two of us gathered by the Fountain on our Reunion day. After all our greetings and hugs, we were given an exclusive tour of the current renovations in the Great Hall. We were delighted and honoured to be hosted by Will Palin, Chief Executive Officer of Barts Heritage, ably assisted by his volunteers. I do not think any of us ever expected to be so up close and personal to the magnificent decorations of the Great Hall ceiling! We followed this with a tasty and varied buffet and the anniversary cake, of course, for which we are indebted to Fran Davies’ daughter. We shared many a fond memory and also heard greetings from those who were unable to join us on the day. Perhaps even a few nostalgic tears were shed. By pooling our memories, we have even managed finally to fill in all the names on the 1974 set photograph.
We have had set reunions before, but this time it felt very special. The friendships formed so many years ago are still so strong and the years seemed to just melt away as our minds went back over the years to that Monday in August 1974. We updated each other about our subsequent lives and careers. Set 12 is very special. Set members have had such a diverse range of nursing careers with many stories to tell well but we can boast of achievements in wider fields, including a former MP and Government minister. But more than this, out of Set 12 emerged the “gang of eight,” the founder members of the Worshipful Company of Nurses (Livery Company No.111). Who would have thought those girls would have gone on to do so much? I am not surprised: Barts gave us the very best possible start to adult life. We all feel an immense loyalty to it and are proud to call ourselves Barts nurses.
Sincere thanks to Fran Davies and Liz Turnbull for all their work in organising the reunion. We may not leave it another ten years this time.
Elisabeth(Liz) Eades (Former Set 12 rep)
