Long-serving Yvonne retires from Royal Papworth Hospital after decades of service

Royal Papworth Hospital waved goodbye to one of its longest-serving staff members in the run up to Christmas.

Yvonne Inglis, 80, arrived at the hospital straight from school in 1953 – at the age of 15 and has worked at the hospital for more than 40 years.

She initially worked as a clerk before training as a secretary.

She said: “My father was one of the original tuberculosis (TB) patients, in 1928/29, and I grew up in Papworth – it was a lovely place to spend your childhood.

“The hospital has changed so much. I remember when one of the car parks was a poultry farm and one of them was a fruit and vegetable garden that fed the hospital – there was a cinema in the village hall once a week.

“There have been a lot of royal visits – I’ve met the Duchess of Kent and seen Princess Diana and the Duchess of Gloucester. I remember Queen Mary coming to lay the stone for the Queen Mary’s Nurses Home.”

Yvonne left the hospital in 1967 when she had her son, and worked for a time at a GP practice. But in 1986 she returned and in recent years has been secretary to Dr Jayan Parameshwar, who was one of the many guests at her surprise retirement party.

The event, held in the village hall, was organised by friends and colleagues – with a little help from Yvonne’s grandson, Cameron, who works in the health records department while he studies at university.

“I’ve had the most wonderful time here,” said Yvonne.

“I’ve always worked for the NHS – it’s been quite special. I like helping patients.”

Yvonne plans to devote much of her retirement to gardening, but says she will be able to stay in contact with her friends and the hospital using the new laptop she was given as a leaving gift.