HUDDERSFIELD Royal Infirmary staff nurse Agnes Lyons has retired after 37 years – and is heading for a part-time job as a nurse!

She is joining the GP team at Lepton Surgery on August 1 as a practice nurse.

Agnes, from Dalton, trained at a hospital in Manchester before joining the Infirmary as a student midwife in 1975. She worked briefly in Dewsbury, Mill Hill and St Luke’s hospitals.

She spent 15 years on nights at the Infirmary and worked on ward 5, the medical assessment unit and ward 6, where she has been for more than five years.

She said: “I have really enjoyed my career. I have been a hands-on nurse since I started and I have loved it.

“I am looking forward to my semi-retirement and to maintaining contact with patients which is what I enjoyed about my job.”

Agnes, who is married to husband Maurice and has two sons and a daughter, said strong leadership and team spirit made the wards at HRI special.

Agnes added: “A good manager is essential – as is everybody working together and helping each other out and lots of hug therapy when stressed.”