A nurse who helped scores of patients back to health over the past 41 years came in for some special attention herself last week.

Patients and staff at Rushden Hospital joined forces to shower senior State Enrolled Nurse Mrs Josephine Marriott, with gifts to mark her retirement.

Dr O.E. Fisher, former physician in charge at the hospital, presented her with luggage, flowers, glassware, a writing case, teapot and chocolates, on behalf of colleagues and patients themselves.

But after a rest and a chance to catch up on decorating jobs around the house, Mrs Marriott plans to put in a few hours work back at the hospital again, on a voluntary basis.

Tributes to her work at the hospital were made by Dr Fisher, who said she would be greatly missed.

Mrs Marriott joined the staff at the hospital in July 1939.

She said: “At that time the hospital catered for practically all tuberculosis patients.  Later other chest cases were taken in, and work of the hospital changed greatly over the years.”

Mrs Marriott lives at 85 Spencer Road, Rushden.  Her husband Ralph, who was a member of the old Rushden Urban Council before local government re-organisation in 1974, was among the guests at the hospital staff’s farewell sherry party to mark the retirement.

Mrs Marriott left the hospital in 1948, to bring up her daughter, Valerie, but returned in 1955.

Mr and Mrs Marriott now have three grandchildren.