Commemoration Service 2004

COMMEMORATION SERVICE 2004.

The Service to commemorate the life and work of Florence Nightingale was held at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday the 12th May at 6.15pm. This Service also celebrates the professions of nursing, midwifery and health visiting and all staff, both qualified and unqualified working in these services were invited to attend.

The Lamp was carried by John Quirk, a Florence Nightingale Scholar and Clinical Nurse Specialist at the North Surrey Primary Care Trust. The Lamp was escorted by a procession of student nurses from the Faculty of Health and Social Care, South Bank University, London.

On arrival at the Altar, John Quirk handed the Lamp to Caroline Haines, a Florence Nightingale Scholar and Nurse Consultant, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. She passed the Lamp to Lorna Day, a Florence Nightingale Scholar and Nurse Co-ordinator of Research, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. This represents the passing of knowledge from one nurse to another and highlights the diversity of care given by nurses for the benefit of humanity.

The Address was given by Judith Hill, CBE, Chief Nursing Officer, Northern Ireland. The First Lesson was read by Brigadier AG Ross, Adjutant of the Chelsea Pensioners. The Second Lesson was read by Bryan Sanderson, CBE, Chairman of BUPA.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey sang the Service, with the congregation joining in the singing of the hymns.