Ross Community Hospital was in full swing on Wednesday, January 17th as friends and colleagues, past and present, celebrated Ward Sister Julie Akester’s retirement.

Julie, who has worked at Ross Hospital for almost 27 years, since 1991, was surprised with a retirement tea party by her colleagues, to which she was none the wiser!

“It’s such a shock, I can tell you. I shouldn’t have put my scruffy clothes on today. I would’ve dressed myself up a bit!” Julie told the Ross Gazette.

A fantastic cake was also made in her honour, with the hospital in 1991 on one side of the cake, and the hospital in 2018 on the other side. Written on the cake was ‘Goodbye Tension, Hello Pension” and “Julie, having done us all proud is hanging up her watch.”

Julie was a qualified orthopaedic nurse who spent four years touring Africa for her husband’s job, before moving back to the Forest of Dean border, near Lydbrook, where she then ran a pub and had two daughters.

When her daughter Verity was three, Julie returned to the NHS and started working at Ross Hospital, and has been there ever since.

Julie told the Ross Gazette: “The most important thing I’ve learned is team spirit and comradeship. You can’t work without the others in the hospital, whatever their role.

“This is a very special job and I was very fortunate to support people at their most vulnerable. I have had so many opportunities and training within the NHS and worked with fantastic people in my career.

“Patient care is the most important thing, with proper support. Now we are trying to prevent illness, rather than just care for it – but we still have a long way to go!”

She added: “My highlights would be working with Jeannie Bevan for 20 years, and Jan Elliot and Bridget Solomon for the last seven years.

“I’ve worked closely with GPs too, but the most important thing is to come to work and laugh. You need to have a sense of humour and enjoy the job.”

Julie said that she would also like to thank the Hospital Friends. “They are so important. And a huge thank you for the immense support of local charities. Ross Hospital has a lot of equipment thanks to their constant source of support.”

Julie said that she plans to travel with her husband, with two trips already booked; one to India in March, and a tour of Ireland in the Summer.

She added that although she is retiring, she will always keep a close eye on Ross Hospital. Julie’s two daughters are both nurses in different practices too.

Her colleagues had only the highest praise for Julie, and said that they would miss her greatly.