Former matron of Worthing’s Care for Veterans home to become MBE in Queen’s honours

A nurse who dedicated almost 50 years of her life, including 18 as head of Worthing’s Care for Veterans home, is to be honoured by the Queen.
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Valerie Walker will become an MBE for services to healthcare and veterans following an incredible career.

After starting her nursing training in 1970 at Guys’ Hospital in London, just six years later Valerie was one of the hospital’s youngest sisters at the age of 25.

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In 1978 she took up a position at Epstom District Hospital and in 1986 moved on to the Royal Home for Incurables – later renamed the Royal Hospital of Neuro-Disabilities in Putney.

Valerie Walker is set to be made an MBE for services to nursing and veterans SUS-201014-090645001Valerie Walker is set to be made an MBE for services to nursing and veterans SUS-201014-090645001
Valerie Walker is set to be made an MBE for services to nursing and veterans SUS-201014-090645001

It was there that Valerie helped set up the continence service, specialising in degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

In 1999 Valerie and her husband, John, moved to Worthing and two years later she took over the reins as matron of the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home in Boundary Road.

Under her stewardship, as director of nursing and operations, the Queen Alexandra became Care for Veterans and introduced a raft of social and residential programmes for its patients.

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Drawing from her own experience and that of the team she assembled, Valerie brought multi-faceted care such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and a calendar of social activities.

That was alongside having to generate more than £1million a year in funding to keep the home going.

After 18 years at the helm, Valerie, who is now 68, retired in September last year.

“I put everything I could into it, with my team, to make it what it was,” she said.

“I’m very proud to have been able to lead them.

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“I never even thought that I had to go to work, I went in every day wanting to do what I did, because I actually enjoyed what I did.

“That’s probably why I stayed so long.”

Even as the senior director, Valerie said junior nurses were sometimes shocked at her willingness to muck in and change a catheter or remake a bed.

“But I was a nurse, that’s what I did,” she said.

She fondly remembered looking after the late Dame Vera Lynn, who she said ‘had a lovely way about her’, as well as Princess Alexandra who would stay for hours speaking to staff and residents.

For now, Valerie said she is still adjusting to retirement and already misses the veterans, her team and the day-to-day life of the home.

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But she is already looking ahead to the next phase of a remarkable life, offering voluntary support to Worthing Hospital and keeping fit at the gym.

“There has to be a purpose,” she said.

“My purpose was to go and see the veterans and the team and try and make a difference.”

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