Beryl Hutchinson (1934-2012)
BERYL Elsie Hutchinson MBE, was director of nursing and assistant manager of patient services at Grantham Hospital.
She gave a lifetime of service to the Red Cross as branch nursing officer, training officer, regional director in Lincolnshire and vice-chair of the charity’s board of trustees.
She was appointed MBE in 1999 for services to the British Red Cross and her humanitarian work.
She was born in 1934 in Thorney Fen, near Peterborough. Her father worked with horses and the family lived in a tied farm cottage. After her mother died in 1940, the family moved to Deeping St Nicholas.
Failing her 11-plus, she went to Eastholm Secondary Modern School, Peterborough.
On leaving Beryl joined a pre-nursing course. This entailed two classes a week in the school of nursing and working as teacher’s assistant in a primary school.
In 1951, she began her nurse training at Peterborough Memorial Hospital, followed by midwifery training at Queen Charlotte’s in London and Watford General.
She then returned to Peterborough as night sister and night superintendent, and in 1959 was appointed sister on the women’s surgical ward at Grantham.
Beryl married Ken Hutchinson in 1963 and acquired a step-family of four children. Ken died in 1969 and the following year Beryl started her tutor diploma at Queen Elizabeth College, London.
She returned to Grantham in 1972, working as a nurse tutor, senior nursing officer and director of nursing.
She retired from the NHS in 1989, which left more time for her Red Cross work locally and nationally, which had begun in 1966 as branch nursing officer and later training officer.
In 2008 she was has been appointed vice chair of the charity’s board of trustees.
Mrs Hutchinson spent from 1991 until 1999 as director of the Lincolnshire branch of the Red Cross.
A lovely lady. I remember her in my nursing days at Grantham Hospital when she was a nursing tutor during my training years. Later as a nursing officer but she was always kind and caring towards patients and staff….especially young nurses who she took under her wing. We learned such a lot from her. It was a privilege to work with and know her. Rest in peace Beryl.
One of the Old School Type – who always put Patients FIRST.