ELVIS Presley, The Shadows and Roy Orbison were topping the music charts, Mary Quant and Twiggy were fashion icons and the NHS was in its infancy when hospital manager Shirley Hannan began her career in the Swinging Sixties.

Now, 57 years later, colleagues have said farewell to Shirley. The 72-year-old was one of the longest-serving members of staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust when she retired as assistant general manager for non-clinical support services at St Luke’s.

Mrs Hannan signed up as a cadet nurse with the former Bradford Fever Hospital in Leeds Road on her 16th birthday and three years later became a student nurse at St Luke’s School of Nursing, graduating to a staff nurse in 1966 on the acute medical wards at St Luke’s, then becoming a student midwife in the hospital’s maternity unit.

She served as a ward sister for 18 years until 1985 when she became a project manager for individualised patient care, introducing nursing records across the whole of the Bradford district. She then became a senior nurse manager.

During her career she played a leading role in a number of key NHS projects including one to upskill nursing auxiliaries to fill the places of student nurses on the wards when they went to university.

Mrs Hannan moved to North Wales in 2002 but kept working for the Trust two days a week, setting up a small department looking after training and staff development.

She said: “This is actually my second retirement. When I retired in 2002 and moved to Wales, I didn’t expect to be travelling back to Bradford but they were very persuasive! Luckily I have sisters who live locally so on my working days, I have taken turns staying with them.

“I have loved my time in the NHS and seen many changes. When I first started work, it was a 44-hour working week and my first pay was £14 per month. As nursing staff we were entitled to free meals and when I was training I had to live in the nurses’ home with a very strict sister in charge. The doors were locked at 10pm on the dot but there was the odd occasion when we were a bit late back and had to climb in through the windows!”

She added: “I have so many happy memories and my time with Bradford hospitals has brought me many lovely friends and colleagues, who have been a constant source of support throughout my time here. I shall really miss them – although I will be keeping in touch.”

In 1998, to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the NHS, she was invited to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party with her husband, Les, who has since passed away.

In her retirement she plans to spend time with her son Michael at his home in Ireland, as well as playing golf, singing in two Welsh choirs and going sailing in Greece.

Chief Nurse Karen Dawber said: “I would personally like to thank Shirley for her enormous commitment, enthusiasm and the support she has brought to the Trust during her many years here.”