Until 1986 there were two levels of nurse training: ‘staff’ or SRN (State Registered Nursing) and ‘pupil’ or SEN (State Enrolled Nursing). SRN included ward management; SEN was shorter and more clinically focused. Caribbean nurses had expected to do SRN training.

Neslyn Watson-Druée was disappointed that, “after being met by the home sister, two or three days later, the matron informed me that the group of hospitals had its GNC inspection the week prior to me arriving and that the group was downgraded from

SRN training to SEN training.” Neslyn was given the choice of leaving or staying. “I did not have anywhere to leave to and I didn’t want to work as an auxiliary, so I started the SEN training and the matron promised that under the circumstances, because I came for the SRN training, she would do all that she could to get me a good school … just before I took the SEN final examination, I applied [to Tunbridge Wells] for SRN training on her recommendation.”

Joyce Bleasdille-Lumsden had been accepted for student nurse training at Tynesdale General Hospital. “The next morning when I saw the matron … she sent me to the sewing room to be measured for uniform. They had me measured for a green uniform and I saw one or two nurses in purple uniform. So when I went back I asked my Jamaican friend what is the green uniform? She said, ‘We are pupil nurses, a lower grade of nurses, stupid nurses,’ and I went back to the matron and I said to her I was accepted for student nurse training and not pupil nurse training. I had to do the pupil nurse training, otherwise they would send me back to Grenada.”

Left: Trphena Anderson (first row, far right, sitting down) with colleagues at Coppice Hospital, 1961