Former nurses who trained together recreate photo 40 years later

By Douglas Whitbread and Joe Harrigan

A group of nurses who made a solemn vow to stay in touch during their training have recreated a photograph in a touching reunion - 40 years on.

The group of 12 NHS heroes posed for the photo on the town hall steps in Bolton in 1984, ten years after they first met as trainees in the town.

As most of them lived in shared accommodation, provided by Bolton General Hospital, they formed a close bond.

And they've now recreated the picture and performed a kick to the cameras as they lined up on the steps, 50 years after they first became friends.

The poignant photo brilliantly mimics the original reunion picture, which was published in the local newspaper.

Ann Worsley, now a grandma of seven, said of the years they spent living together: “We loved it. We had a lot of laughs.

“It was a big building with three floors. We all had individual rooms but shared kitchens and bathrooms.

“We just spent hours chatting, being together. We’d all have been at least 18.

“It was hard work, and if you’d had a bad day at work, your mates helped you through it and made things ok. We got a lot of support from being in there.”

Sadly, tragedy struck when one of their young classmates, Sue Worthington, died in a car accident on Feb. 16, 1977, just before she was due to graduate.

The remaining trainee nurses, who were taking two to three-year courses at the time, were devastated by her loss.

But they marked this solemn event by creating a homemade ‘jigsaw’, cut up from a picture, with a piece given to each member of their group to cherish.

These mementos - which included promises to keep meeting up with each other - had reminded them to plan regular reunions, which continued for decades to come.

Ann said: “It was just a picture that had come from Spain, which one of the girls had.

“We just cut it up into jigsaw pieces and all wrote on the back when we would meet up again and signed it.”

When their local paper, The Bolton News, learned about their reunions, they photographed them to commemorate their friendship in 1984.

And this week, 50 years after they first met each other, they returned to the steps of the town hall to take the same iconic shot.

Following the photo session, the group had a celebratory meal together to reminisce about their lives.

And some of the original members have even decided to go on holiday together in the near future.

Janice Dewsnip, 68, said: “We’re going on a Caribbean cruise next, we’re going on back-to-back cruises! But with our husbands this time.

“That’s something else, we’re all still married to our original husbands!”

Pictured from left to right - on the steps of Bolton Town Hall:

Heather Wickham 68, Linda Booth, 69, Janet Walker, 68, Diane Price, 67, Valda Halliwell, 67, Christine Flint, 68, Meg Warriner, 68, Jackie Clough, 69, Mary Howarth, 73, Janice Dewsnip, 68, Ann Worsley 68, and Barbara Crowe, 68.