Description
Object description
British civilian nurse and wife of Captain Dennis Parkin, West Yorkshire Regt, in GB, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Grimsby, UK, 1919-1939: family and family home; memories of childhood; visits to Mablethorpe; memories of father; education; civilian work; work gained in Nunsthorpe maternity home; story of first birth attended; story of unmarried single woman; story of delivery of twins; story of preparing dead body for first time; reactions to death; sterilisation of equipment and suicide; reflections on work; opinion of modern nurse training; start of training to be nurse including story of lecture on sex; period in men's medical ward; description of ward; activities at start of shift.
REEL 2 Continues: story of French fisherman; details of bottle round; details of period in a surgical ward; story of tramp; work in operating theatre; examples of operations attended; sterilisation of surgical gloves and other equipment; extension of service; story of smelling nitrous oxide; examinations taken in Hull; story of receiving results; memories of new matron; story of complaints made against matron and resignation; move to Belsize Park; accommodation; duties including in Bishop's Stortford; period at Queen Mary Hospital in Portsmouth including hospitalisation; work gained in Woking; story of engagement to officer cadet Ronald Crozier. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1939-1945: outbreak of war; story of meeting future husband, Dennis Parkin.
REEL 3 Continues: subsequent meetings with Dennis Parkin including breaking of earlier engagement; proposal from Dennis Parkin; Christmas 1939; departure of Dennis Parkin to Officers Cadet Training Unit; reasons for leaving nursing; civilian work in Grimsby; details of nursing pay; story of invasion scare, 8/1940; buying of fiancé's uniform in Leeds; story of mother's reaction on meeting Dennis Parkin; marriage, 8/12/1940; wedding night in Gainsborough; honeymoon in Blackpool; early married life in Saltford including first pregnancy; opinion of period living in Leyburn; story of entertaining General Holmes' wife in officer's mess; memories of Joanna Giles; accommodation; return to Grimsby; birth of first child, Susan; move to Haxby; accommodation; memories of parents playing bridge; accommodation in Strensall.
REEL 4 Continues: learning to play bridge; care of child; money; leisure activities; rations; accommodation in Berwick- upon-Tweed; socialising with Lieutenant Colonel Mulligan; story of throwing fish and chips at the cenotaph; description of second home taken in Berwick-upon-Tweed; story of dead mouse; posting of Dennis Parkin overseas; return to Grimsby and accommodation; memories of parents; memories of air raids and shelter taken; reactions as husband left for India; daily routine; mail; story of return of Dennis Parkin from India; death of father and return home; return to nursing; work in nursing home; support from colleagues during husband's hospitalisation.
REEL 5 Continues: introduction of Dennis Parkin to colleagues; story of first night with husband; hospitalisation of Dennis Parkin and second pregnancy; story of journey to Harlow Wood; stay with husband at Harlow Wood Hospital; news of award of Distinguished Service Order to husband. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: story of medal ceremony at Buckingham Palace; details of clothes worn by her and Googie Withers; story of Dennis Parkin on morning of ceremony; story of linen and departure from home; story of bills received for wedding; return of husband to work and reaction to his job; leisure activities; story of finding home; subsequent homes; voluntary work and paid work in Maidstone; changes made by Salmon Report; details of work in Sittingbourne; return to job in Maidstone.
REEL 6 Continues: story of attempted suicide; memories of daughters; work in hospital with nuns including examples of their lackadaisical methods; re-launch of hospital; retirement; reaction to introduction of National Health Service; discussion of modern nursing including own visits to hospital; changing attitude towards nurses.
REEL 7 Continues: discussion of pregnancy out of wedlock in 1930s and following Second World War; details of rationing during and after war; furniture bought for home; details of police welfare fund; methods of saving money; story of family holiday to Naples; concerns for husband's safety while he was posted overseas including air activity; contact with American and New Zealand troops; reflections on war.
REEL 8 Continues: life in Grimsby following war; impressions of British society in 1950s and 1960s; story of divorced friend.