Kathleen Dorothy Tuck

Born 1918, died 1998
Assistant Nurse at Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution, 1938-1940, 1944-1945 & 1947
Researched by Elizabeth Steele

Kathleen Dorothy Reynolds was born at Condicote, Gloucestershire on 25 May 1918. On the 1921 census she is living with her parents, Edward S Reynolds, a small holder from Binham Norfolk and Ethel B Reynolds nee Howling of Brisley Norfolk, at the family home on Wendling Road, Longham, East Dereham Norfolk.

Kathleen is recorded on the 1939 Register, as working as an Assistant Nurse at Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution. At that time a Nurse at that institution was earning £32.10 per annum with it rising to £37.10 April 1939.  The following year. It was to be increased to £40 per annum. It is noted in the minutes that Kathleen resigned from her position as Assistant Nurse and ceased duties on 10 May 1940.

Kathleen returned to Gressenhall as a Nurse sometime around 1944 and remained in this role until 22 April 1945.

She married Jeffrey A Tuck in 1945 in the East Dereham district.

In October 1946 the Graessenhall Public Assistance Institution became known as Beech House. However, it was not until the 1948 National Assistance Act that the workhouse system finally ended and Gressenhall becomes Beech House County Home for the Elderly. On 18 March 1947 Kathleen, now Mrs Tuck was appointed part-time Assistant Nurse at Gressenhall

Kathleen registered on the UK & Ireland, Nursing Registers on 24 June 1949. 

Information regarding Kathleen’s personal and working life or her use of nursing experience is currently not being investigated as Kathleen continued living until the late twentieth century. However, photographs held in the museum collection, dating from around 1950, indicate that Kathleen continued to Nurse at Gressenhall after its transition into a County Care Home for the Elderly.