Rerired nurse Clare Algar died on November 12 at Watersmead Care Home in Westbury, aged 93.
She was born in South Armagh, Northern Ireland, in 1920. Aged 15 she left home to work as a nanny for a London doctor, arriving to a capital city draped in purple and black mourning flags following the death of King George V. Her new employer took her to see the lying in state at Westminster Abbey.
She went on to train as a nurse and soon after the Second World War started she was assisting the Queen Alexandra nurses who were nursing injured soldiers returning from Dunkirk.
She then nursed at hospitals around the south coast before being transferred to St Martin’s Hospital in Bath.
From there she was transferred to Westbury Hospital in 1942, where she nursed a handsome railway engine fireman – later to become an engine driver – called Bob Algar.
Romance blossomed and the following year they were married. They made their home in Westbury and she continued to nurse at Westbury Hospital until she retired in 1984.
The couple had two children, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs Algar’s funeral service will be held at St Bernadette’s RC Church in Westbury tomorrow at 2.30pm.
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