A junior staff nurse’s uniform dating from 1974… complete with ink blot [Wellcome Collection]

• I READ the paper cover to cover so how delightful it was to get to the November 21 Review piece (Caped crusaders by Jane Clinton) about the Fitzrovia Chapel show and see the photograph.

I immediately recognised the uniform I wore as a nurse at the Middlesex hospital in the 1970s. The dresses were made of pure soft cotton which was very comfortable, below the knee length, of course.

Student nurses wore mauve and white stripes which were protected by a starched white apron new every day, “frills” a sort of scrunchie held the long sleeves up when we were at work. We collected a bundle every week. No laundering your own in those days!

The hat, worn only by second years and up, had to be folded into the elaborate shape. Hard to imagine making 40 beds wearing it, but we did.

Behind the uniform we took a tremendous amount of responsibility as well as the gruelling tasks that all nurses undertake. We mopped up vomit, cared for the dying and the dead, and saw life in all its glorious technicolour.

It was a steep learning curve and a tremendous shock for a grammar school girl who had had ideals of attending art school and becoming a designer.

As well as our 12-hour night shift that lasted a week totalling 84 hours we also had an hour in the day shift for lunch in the dining room; and no it wasn’t a canteen.

I never did get to wear the blue and white stripes.

As soon as I qualified I travelled to Canada and made my way down the West Coast of the US to Baja California, having lots of fun and making up for the three years of hard work.

On my return I completed my midwifery qualification and worked as a midwife which I loved.

This week I will be visiting the exhibition with the friend I made on the first day of my nurses’ training. Thank you!

ELIZABETH KNOWLES, NW8