Black History Month – Ilma and her mother Marjorie’s story

As we celebrate Black History Month, our Care Coordinator, Ilma, shares her and her mother’s inspiring stories of their experiences in healthcare.

My mother (Marjorie Turner) left Barbados at the age of 19 in 1956 to come to England to train as a nurse, not knowing anyone here in England. It was on the journey over that she met my father. She would regularly tell us about the difficulties she and my father faced when they arrived here. She trained in Worthing and became a State Registered Nurse (SRN), something that she was extremely proud of as she and others had to work harder to be heard, seen and recognised for the work they did. She worked in many different hospitals and clinics and her last position was a school nurse in a special needs school in Bow.

She trained in Worthing and became a State Registered Nurse (SRN), something that she was extremely proud of as she and others had to work harder to be heard, seen and recognised for the work they did

Throughout my life she told me to work hard and surround myself with people who hold you up, not push you down. Her and my father would also teach me and my siblings that the colour of a person’s skin does not define them, and to embrace all cultures as there is something to be learnt from people through our journey in life.  

I was so inspired by my mum but being scared of needles and blood kept me from following in her footsteps. During my school holidays I would attend the school she worked at and it was amazing to see the impact she had on the pupils that she cared for all with various degrees of disability. Watching her work taught me to see people as individuals and not an illness or disability. She would always say it’s what’s inside that counts and if you treat people how you would like to be treated you will make an impact to their lives.

Watching her work taught me to see people as individuals and not an illness or disability.

She also encouraged me to work for employers that have a strong work ethic but who also care about their employees and the service they are providing to others. If you feel cared for then you will care for the people you are helping.