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Forty years' good service to sufferers from infections diseases was recognised by the Burnley Joint Hospital Board when they presented Miss A.P. Girling, Matron at the Marsden-Road Hospital for Infectious Diseases, with a standard Lamp. The Chairman said that Miss Girling had been a credit to the nursing profession. Her attention and devotion to the patients regardless of her own health had been greatly admired. It must have been very difficult in the old days nursing patients suffering from infectious diseases. There had been great improvements since Miss Girling became Matron 40 years ago and Miss Girling had come through it with a smile, although she was understandably not happy to sever her connection with the Sanatorium, which was not just her place of work and her life, but also her home.
She had played no small part in bringing about changes which had improved the treatment of sufferers. The impending retirement also marked another improvement in the conditions of the nursing staff, the introduction of a superannuation scheme.They had tried to reward Miss Girling's long service as generously as possible, and hoped she would have good health to enjoy a long and happy retirement.
Briefly expressing her thanks for the gift and the good wishes, Miss Girling said she had had a very happy time at the hospital and was really sorry to be leaving.
Miss Amy Pauline Girling, further information:
Originally from Devon, Miss Girling is listed on the 1891 census as being a nurse at the Great Bolton Hospital, and when appointed matron of the brand new Kibble Bank Sanatorium, she came from Burnley's Victoria Hospital.
She was born in 1864, so when she came to retire in 1939 she was already 75. She certainly took full advantage of her pension, living on Red Lees Ave. until her death in 1963, at nearly 100 years of age.
Her successor at Marsden Road, and also Crown Point Isolation Hospital was Miss D. Annakin, a different generation of Matron, being only in her thirties. You will find some information on her on our website too.
For contemporary reports on the establishment and first year of operation of the Infectious Diseases Hospital see "Sanatorium" in our Articles.