In the early summer of 2001 a group of enthusiastic nurse historians came together at the Royal College of Nursing headquarters for the first meeting of the London and South East group of the RCNs History of Nursing Society. 

 In the intervening 10 years the group has met four times a year to discuss and explore the wide ranging topics which the history of nursing encompasses. The discussions and debate have at various times been animated, contentious, noisy and opinionated, but always interesting and engaging. 

The group has nearly 60 active members and there are usually in excess of 20 at each of the meetings.  Although the members are mainly nurses, there are some, who whilst being nursing historians, are not also nurses.  Many of the group are published authors of books and articles and the sharing of research findings features commonly as a topic for presentation.  Whilst many of the members are retired from practice, we do have those who are actively employed in clinical nursing, education, research, management and administration.  We are constantly seeking to engage both nursing students and those at the beginning of their professional careers.
One particularly pleasing activity is our engagement with Susan McGann, the RCN archivist, to co-host and launch, events and exhibitions such as the recent launch of the RCN archive on-line, the RCN Charter centenary display and an exhibition of a collection of nursing related postage stamps.

Over the past year or so the speakers and topics presented has ranged widely to include:

• The life and work of Edith Cavell, presented by the Jonathan Evans, archivist at the Royal London Hospital
• An ‘armchair walk’ of the City of London entitled Poverty, Plague and Pox, delivered by Dr Stephanie Kirby
• The life and work of Eva Luckes presented by Grainne Anthony and based upon the work for her MA dissertation
• Nurses’ contribution to the fight against leprosy, presented by Dr Gosia Brykczynska, a lecturer and chair of this group.

With 2010 being the centenary of the death of Florence Nightingale, the group laid a commemorative wreath at the Crimea Memorial. This was followed by attendance at the Florence Nightingale memorial service at Westminster Abbey, where a group of us were able to see and listen to Archbishop Tutu deliver the address.

The 2011 programme began on 3 March with a presentation by Dr Susan Hawkins of Kingston University on a project to transcribe case notes of a doctor working with sick children in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 
On 15 June we celebrate the groups’ tenth anniversary with a visit to the Nurses’ Chapel at Westminster Abbey and a guided visit to the Florence Nightingale museum. 

In September there will be a presentation by Lesley Wade on ‘Florence Nightingale and the Works of Mrs Gaskell’.  We end the year on December 1, World Aids Day, with a presentation by Robert J. Pratt CBE on the history of the care of patients with HIV/AIDS.

Should you like to know more about the group, or to join us please just e-mail me at d.yarwood@ntlworld.com

Dianne Yarwood