During our tour of Nursing Lives, we’ve had many nurses and ex-nurses contacting us with their thoughts on the show, and their memories of working in the profession: to mark the end of the tour, we’ve put together a selection to say thank you to our nursing audiences for their wonderful support...

Janet Kingston-Davis writes...

There was nothing in the whole show out of place to what nursing was actually about: the rolling of the bandages, the bed pan, the ward sister, the folding and making the beds.....absolutely brilliant!

I have so many [training memories], where do I start..... perhaps with my second year of training on a male medical ward in 1973. My uniform was almost identical as that of the actors and I loved wearing it: the starched apron and paper hat but best of all was the cape with the red crossover ties at the front that kept it in place across the body. The Irish ward sister was a dragon ( never smiling and a fierce stickler for decorum) who insisted that at every consultant ward round the men had to be ready for the round. This entailed all the washes and toileting having been completed by 10am, all the men sitting up with their pyjama tops back to front so that he had only to lean them forward to place his god-like stethoscope on their backs without having to lower himself to speaking to them. Also, for some reason that I can only wonder at, as this was never allowed to be questioned, the bed wheels at the foot of the bed had to be turning in to face the wall behind the bed. She would stand outside her office and look critically down the line to ensure this had been done. Also at these rounds, the other junior nurses and myself had to make ourselves scarce into either the sluice and tidy up or else the clinical room where we would again be sorting whatever needed sorting. We would only be allowed to join the entourage in our final year: I guess we might have embarrassed her by asking questions!
Another memory that stands out on a happier note, is the Christmas eve carol singing on night duty, led by the senior night sister. At about 10pm, volunteer nurses and junior doctors would go round each ward holding lanterns with candles in and sing carols. The wards would be rung in advance and as we were approaching the doors to each ward the lights would be turned low and we would enter whilst singing all the usual favourites. One year I took my flute along and accompanied the singing of silent night (quite badly, as I recall!). I can feel the emotions of it now as those patients who were able would join in as best they could. The full impact had to be experienced to be appreciated, especially as these were the old 'Florence Nightingale' wards where the very sick and dying were near to the doors with the recovering patients being 'upgraded' to the other end (thereby knowing they were on the mend but that the other unfortunates were not!). Perhaps it was the introduction of the meaning of Christmas to a situation of such difficulty for most of the patients and staff that worked the magic that only love can work!

Anyway, thank you again for letting me write a little about my wonderful experiences of a wonderful career which started me on a long journey to be the psychotherapist that I now am...helping heal minds now rather than bodies.

Susan Vale writes...

I was a new student nurse in March 1980. I too received my uniform in a pile like Flo, but on top of my pile was a flat paper cap and one stud to join the bits together (somehow!). My stud dropped into a grating in the changing room - not a good start!! Bed making - very amusing! I couldn't make a bed any other way, even now. I had forgotten about the measurement of the sheet turning over the counterpane, until I saw your play. Then I remembered having to strip and re-make beds on several occasions when they weren't quite right! However, we wouldn't have been allowed to shake the sheets in the air quite so much - 'Airborne infection, Nurse!'. The hand washing regime, although not quite so extreme, was true. Very different from a quick squirt from a plastic bottle they use now. Cross infection was much less then than it is now, so funny but effective. Thank you for a wonderful evening at The Marlowe. All those memories and emotions, brought to life without words. Brilliant! All these memories came flooding back, thanks to the skill of Vamos Theatre. Thank you and good luck.

Mary Anne Matthews (nee Cochrane) writes...

I was fortunate enough to be alerted to your performance in the Studio at The Marlowe Theatre at Canterbury recently.  I went with two nurses who had also trained at the same hospital as me in London (The Middlesex), though during WW2 and a few years before me, -  forty one years ago in 1974! It was such a very evocative and poignant play as our hospital was demolished a few years ago and all that now remains is our beautiful old Chapel.   Both my parents also trained at the Middlesex Hospital during the war, and remained there until 1950 before marrying in 1951.Your portrayal and reflections were so accurate and pertinent, especially the hospital corners etc! The pillowcases always had to face away from the entrance to the ward, and the wheels were turned in under the beds! I do, however, always remember the men neatly unfolding their newspapers to put on top of their white bedspreads in order not to make the beds dirty with their slippers!   Little did they seem to realise that all the newsprint rubbed off immediately!!! Thank you for a splendid evening's theatre - it certainly stimulated a great many memories and was a talking point for us!

And some shorter comments...

Watched nursing lives with 6 nursing colleagues and we all loved it. Was funny, poignant and thoughtful so booked 4 more tickets 3 weeks later for family members and they loved it too. Great performances x Caz

I loved the play at the Warren and enjoyed the Nursing side of it tremendously, being a nurse myself. If hands could talk….the movements were just so correct and spot on. Never thought the main character Flo and Matron were the same person and played by a man. My utmost admiration for the full cast for your skills and talent to perform so well especially without voice. Thank you also to the great soundtrack, that carried us from event to event and did let us travel through time. Siggy

Have just returned from the Mercury Theatre Colchester, as a retired nurse I have had an absolutely wonderful evening. The character in the dark blue uniform reminded me so much of the Matron at my training hospital. I have never seen anything like this before but will be following you from now on. Well done and good luck for the rest of your tour. linny981

What a fantastic show on Wednesday at Leamington, wasn’t sure what we were about to see but being nurses we had to come and watch. We are now great fans of yours Beverley and Rhona, nurses in Warwick

Saw Nursing Lives in Leeds last night, with my mum, who is a retired nurse. A very original theatre experience. We were captivated & moved. I look forward to seeing other Vamos productions in the future. Sheila

6 of us came along last night as a works outing (nurses!!) and we had a brilliant time. The show was so good we are looking forward to seeing you all back in Grantham in 2016  Thanks for a fab evening. Lynnie

Just got home from nursing lives at the Guildhall Derby: what a wonderful performance - it appealed to me as I have recently retired from nursing after 40 years. I have never seen any of your shows before but will look out for you again. Another case of "Matron knows best” and the humour was wonderful, I followed every move and myself and a friend who still works within the nhs was also spellbound.  I think you could teach a few nurses about hand washing!! no mrsa on your wards!! I have watched many hospitals knocked down or changed into other things and think of all the work I did in those areas so it meant a lot to me although I was a 1950s baby so didn’t  know anything of nursing in the war.  Thanks to you all and very well done, i also think the Guildhall was a brilliant venue for your show. Liz Parkes

I saw Nursing Lives last night, it was fantastic as your other productions. How you manage to be funny, poignant, modern & old fashioned all without showing your faces is beyond me! I was a nurse, starting my training in 1950 and your uniforms were very nostalgic as were so many of the actions. A fabulous evening, thank you. Viv Davies

I have just seen Nursing Lives at the Cirencester Sundial theatre and thought it was superb. So original and well done and the characters were brilliantly portrayed. The matron reminded me very much of the spinster Sisters that ruled the wards when I was a student nurse in London in the early 80s when nursing had moved on a bit from the 40s but still very rooted in routine and tradition as portrayed in your play. I came with my friend Janet who is also a nurse . Thankyou for the show., it was lovely. Mary-Ann

Was fortunate to get to see and hear ‘Nursing Lives’ last night at the Unity Theatre. I missed the original production as work shifts as a nurse clashed, but did get to see and thoroughly enjoyed ‘Much Ado About Wenlock’ and ‘Finding Joy’. What a Brilliant production, congratulations and many thanks to all involved, a simple tale told beautifully and with such sensitivity and feeling. Don