A DARWEN nurse has hung up her stethoscope for the last time after 30 years of caring for others.

Hilary Waters, 63, of Pothouse Lane, finished her final shift as nursing manager of the Queens Lodge resid-ential home two weeks ago, bringing down the curtain on a medical career which began in 1979.

She said: “It was the right time for me to take a step back. I’d like to thank everyone I’ve worked with, including those who sadly aren’t with us any more, for their support.

“I’ve seen all kinds of sights during my time. When I was an auxiliary on the elderly care ward, one woman swapped all the patients’ false teeth around while they slept. We never did manage to get everyone back with the right pair.”

Despite her retirement, Mrs Waters has no plans to slow down and volunteers at Holy Trinity Primary School, which her granddaughter Ellie Barber, six, attends.

She said: “I’ve swapped chasing after patients for my grandchildren. There’s also lots of gardening to catch up on and, in the future, I’m looking forward to travelling to new places with my husband.”

Mrs Waters took on a sales job at Crown Wallpaper before swapping the office for the nursing ward. She said: “I come from a family of nurses and when I saw the advert in the job centre for an auxiliary I jumped at the chance.”

After several years training, she became a staff nurse before being promoted to sister of the surgery ward at Blackburn Infirmary in 1986.

The rest of her career was spent at Queens Lodge after becoming nurse manager 18 years ago.

Husband Bob, 70, said: “She has cared for thousands of people and I’m very proud of her for working so hard for so long.

"If anyone deserves a break, she does.”