A TAUNTON nurse is retiring this week after 50 years working for the NHS.

Glenys Berryman is reluctantly calling time on the job she loves.

Since she started her training in 1971, Glenys has gone on to work in three hospitals in the county town.

She did her training in Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital, Exeter.

Three years later she became a State Enrolled Nurse in the former East Reach Hospital.

After that she had spells at the former Cheddon Road and Trinity Hospitals.

For the past 20 years, Glenys, 67, has worked as a community nurse.

She said: "I love the job. Nursing has been 50 years of my life.

"To give it up now is a bit of a struggle, but it's time to go.

"I've seen some huge changes in the NHS.

"I'm lucky I started my nursing when I did, the old style way.

"I loved it from the beginning. I went into nursing to nurse people, to be hands on."

Her time in Exeter led to her marrying husband Mike, a former Taunton Town goalkeeper, in 1974.

The couple had briefly gone out together before and rekindled their romance when they met up again in the Devon city.

Glenys suffered a bad bout of Covid-19 in January, as did her son. Mike also had the virus, although he was asymptomatic.

She has fully recovered and hoping the current restrictions are lifted as soon as possible.

"I'm an active person," said Glenys, whose last working day is Wednesday (March 31).

"I can't wait to again start going to my clubs, such as the WI.

"In my retirement, I', looking forward to going out and about, crafting and reading.

"And I want totravel to the Isle of Mull to visit a friend I did my training with."