Mr Robert Durrell, a nurse by profession, was the founder of the School of Health Studies for the Gibraltar Health Authority and St Bernard's Hospital and as such responsible for training nurses locally from 1950 to his retirement 1990.
As a nursing tutor he mentored a generation of nurses at the GHA. At the age of 93 he sadly passed away several weeks ago.
I was one of hundreds that Mr Durrell tutored through is 40 year tenure and now having communicated with many old colleagues we now wish to put together a memorial fund to provide a memorial in remembrance of this great mam.
For those that had the privilege of being taught by him we knew him as a man of compassion and love for nursing and caring for the sick and ill. He was able to do this through his clever, artful and humorous personality which brought out the charm and charisma in him to all of our enjoyment !
To me personally he was a true inspiration and pushed me to learn a profession that I thought I was never cut out to do. His gentle smile, infectious humour, and clever knack of analogies never failed to make his lessons pleasurable. I will always fondly remember him coming through the door of the class room with his cup and saucer in hand with a fresh brew of tea !
The funds are required for a memorial, be it a plaque, a statue, a figurine or a flower bed of remembrance - whatever the contributors wish it to be collectively to mark his life and achievements - this is to be decided collectively once the fund raiser is closed.
We (to be decided) will then contact the GHA / School of Nursing, Gibraltar Government to ask for their support in facilitating the positioning of the memorial. We can also enroll the Gibraltar Chronicle to mark Mr Durrell's passing with a fitting tribute perhaps ?
My understanding is that using this forum of Go Fund Me does take a percentage of the final figure that has been raised. Please be aware of that.
When the total amount is finally accounted for I will be responsible for passing these funds to the responsible person in Gibraltar to administrate and arrange the memorial (This person to be decided upon by the contributors to the fund).
In the meantime please email me or message me with any questions, thoughts or suggestions that you may have.
Together we can create a memorial for this fine gentleman who gave so much to so many of us in the field of nursing.
Thank you !