URSULA Bennett, who celebrated her 90th birthday in March, led an eventful career, from her days as a trainee nurse in 1942 to being a midwife and general nurse in Tavistock for 30 years.

Ursula has experienced many highs and lows during her lifetime but said she wouldn't change a thing and thanked the people of Tavistock for their continued kindness and support.

Ursula was born on March 30, 1925, in South Cornwall and was one of four children. The family moved around due to her parents' careers as teachers.

As the Second World War broke out, her parents started their own school in Yorkshire as the lead teachers — the school is now a thriving school called Bentham Grammar School.

'I was the only one of my siblings to go to another school and I had elected Settle School — it was during this time that I was dying to start nursing,' said Ursula.

'It was when I was 17 that I felt called to the profession.'

She was lucky to have an interview at St Thomas's Hospital, London, in 1942 for a student nurse position and headed to the city with her father.

'My father took me to see an opera the night before and we stayed in a hotel but overnight the hospital was bombed.'

Ursula was still able to have the interview but was told that they wouldn't take her until she was 19 years old.

After the setback, Ursula had a successful interview at Sheffield Royal Hospital and started the student post for general nursing at the age of 17.

'I remember we used to work in all different types of wards, day and night, to train in all areas of the job. We would only get one day off a month, and we would be paid £3 a month.'

It was when she was working in Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London that she did her first part of midwifery training — and enjoyed every minute of it.

'After my midwifery training and visiting patients by bicycle I went into Queen's district nursing in London and that was when I realised I wanted to be in the community rather than in a hospital — I enjoyed being with the community.'

It was at the end of 1955 that Ursula's journey to Tavistock began: 'I came to Tavistock in November/December time and I remember that I came by train and I thought that Tavistock was the most beautiful town I had ever seen.

'I then continued general nursing and midwifery and continued in the area until I retired at 60 in 1985, having worked the last few years as a health visitor.'

One memory Ursula recalls was in the late 1950s, just after she arrived in Tavistock, when the area was covered in snow.

Ursula was called out to a difficult case where a delivery of a baby had to be done at home as no ambulance could reach Tavistock as heavy snow had fallen on the ground. It was before the time for air ambulances but with two doctors in attendance the baby was safely delivered.

Ursula was due to have the day off the following day, when she was going to visit her parents in Wadebridge.

She used chains on her old Ford car to be able to manage the journey across Bodmin Moor to Wadebridge. Nurses were given chains in those days for their cars.

She went past many cars that were stuck on the side of the road but managed to get there in one piece.

It was only when she was turning into her parents' home that she took the door handle off her car against a stone post!

'I was probably rather foolish to try — I'd not long passed my test,' said Ursula.

'During my time as a midwife and general nurse and health visitor I have had fun and lots of laughs and lots of cries, but I am grateful for the Tavistock people, as they have given me more than I am sure I have given them.

'When I first came to Tavistock I rented a bungalow at Whitchurch through Mrs Beaver.

'That was in the days when you had a slate at the front of the house and people would write on to the slate saying when they wanted the nurse.'

It was at Mrs Beaver's bungalow that Ursula bought her first dog, a golden cocker spaniel, and she also bought two geese — one of which the fox had!

'I had a bike at the beginning when I moved to Tavistock, but I passed my driving test the third time round and even then the driving instructor asked if I was driving a helicopter!'

A house was built for the local community nurse, in Abbotsfield Crescent at number 10 in the late 1960s, which is where Ursula lived. She paid rent for the property until 1989 when she bought the house from Devon County Council — and that was where Ursula lived until she went to live at Abbotsfield Nursing Home a few years ago.

Ursula, who is a great- great-aunt, said: 'After midwifery I finished off doing health visiting for four to five years before retiring, looking after mothers and babies after they had been born rather than just bringing them in to the world.

'I like to think that I was one of the first to begin the ante natal classes in the county.

'I now meet people who I helped deliver and now they are having their own babies and may even have grandchildren.'

After she retired, Ursula became a lay reader and started pastoral visiting for St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock. The vicar at the time, the Rev Richard Gilpin, asked her to visit everyone on the church electoral role.

She said: 'I wanted to go on visiting people — it was my lifeline.

'I enjoy being with people and I used to enjoy entertaining and being surrounded by people and I did enjoy cooking.'

Ursula now enjoys her hobbies and holds handicraft classes at Abbotsfield.

'We all share pain, grief, sadness and loss and also lots of joy and fun and laughs. They say a little genuine laughter is the best medicine and I think that's true.'