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We provide a focus for liberal religious worship and reflection and a centre of fellowship for people of religious sentiment. |
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Bury Unitarian Church | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Congregation Members Profiles
Vera Stephenson
I was baptised and brought up at Chesham Church where I was awarded
prizes for regular attendance at morning and afternoon Sunday School. I attended
Chesham Junior School and East Ward Secondary School where I was in the first
group to stay at school until the age of fifteen.
I’d always wanted to be a nurse, but realised I was not tall enough for
general nursing so decided to opt for children’s nursing.
At 19 I went on holiday to London to stay with my
aunt. Whilst there I visited Tite Street Children’s Hospital in Chelsea and was
seen by the Assistant Matron. She commented that I was not very tall, but then
added nor was she, and invited me to start in the Preliminary Training School.
On my arrival at the hospital I was greeted by the Matron with the words
“If I’d interviewed you,
I would not have started you – you’re
too small, but you are here now so go to the sewing room and collect your
uniform and join the other nurses!”
4 nurses from Tite Street joined 40 from St George’s at the nursing
school in Earls Court. Our salary was £200 a year with £100 deducted for board
and lodgings. We queued up on Monday mornings for our weekly ration of ½ lb
sugar in a cocoa tin, 2oz butter and 4oz margarine.
I enjoyed working at Earls Court except for my time on the medical ward.
It was very strict and I was terrified of the sister, who insisted on no first
names and definitely no chatting.
I came home for Christmas and didn’t want to go back. However, I was told
to go back and see the Matron. On the way I called at my aunt’s who suggested
that I might like to be a nanny. I became a nanny to 3 little girls and lived in
Colchester for a while. To pay my way while I was waiting to start, I cleared
tables in Joe Lyons tea shop in Trafalgar Square, which I didn’t enjoy very much
at all.
After 3 years I returned home and worked at Kendal Milnes in the gifts
department. We were a very busy department as we were located in the prime spot
on the ground floor near the lifts. We served many stars of the day who were
appearing at the Opera House such as Sally Ann Howes of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
fame. Judith Chalmers was also a regular customer. I worked there until I
married and was expecting my first child.
I finished my working life at Bury Public Library in the schools’
section.
I have always enjoyed working with children and young people from the
days when I was Tawny Owl with the Brownies at Chesham. I was involved with
Junior Church from the opening of the new Bury church in 1974, helping with the
group for younger teenagers, and then with the younger children in the primary
section for another 10 years. I also stapled the Calendar for 24 years!
Fortunately I still have some fingers left as I enjoy knitting for my 6 great
grandchildren!
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INTRODUCTORY BOOKLET: |
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Bury Unitarian Church 0161 761 3785
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Charity Registration No. 1078570 |
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