A Biographical Blog

On her rounds

Nurse Caswell trained to become a midwife at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavillion (1961) in Edinburgh after completing general training at Shotley Bridge Hospital, County Durham (1957-60). She also worked as a staff nurse at Shotley Bridge General Hospital on the Orthapaedic Ward before deciding to train as a midwife. All…

Going for a picnic

To be honest there is absolutely no memory associated with this photo. I can only assume that Sister Caswell is the one holding the camera, although she has no memory of ever being there. Pupil Midwives Pupil midwives had to do ten deliveries in the hospital and ten deliveries in…

Qualified Midwife

This photo is of Sister Caswell (abt 1962), now qualified as a midwife following training at ‘The Simpson’ (Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavillion) in Edinburgh. She is stood outside the midwives home in Southhouse Farmhouse, Edinburgh. There were three domiciliary midwives  and pupil midwives living here. All employed by the Edinburgh…

Visiting Mum and Dad

“The first time, when I left home I was given the weekend off straight away and I came home, I didn’t have a car so I took the train from Edinburgh to Newcastle and then the bus from Newcastle to Consett and then from Consett to Castleside. I knocked at…