Liz Martin, my sister, has died aged 73. She was a nurse at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield for 46 years, rising to become a ward sister before retiring.
Early life and training
Liz was born in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, to Pat Crowson, an office clerk for the gas board, and Rachel (nee Bowie). She attended Cardinal Hinsley School in Newark, where she decided she wanted to become a nurse. As a girl, she joined St John Ambulance, and her ambition grew after she received an award for a brave but unsuccessful attempt to save a child pulled unconscious from the River Trent.
In 1969, at age 16, she began her training at the Northern General Hospital, living in a nurses' home under strict supervision and nightly curfews.
Career at Northern General
Liz trained as a state enrolled nurse at the Northern General and later achieved state registered status. In the 1990s, she completed a one-year conversion course to become a state registered nurse, leading to her appointment as a ward sister in 2000 on a medical admissions ward. This high-stress, high-turnover environment saw her known for remaining calm under pressure. In 2005, she became a clinical educator, teaching nurses, new doctors, and other medical staff.
She spent her entire career at the Northern General and died in its palliative care unit after a long battle with cancer.
Personal life and hobbies
In her spare time, Liz enjoyed rambling, reading detective thrillers, and traveling. She visited Australia twice, as well as South Africa, Canada, and various European countries.
She met her husband, John Martin, when he worked as a porter at the Northern General. They married in 1973. She is survived by John, their daughter Rachael, two grandsons, a great-granddaughter, and five siblings.
