THE life and work of celebrated nurse and frequent Malvern visitor Florence Nightingale has been celebrated by the unveiling of a new ‘Blue Plaque’ by Malvern Civic Society.
2010 is the centenary of Nightingale’s death and on Saturday (August 14) members gathered at Malvernbury, in Abbey Road, to witness vice president John Harcup unveil the commemorative plaque.
Nightingale came to Malvern on several occasions seeking the apparent restorative powers of the town’s famous ‘Water Cure’.
Born in 1820 she is believed top have made her first visit to Malvern in 1848, returning in 1857 and 1858 due to illness and exhaustion after her work in the Crimean War.
She also returned in 1867 and, while it will never truly be known whether the water cure improved her health, she went on to live until the age of 90, once claiming: “I owe three years of life to the Water Cure at Malvern.”
The plaque unveiling is the latest of several events that have taken place in Malvern this year in memory of Florence Nightingale.
Dr Harcup gave a talk at Malvern Theatres earlier this year and there has recently been an exhibition at Malvern Priory.
Another exhibition is still on display at Malvern Museum.
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