THE years rolled back for a Wiveliscombe pensioner when she met up with a group of nurses she started her training with exactly 60 years ago.

Brenda Boyland, originally from Chard, and four of her cohort, now aged between 78 and 80, revisited Newcourt House, Exeter, where they did their 12-week preliminary training school placement in 1958.

Brenda and her former colleagues, who have kept in touch over the years, enjoyed a tour of the converted manor house, checking out the rooms they boarded and learned in.

They shared stories of their time there along with 27 other trainee nurses recruited by Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Brenda recalled being under the strict instruction of Miss Ruth Furze on a salary of £273 a year, 10pm curfews, gaining her nurse's badge, wearing the hospital scarf and earning the right to wear her nurse's buckle at the end of her training.

Instruction included theory, rolling bandages, hygiene, cleaning, anatomy, making beds and lifting.

"Our uniform was vomit green - it wasn't a glamorous look," said Brenda, who was later a nurse in Canada for 12 years.

"I remember we once had to pass a gastric tube down our throats so we would know what it felt like, and we practised injections using oranges."

PHOTOS

 Outside Newcourt House on 1 October 2018 are, from left, Brenda Boyland, Pat Walden, Sue Kerley, Lorna Collingwood-Burke, Pauline Ellis, and Mary Bennett.

 Then and now – Mary Bennett (left) and Brenda Boyland pictured at the main entrance to Newcourt House in 1958 and 2018.

 The cohort that started on 1 October 1958. Names of the Torbay and South Devon ‘set’ as given by the group: Back row: Brenda Bissel, Pauline Mortimore, Ellen Carthy, Julie Dakin, Pam Woods, Yvonnne Mason, Carol ?, Sue Best, Jacintha Ward, Mary Bennett, Brenda Boyland. Second row: second right Joyce Kibirige, third right Mary Rattenbury; third left Janet Braun.

 The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Training School for Nurses brochure.