THE NHS’s 70th birthday is the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on those who have dedicated their lives to Bradford’s hospitals over the decades.

June Whitaker’s choice of career was warmly encouraged by her headmistress at Salt Grammar School, Baildon, and as a result, she became one of the first nurses to join the NHS in its inaugural year of 1948.

Now 88, June, who lives in Shipley, was just 17 when she joined the staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI).

“I had always wanted to work at BRI and you had to have your school certificate in maths and English language to get in,” she said.

“I was too young to go on the wards at first, and of course you had to live in the nurses’ home which then was in Field House.

“Living in was very strict.

“You had to be in by 10pm and get special permission if you wanted a ‘late pass.’ I eventually started working on Ward 3 and the days were long and hard work.”

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To gain experience of working on the children’s and gynaecology wards, June also spent time at St Luke’s Hospital, where they were then based. She then progressed on to her State Registered Nurse (SRN) training.

Midwifery training followed, which had to be done in Leeds because the BRI had not got its maternity unit at that stage, which reinforced June’s decision to become a nurse.

After fully qualifying as a midwife, June moved to St Luke’s Hospital, where she reckons she delivered somewhere in the region of 800 babies, before getting married in 1958 and leaving the NHS for a time to concentrate on her family.

A decade after leaving, a chance conversation brought June back into the NHS and nursing. She was offered a sister’s post on the new maternity unit at the BRI and stayed until her retirement in 1998.

She said: “I was lucky to work with some lovely people and have some very fond memories. I am thrilled that this year the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday because I think it’s a truly wonderful organisation and long may it continue.”