Nurses of Ormskirk Hospital – 1940s and 50s

The book is based on stories told by nurses who worked at Ormskirk Hospital, which together with Betty’s extensive research, brings the history of the workhouse and hospital to life.  Amongst the acknowledgements for help given with her book, Betty has written “My thanks are extended to… The people of Ormskirk who gave me their photographs and lastly the nurses of Ormskirk Hospital without whom this story would never have been written at all, and have waited so patiently for me to finish.”  Although many of the photographs collected were reproduced in the book, there are some which were not and these can be seen below.

Additional information and reminiscences from Robin Moore – March 2026:

#1: There are 2 photos in the collection which were not published in Betty Underwood’s book which include my mother, both of which I’ve never seen before! #1: my mother, Deborah Grayson is 5th from left in the middle, with a darker blouse and waist band. She trained at the London Hospital between 1945-1948 before starting work in Ormskirk as a State Registered Nurse. #13: my mother is front left, sitting. Although it suggests the photo is from 1952, she’d already had one child in 1951 and another was born in 1952 (my brother and sister), so I believe the photo is earlier, possibly 1949 (she married in April 1950)

#2: Please feel free to add my mother’s name to the photos. Some of the other show (in the background) the rear of houses situated along Wigan Road. My great grandfather and grandfather (both Bob Grayson) lived in the end terrace (number 76) which later became the home of my great aunts. I walked past the house for years on my way to school!

Coincidentally, whilst working on my family history today, I discovered that two relatives died at 74 Wigan Road in 1933 and 1942, respectively.  So I thought, where could that be, since I knew 76 is an end terrace. And of course, 74 is the Workhouse, later known as ‘Public Assistance Institution’.  

So, you can see that the Hospital/Workhouse holds some fascination for me, not least since it was where I was born! And only this morning, I discovered that another nurse in the photographs was Elizabeth Briscoe (nee Taylor). She is sat opposite to my mother in one photo(#13), wearing the same uniform! She is also on my family tree, since her daughter (also Elizabeth, or Betty) married my uncle Noel, my mother’s younger brother! And attached to her profile is a Nursing Record which shows she became a State Registered Nurse in 1947, having trained in London!

The following is a piece I wrote about my mother some time ago and which I will use, one day, in a more comprehensive family history.  

Deborah Mary

My Mum was born in Ormskirk in on 13 May 1926, the daughter of Robert Grayson ‘Estate Clerk’ and Deborah Grayson (formerly Draper and a school teacher). She was baptised on 13 June at the church of St Peter and St Paul (Ormskirk Parish Church); her Godparents were Robert and Deborah Grayson and her aunt Muriel Grayson. Initially she lived at a house called Byrom Villa on Southport Road, number 147 and she attended Derby Street Infants School. By 1938 the family had moved to ‘Hillsboro’ (named after a hill overlooking Ilfracombe in Devon where her parents spent their honeymoon), Greetby Hill. Her father had the house built at a cost of about £1,000 using money left to him by his father.

According to my uncle Noel, in 1939 evacuees arrived from Liverpool and a 14-year-old boy by the name of George Maund was billeted with my Mum’s family, and his two sisters, aged 7 and 5 were billeted up the road with two spinsters. One evening the spinsters arrived to say they could do nothing with the girls who were crying for their brother and so my grandfather immediately said, ‘Bring them down here to us’. All three children lived with my grandparents for nearly a year until they moved to South Wales.

Mum was confirmed by the Bishop of Warrington at the Parish Church on 23 May 1941. By 1945 she was training to be a nurse in Leasowe on the Wirral and completed her training during the following three years in London.

I remember her hands; they were small, like mine and had the tell-tale signs of much time spent cleaning, cooking and ironing. She had a Grayson’s nose which was unexpectedly rounded and hair that was almost black. She was not a big woman but neither was she small; she took pride in her appearance and I recall staring at her with admiration as she walked past my classroom wearing a simple cream Cashmere jumper with a plain grey woollen skirt; a kind of classic. She looked like an Italian film star. Her smile was captivating and made you want to smile in return. She wasn’t smiling however when the dentist later removed all her teeth, apparently owing to the calcium which I had drained from her during pregnancy.

Debbie. Aunty Debbie. Rarely Mrs Moore. She was known and loved by thousands; there was no space left in Christ Church, Aughton at her funeral. She became a nurse after leaving school and trained on the Wirral and in London before becoming a staff nurse in Ormskirk. I see a photograph of her now with her white starched hat, crisp blue uniform and a wide black belt, black stockings and sturdy black shoes.

She was in love with her former teacher from the Grammar School who served in the war as an officer; a Major, I think. He had apparently given her all the signals to expect her hand in marriage towards the end of the war, despite their differences in age. However, he broke her heart by announcing he could not follow through his intentions and she was inconsolable. Her father, by all accounts, wanted to kill him. However, the next day she was persuaded by her best friend, Vera Edwards, to visit Liverpool in order to buy a dress and to attend a party in Maghull whereupon she met a young Lance Corporal from the Parachute Regiment who was on embarkation leave. It was love at first sight and after he had returned from service in the Middle and Far East, they were married in 1950. She quickly had children and I followed my two siblings, almost as an afterthought six years later.

Mum continued to work after she’d had children and became a housekeeper in a children’s home where she was effectively a mother to the children who had been received into care for one reason or another. They told me at school how much they thought of her and one Christmas we even had one of them to stay. They loved her as much as I did. Nearly 40 years after her death I received the following posts from two sisters who lived in the home, Minster Lodge:

Robin Moore Your Mum was an absolute star to all the children here x Kind & warm x I remember your name? Not you, sorry! But remember Janet too? Your sister? Myself & two other sisters were here x Susan, Joan & Maureen. We often speak of your Mum & her kindness to us children x Post a picture of your lovely Mum please?

Joan Humphreys I was one of the kids there. I remember your Mum with a great deal of fondness. I even remember your name now, as she spoke of you often. She used to giggle when we said you were a posh boy, with a name like yours. All in good fun. Lovely Lady.

Later still, more memories:

Aw …where do I start Robin? 12 years old and arrived at Minster Lodge. My first day met mum and Mrs Aspinall…a wonderful twang of Lancs – Hi Maur- een! A mumsy- type of lady …helped me make my bed and took me to be kitted out for a school uniform. We had spares in a cupboard them days with older uniforms in. Mum realized I had never had a new uniform, ever! Bless her, she got me 2 brand new shirts and a tie, blazer and badge! Chatting easily and making me feel less scared. Sisters Sue and Joan were already at ML when I arrived. They made no fuss nor showed me things!  You were a child then… I often looked out the back bedroom window and saw you playing in the tennis courts probably waiting for mum to finish work? Janet seemed older? Mum talked about you both a lot…If you had been naughty, she laughed relaying the story of what you had said or done to us all. She always cried when she laughed. I was there about 1967 till 69/70…Joan & Sue loved your Mum too. We went home at weekends…one weekend I did not go home. I had argued with my step- father. It was Xmas time, all the other kids had gone to a show somewhere…I remember sometime later being sat alone in the play room reading…Mum & Mrs Aspinall came in and asked why I had not gone home? I explained. Later on Mum arrived with a wrapped present for me of blue fluffy slippers and a cake on a plate saying she had forgotten to give me them sooner? I never forgot her kindness & warmth. You & Janet are so lucky to have had her. Another occasion Mum stepped in; someone had stolen something…we were all called into the hall…Mr Wright was shouting, ‘own up’!  Mum had a word with him & he said all the Humphreys children wait in the dining room! We never stole or did stuff like that & she knew it. I know when Sue & Joan arrived, Mum deloused them of nits head lice! They never forgive her! She chased them all around the house till she got them! It was a standing joke; they never itched their heads when she was around! We often speak of Mum & other house maids. Even as old as we are today she is remembered with affection & warmth with a smile.  When I read of today’s goings on in children’s homes I am appalled but gladdened at the experience of this time I was left in your Mums safe care. It was just like a huge family environment. I remember 3 kids arriving in the night their drunken father had punched one in the mouth knocking out her teeth! One of these kids never left your Mums side when she was on duty. Be very proud of your lovely Mum Robin she made a huge difference to mine & many other children’s lives for the better.

Mum had many skills, particularly baking and she used to bake the best apple pie I have ever tasted. The secret was her pastry which she made with cool hands. She sang in the church choir and was a member of the local Women’s Institute of which she was to become president. She loved dressmaking and flower arranging and she loved nothing better than to have friends for dinner. This usually consisted of prawn cocktail (the proper kind which is making something of a comeback), steak, chips and pois d’Lyonaisse, strawberry pavlova and cheese and biscuits. This was the 1970s.

Mum was a loving, caring and warm woman who could be stern and a little frightening on occasion. She had a great sense of humour which was kept well stoked by my father and me. We were all kept well and secure in a family which, whilst not living high off the hog certainly enjoyed what we had which could extend to luxuries from time to time. She loved to go on holiday and Snowdonia was her piece of paradise, Nantlle Valley in particular. She also went with my father to Switzerland one year and she returned with yet another piece of paradise.

God occupied a lot of her time, either through worship or study, and one friend, Elsie Jones became her soul mate in whom she could confide anything. Or should that be ‘sole’ mate, because I don’t think she was as close to anyone else.  

Her life was cut short at the age of 52. She died in Sefton General Hospital from acute renal failure; Cushings syndrome; and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. My last memory of her was looking at the back of her hand which still sported the odd burn mark and liver spot but this time, and rather more disturbingly, displayed the tube from which she received whatever was necessary following the operation designed to correct her Thyroid problem. I still can’t come to terms with losing my mother whom I never got to know as an adult. I don’t think I ever will. And I’m 52 as I write this now.

Cannon F.A. Redwood, vicar and Rural Dean, performed the ceremony at the wedding at Ormskirk Parish Church of Miss Deborah Mary Grayson, SRN, daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Grayson of Hillsboro’, Greetby Hill, Ormskirk, and Mr Raymond Boyce Moore, son of Mr and Mrs Philip J. Moore of Porthkerry, Gainsborough Avenue, Maghull. The bride is on the nursing staff at the Ormskirk County Hospital and the bridegroom is a member of the Maghull and District Choral Society.

Given away by her father, the bride wore a dress of blue lace over taffeta of a deeper shade, with a net head-dress to tone, and carried a bouquet of pink roses. She was attended by her cousin, Miss Jean Robertson, wearing a dress of cyclamen lace over grey taffeta with a matching head dress. She carried a bouquet of anemones.

Mr Robert Grayson, M.A. the bride’s elder brother was best man and Mr Noel Grayson, her youngest brother and Mr Jack Owen were groomsmen.

Mr E Bamber at the organ played for the hymns ‘The God of love my Shepherd is’ and ‘Father hear the prayer we offer’, the psalm ‘God be merciful to us and bless us’ and other appropriate music. The choirboys were in attendance.

A suit in the fashionable stone colour, with black accessories, was worn by the bridegroom’s mother, while the bride’s mother chose a dress of fine grey wool under a navy blue edge to edge coat with navy accessories. Both had sprays of pink carnations.

After a reception at Swifts’ Cafe, Mr and Mrs Moore left for their honeymoon in North Wales. To travel, the bride wore a pale blue wool dress with hat and coat to tone and brown accessories.

The bride’s present to the bridegroom was a wrist watch and his present to the bride was a dressing table set in petit point. To the bridesmaid he gave a hand bag.