Mary Topa got a terrific double send off last Friday after 48 years ("bar a couple of months") with us. Colleagues threw a farewell party at work and they all headed out for the night as an extra celebration.

She started as a cadet in 1969 at Halifax Infirmary despite wanting to become a geography teacher!

She recalls: " The headteacher at my secondary school in Brighouse told me I wouldn't get into 6th form so I started nurse training. Then I did get the GCSEs for 6th form but by then my mind was made up and I stayed put.".

She still has photos from her early days (see below) including her cadet days and after the first ever baby she delivered.  (see attached) She qualified in 1974 then went to Bristol for her midwifery training then returned to our delivery suite.

Her retirement follows soon after that of Pip  Lister who retired recently. Together with Mr DeBono  they formed the nucleus of the early fertility service.  Mary  also worked closely with Mr DeBono to achieve the Chartermark. Pip retired recently and Mary says post EPR the time was right for her to go.

She recalls the early days when you had to be quiet during the consultants' rounds and virtually " kneel on the floor" for a sister! 

"There were no computers and in those days Sister used to shout out "cadet!" across the wards. That doesn't happen anymore which is good. We have better communications between the teams on the wards which is a good thing.

" But no computers meant everything was handwritten and it all felt a bit more relaxed."

She plans to spend plenty of time with her  "Ladies who Lunch" and former colleagues from down the years and  also in the garden after her husband bought her a greenhouse when she retired!

" We are a very close- knit group. It's a mixed feeling of looking back and looking forward but I know we will all stay in touch and I have loads to keep me occupied."

Martin DeBono, said: “Mary has worked on the Assisted Conception Unit, now Yorkshire Fertility, for 20 years. She has been instrumental in the success that it is today and for that the whole team and many families remain grateful for her immense contribution."