The true story of a brave nurse
A new hospital has been named in Mary Seacole’s honour.
On 4 May, Headley Court, a former military site in Surrey, England, was transformed into the Seacole Centre – a temporary hospital for people recovering from Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. It is named after the nurse Mary Seacole in recognition of her contribution to medicine.
Seacole was born in Jamaica in 1805. Her mother ran a hotel where people could receive medical care and Seacole learnt a lot about nursing from her. A keen traveller, Seacole learnt more about new medicines and treatments as she journeyed across the world.
During the Crimean War (1853–56), Seacole wanted to join a group of nurses, led by Florence Nightingale, who were going to Crimea to treat British soldiers. The Crimean War was an international conflict fought between Britain, France and Turkey on one side, and Russia on the other. However,
Seacole’s request to join was rejected. She believed this was possibly because of racism, which is when people are treated badly or unfairly because of their race.
Instead, Seacole went to Crimea by herself and set up the British Hotel, which was a place where soldiers could go to receive treatment. Among these soldiers, she became known as “Mother Seacole” because of how well she looked after them.
After the war, Seacole fell ill and didn’t have much money. To help her, people put on a festival in her honour in 1857. Seacole also published a book about her life, called Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands, before she died in 1881 in London. Over the years, people have campaigned for Seacole’s story to be more widely told. Although the Seacole Centre is only a temporary hospital, it is hoped that this might lead to more awareness of her achievements.