Congratulations to oncology nurse Mary Lamb, who is retiring after an incredible 49 years at Alder Hey
From the moment Mary was six years old, travelling past Alder Hey on the 61 bus with her mum, she knew her future was here. Looking up and seeing a nurse holding a baby in the Isolation Unit window, she turned to her mum and knew that one day, she would be a nurse at Alder Hey.
Mary began her journey in September 1976 as a Cadet Nurse at Alder Hey, before starting her SEN (Special Educational Needs) training in July 1977 and qualifying in 1979. Her early years saw her caring for patients on M2 General Surgery and later the Burns Unit before taking time out to start her family.
In 1982, Mary spent a few years floating between wards, gaining experience while raising her three children, Cate, Christopher, and Jonathan.
In 1990, she joined C3, where she would go on to spend the rest of her career. She converted from SEN to SRN (State Registered Nurse) in 1991 and continued to dedicate her life to caring for children, young people and their families.
Mary’s devotion to children and young people, as well as her colleagues shone through every aspect of her work, earning her the title of “Nurse of the Year” in 2005. This moment stood out to Mary not just for the recognition, but for how proud it made her parents. Though her mum was living with dementia at the time, she never forgot that her daughter was the “Nurse of the Year.”
Throughout her 49 years at Alder Hey, Mary has experienced countless unforgettable experiences. From taking a group of children to meet the ‘real’ Father Christmas in Lapland, to visiting Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Boston and sailing with Dame Ellen MacArthur on the Isle of Wight, Mary brought joy and compassion wherever she went. Along the way, she also met countless familiar faces, from Norman Wisdom and Cilla Black to Gary Barlow, Princess Kate Middleton, and Romesh Ranganathan.
After nearly five decades of care, laughter and compassion, Mary will forever be part of our story. Her kindness, professionalism, and the countless lives she has touched will continue to inspire generations of nurses to come.
“I’ve just loved every minute of it and consider myself blessed to be able to do what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Mary Lamb
Mary said: “I think they [the children she has cared for] will never understand how much I’ve got from it. You know, how much they’ve given to me. Yes, you help people, but what you get back from them, just seeing them, knowing that you’ve helped them a little bit, has enriched me beyond belief.”
On her plans after retirement, Mary said: “We’ll travel a bit; we’ve just bought a new house, and we’ve got three kids & five grandkids.
“My son, one of my boys, lives in Dubai now, so we’re going out to visit them, and I can go whenever I want! I don’t have to plan my holidays around my breaks from work. I’m just going to do everything that I couldn’t do before. It’s going to be wonderful, I’m excited for it.”