Shrewsbury road named in memory of former hospital Matron
A road near the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has been named in memory of a former Matron.
Montague Walk, opposite the hospital in Copthorne, Shrewsbury, has been named after Miss Gertrude Montague, who passed away on 8 June 2005, aged 87.
The road signs were put up a few weeks ago at the new housing estate opposite the hospital with the name chosen by Brian Bennett, from Hanwood.
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was contacted by Shropshire Council to help name the road in 2010, and Mr Bennett was approached for his thoughts as he has had a long association working in healthcare in Shrewsbury.
Mr Bennett, who held a number of posts in healthcare in Shropshire including a Charge Nurse on Ward 28 at RSH when it was a mixed surgical ward before retiring as a Nursing Officer 19 years ago, chose his former Matron Miss Montague, as he felt she “did a lot of good work for local healthcare and helped hundreds and hundreds of people”.
The 76-year-old said: “Miss Montague gave over 39 years of dedicated service to the profession of caring, the profession she loved. This dedication extended to her nurses.
“Many nurses will be delighted that Miss Montague has been honoured for her dedication to her chosen profession – 25 years as Matron at Shrewsbury and 50 years as President of the Nurses League in the town. A sign in her memory is richly deserved.”
Miss Montague began her career at the Royal Berkshire Hospital after qualifying as a State Registered Nurse in 1939 and after several posts in the East and South East of England she moved to Shropshire when she was appointed as Matron to the Royal Salop Infirmary, Shrewsbury, Group Training School in 1952.
She held the post of Matron until the implementation of the new Senior Nursing Structure of the NHS in 1972, which changed all senior nursing roles and titles.
Following the changes Miss Montague was appointed as Principal Nursing Officer for what was known as the General Division, responsible for a number of new nursing areas, and ultimately at the new Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, North site, which she moved to when it opened in 1977.
She remained at RSH for a year, helping to ensure her nurses were all in post and settled at the new hospital before retiring in 1978. Miss Montague was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 for the dedicated contribution that she made to her profession.
Mr Bennett added: “Miss Montague dedicated her life to her chosen profession of caring, and that included being there for her nursing staff.
“I personally will always be grateful to Miss Montague for her professional support to me as a male nurse. This support and encouragement extended throughout my long and wonderful career. I feel so proud of Montague Walk which will ensure her name is never forgotten.”
Two other roads at the housing development have also been given names associated with healthcare – Cavell Drive after Norfolk-born Edith Cavell, who helped some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War, and Seacole Way after Mary Seacole, honoured for her nursing efforts during the Crimean War.
