Leaving Bromley High School in 1968, Sally Turnbull pursued nursing at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, where she gained her State Registration as a nurse. Joining the Voluntary Service Overseas, she embarked on a transformative journey to Zambia with the Flying Doctor Service.
Sally’s ambition was to volunteer with Voluntary Service Overseas. They required that she gain her part one Midwifery qualification, resulting in Sally transferring to Kings College Hospital to obtain this. Not long after, she received news that she was being posted to Zambia as a nurse with the Zambia Flying Doctor Service.
“…flying to remote villages with just enough food for five days, then being expected to run clinics and vaccination programmes was pretty scary at first!”
Sally flew out in October 1973 and had a most wonderful two years, travelling mostly to the eastern parts of Zambia, treating patients and vaccinating babies and children.
Sally remembers flying to remote villages with just enough food for five days, then being expected to run clinics and vaccination programs. It was pretty scary at first. Living in Ndola did have its perks, such as learning to waterski on the weekends.
Sally formed special friendships during her time in Zambia. She visited remote mission stations and is still in touch with one nurse thanks to these visits. Within two weeks of arrival, Sally had met her future husband, who was also a VSO volunteer working on an agricultural project 200 miles away from Ndola. Despite the distance, their connection grew.
After they were married, they lived on two farms in Zambia where Sally’s husband managed cattle, maize production, and other crops. Sally set up clinics in nearby buildings on both farms, financed by their parents’ churches back in the UK. She also gave birth to her first baby in a very remote hospital where her midwife was also a VSO volunteer.
One of the special memories Sally has about her time in Zambia was when her husband and their friend John borrowed a Ford Cortina and drove up through Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya to Nairobi in 48 hours. They camped out for most of the time and fortunately only broke down once! During the trip they attempted to climb Mount Kenya and went scuba diving in the coral reef in Malinidi.
In 1989, Sally and her husband moved back to the UK and, after welcoming another baby, they settled in Oxfordshire. After a few years, Sally was offered a job in the local General Practice as a Practice Nurse, where she worked for about 30 years. Her employer had undergone training at the same hospital as her, and one of the nurses had also lived in Zambia, which she believes contributed to her getting the job! Sally eventually became a Senior Practice Nurse, also organising training for Practice Nurses in Oxfordshire and South Buckinghamshire.
When reminiscing about her time at Bromley High School, Sally said that her happiest memories are mostly musical. She had piano lessons at school and also sang in the choir. They performed musicals such as Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Additionally, she was encouraged to play the piano for prayers each morning, which stood her in good stead for when she ended up playing the organ at her local church!
Sally formed close friendships at Bromley High School, maintaining contact with several of them, though less frequently as they approach their 70s.
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