December 31, 2024|Reports

“Ministering Angel” – Jane Glennie

The joint Christmas meeting of the Wickham Society and the History Society saw us welcome actress and historian Jane Glennie in character as Netley Hospital’s Nursing Superintendent Shaw, a good friend and colleague of Florence Nightingale, to hear why she left Netley Hospital in disgrace.

In typically forthright way Superintendent Shaw addressed her audience of nurses and porters – and particularly those nurses who had complained about her – to remind them why she given them a well deserved  ‘clip around the ear’. Deservedly so in some cases, such as putting a leech on a patient’s eyeball! Jane had brought with her a fine display of scary Victorian medical equipment to round off the evening. There was a lively question and answer session, including a reminder that there is a website: www.netleyabbeymatters.co.uk for those who are interested in knowing more about the hospital.

It was a full house for the Christmas get together, with plenty of chat, festive wine and mince pies to end the evening.