Shirley Gilbert (née Edkins)

Shirley Gilbert (née Edkins) started training to be a nurse at Ashford Hospital in June 1974, where she discovered her life-long love of nursing. She qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1977. During her time at Ashford, Shirley would often be found working on either the general surgery or acute medical wards – or making pancakes for the local fire-fighters, even finding herself left in charge of the station once!

In 1978, Shirely moved onto Frimley Park Hospital, where she worked as a relief nurse, before moving on in 1979 to Heatherwood Hospital, where she would be working on the acute medical ward. While working at Heatherwood, on a weekend shift, Shirley found herself being the only qualified nurse available to get into the back of an ambulance completing a rather frantic blue light run to Addenbrookes Hospital, where they managed to lose their police escort when they had to make an emergency diversion.

After getting married in 1980, Shirley moved to Lossiemouth in Scotland, where she started working at Dr Greys Hospital in Elgin. There she worked on the rehabilitation ward, working with elderly stroke patients, something she loved doing and which would have an influence on the rest of her nursing career.

Not long after the birth of her first child, a daughter, Shirley and her family moved back down to England, to Essex. In 1983, after the birth of her second child, a son, Shirley left working within the NHS, to work in the private sector as a staff nurse in a nursing home.

While working within various care homes over the next 15 years, Shirley worked her way from Staff nurse, to Sister, Deputy Matron, and then Matron. While still loving nursing, she also trained to broaden her horizons, starting by becoming a NVQ assessor, and then a manual handling trainer. During this time, a second son joined the family.

In the early 2000’s, with her 3 children growing up, Shirley decided it was time to start her own business – and founded her own training company. While still working as an agency nurse, Shirley began building and expanding her training company – starting by offering Manual Handling courses, her company ended up offering a variety of courses, mostly for care and nursing homes – but also outside agencies such as Essex County Council. Courses ranging in first aid, fire safety, and the mental capacity act. During this time, she also completed her Certificate of Education, and in 2008, was a finalist for the business woman of the year awards.

In 2010, Shirley became the owner and director of a local domiciliary care company, helping to provide care to elderly persons in the local Tendring area, and continues to be involved although retiring from nursing in 2022. With almost half a century dedicated to nursing behind her, Shirley continues to delight her friends and family with stories and tales from her career.