Last updated on 29 January 2025
Liz passed away 12 May 2024 on her 75th birthday. She was a driving force for many things including Tollerton Village History Group.
She hosted many of our meetings at her home and was invaluable for her organisation skills and drive. We will miss her.
Liz gave an interview to Pauline Barrett for the March 2020 Newsletter which is below:
Originally from Surrey from modest beginnings, her parents, a Methodist Minister and a teacher, she grew up in Kent and tells me she wasn’t the cleverest of pupils and until she had finished her education hadn’t decided which career path to follow.
She share’s Florence Nightingale’s birthdate, so it was very apt that she was persuaded to go into nursing. She ended up with just enough qualifications to go to Westminster Hospital in London and enrolled on a SRN/RSCN (Registered Sick Children’s nurse) combined course and won The James Barnes medal for out-standing course student. After caring for sick children, she took a year out and, through happy circumstances, was offered the position of Nanny to Daniel, the son of actress Glenda Jackson. A role she much enjoyed and felt privileged to undertake.
This was followed by more studying where she qualified as a midwife and on completion was asked to go back to the Children’s hospital in Westminster. She became a Ward Sister, and it was there she met her future husband, a medical student. Following her health visitor training she worked in London and Burton-on-Trent where 71% of her case load was Asian. She was the first Health Visitor to have an interpreter from the Manpower Service Commission.
It is humbling to read her CV and to hear from Liz just how much she has been involved and still is with so many aspects of nursing, and I am so sorry that space is limited here as I would have loved to share more of this with you.
She has an acre of garden (well kept) and when I called it was full of snowdrops. She tends it all herself with only 8 hours help a fortnight from a gardener. On one lawn live 2 very lifelike sheep Gertie and Vita which just confirms her quirky sense of humour. She enjoys the theatre and is a member of the Lakeside Arts Centre at the University. Liz is also a member of the Court of Worshipful Company of Needle-makers through the City Livery Company. As an Honorary Professor of Nursing at the Nottingham University even now she still finds time to teach.
Formerly Chair of the Tollerton Against Speeding Campaign outcomes, and now Chair of the Tollerton History Group which produced the history book of the Village and DVD of Tollerton Hall, the group are currently looking into the history of several of the older properties in the village.
Currently a Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire she was nominated in 2017 to also serve as the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire from this April until April 2021. All High Sheriffs in nomination prior to their appointment have their name read out at a ceremony dating back to 1316. It takes place each year in the Royal Courts of Justice overseen by the Lord Chief Justice. The High Sherriff is basically responsible for law and order in particular working with the Chief Constable, and Police & Crime Commissioners. Her role includes visiting prisons and supporting and entertaining judges. In addition to the 300 odd events, she must organise and/or attend, she is responsible for organising the Queen’s Birthday service in Southwell Minster for all dignitaries which includes amongst others, Judges, Sheriffs and Mayors in the region. She is responsible for organising the Legal Service for the rededication of the judiciary. This is all rather a mouthful and difficult to get your head around, but I am sure she will become a great ambassador for our County and a worthy High Sherriff. I would add that there is no funding or administrative support for the role of High Sherriff.
Liz tells me she feels she has had a very busy and highly privileged career which she has thoroughly enjoyed and feels the time is now right to give back to the local community. She certainly has the knowledge, enthusiasm and experience to fulfil her forthcoming role and having lived in Tollerton for 33 years has become a familiar but modest member of our community. I am sure everyone reading this will wish her luck in her forthcoming busy year.
Pauline Barrett
Her obituary can be found on this link.