Scots who love their work so much, they refuse to give it up

She’s probably the oldest scrub nurse in Scotland, but that doesn’t stop Lily Hendry rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in.

At 79, Lily, from Glasgow, has no intentions of retiring and reckons that in a career spanning half a century, she’s been the lucky one.

The mum-of-five, who was awarded the BEM – British Empire Medal – in recognition of her 15 years service to Glasgow’s Golden Jubilee National Hospital, said: “Nursing has done more for me than I’ve done for nursing. It’s a wonderful job.

“I worked as an auxiliary. I had five children at home and thought I was too old at 36 to train for nursing. But I went ahead and never looked back.

“We used to have to do everything from cleaning the toilets to serving dinners.

“And on my first day in theatre assisting the surgeon, another nurse commented on the amount of blood being lost. I couldn’t see where it was coming from ‘til I looked down.

“The surgeon’s scalpel had fallen off the trolley and sliced into my foot. He hurriedly gave me two stitches in the wound without anaesthetic, and we got on with the job.”

But her most memorable times are helping others who are new to the job.

She said: “One young nurse was waiting with a patient who was due in theatre. She was standing at the end of his bed and I called her over and asked why she wasn’t talking to him

“She said she didn’t know what to say. You just have to make your patients feel comfortable.”

When she’s not working or spending time with her seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, Lily goes dancing.

She said: “I love rock ‘n roll and I go dancing three nights a week. I just enjoy lfe.”

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The surgeon’s scalpel fell on my foot. He stitched it and we just got on with the job ‘

I like to be busy and I like people. The banter keeps me going

John Reilly, 71, retired six years ago. But he missed working.

Now at the Daycare Surgery Unit at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital, John is a healthcare assistant whose clinical duties include taking temperatures and pulses, patient’s personal care and hygiene needs and the safety, reassurance and comfort of those going into day surgery.

John said: “I love my work. I’ve been at Ninewells Hospital for 19 years and the staff are great. The banter keeps me going.”

John admits he found it hard to put his feet up when he first retired.

He said: “At lunchtime you could go to the pub for a pint. Then what? Two pints, three pints – you see what happens?

“Or you can sit and watch television, it becomes a rut and you barely leave the house.

“That’s not me. I like to be busy and I like people.”

John is called on to cover sickness absences, holidays and short staff issues.

“And the money pays for a wee weekend away, a meal out or a wee treat for me and my wife, Jeanette, who also works as a secretary as Ninewells.”