The life of Florence Nightingale will be celebrated at a special performance in St Marys Church Hall, Fordingbridge on 21^st May 2022 at 7.30 pm.  The one-woman show will be performed by the acclaimed local writer, performer and musician, Louise Jordan. She will use original song and storytelling to connect Florence’s work in the 19^th century with many issues we continue to face today.

Louise said, “Florence is often only thought of as the lady with the lamp, yet she spent less than two years working as a nurse in the Crimean War. She lived to the age of ninety and worked for decades campaigning for social reform and advocating equal access to healthcare for all. The performance will explore Florence’s lesser-known life and legacy. For example, she became an expert in such areas as hospital design, irrigation in India and a postal service for soldiers as well as working as a pioneering statistician, social reformer and political influencer.” 

The performance is in collaboration with Fordingbridge Museum. Museum volunteer Peggy Jackson said, “Florence has many connections to the Fordingbridge area. She was brought up at her family home, Embley Park at East Wellow and had plans to work as a nurse at Salisbury Infirmary under the supervision of its chief physician and family friend, Dr Fowler. She was prevented from doing so by opposition from her family which only increased her determination to follow her dream. Tradition has it that she once stayed the night at the house of a doctor friend in Church Street in Fordingbridge. In 1910 she was still working and campaigning when she died, aged ninety, in her London house. After a service in St Pauls Cathedral her coffin came down by train to Romsey station and was then taken to the beautiful little church of St Margaret near East Wellow where it was carried to the grave by soldiers from the Crimean War. In the 1980s a film about Florence was made at Breamore House. In the current pandemic we have much to be grateful for in the legacy of this amazing local pioneer, Florence Nightingale.”

Tickets cost £15 and include a light supper and an informal Quiz. The audience is invited to bring their own bottle. Tickets are available from Fordingbridge Bookshop, Fordingbridge Museum or www.ticketsource.co.uk.