This is a tribute to my dear wife, Loraine, who passed away unexpectedly on 28th September 2026.
She was always larger than life and enriched the lives of all who met her. She will be hugely missed but loved forever.
Loraine had a long and varied career in the NHS and allied fields.
She was doubly qualified as a Registered General Nurse (RGN) and a Registered Mental Nurse (RMN) and got her first Sister’s post in Rotherham at the age of 24.
She developed a speciality in care of the older person, which led to a Masters Degree at Hull University and hospital teaching stints in Doncaster and Barnsley and later lecturing for Sheffield University school of nursing .
For a time in the mid nineties she worked for the Alzheimer’s Society in Sheffield developing an innovative approach which led to her being recognised by the Queen’s Nursing Institute as a QNI 100 nurse. These were nurses heading 100 projects which exemplified best nursing practice in the Queen Mother’s 100th year.
In the early noughties she was part of a team in Sheffield developing the Single Assessment Process ( SAP) and later acted as project manager coordinating teams in Leeds , York, and Sheffield to develop a Foundation Degree in Mental Health.
She took early retirement from her last role as Deputy Matron at Tickhill Road Hospital due to health complications. Her husband, Tony, joined her as soon as possible and since 2016 they enjoyed time at their caravan in Saltfleet and regular day trips elsewhere.
Loraine had a lifelong love of animals, some of which are shown in the picture above , but the full menagerie included 8 dogs, 5 cats, three horses ( one on loan) , two goldfish , and at least 2 budgies, one of which chirped the theme tune to The Bill , and mimicked the sound of an old answerphone, whirring and beeping.
That doesn’t include the other horses and cattle she used to round up as a small child in the hills near Penistone.
She never did manage to get a Guinea Pig but loved the way they “ Eek”
