FLORENCE Nightingale branded the city's nurses "the most wretched creatures of all the private nurses" before sending in help, an anniversary talk revealed.

The lecture, which celebrated 125 years of nursing education in Oxford, detailed a tricky start to training in which Nightingale and the Radcliffe Infirmary's first trained matron battled the authorities.

Professor Lynn McDonald, an expert in all things Nightingale, gave the talk at Oxford Brookes University earlier this week as part of a series of events for the anniversary.

The former Canadian MP said: "The Radcliffe Infirmary was really quite late in accepting professionally trained nursing.

"Nurses were basically hospital cleaners before this point, nothing like the nurses of today.

"They were the scrubbers and night watchers and were not involved at all with patient care."

Florence Nightingale began training nurses at St Thomas' Hospital in 1860 but it was not until 1891 that Flora Masson, who trained at the school, was sent in as the first trained matron at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford.

Professor McDonald said: "Nightingale had called the nurses at Oxford 'the most wretched creatures of all the private nurses I have ever known' and she knew this because they had nursed her sister.

"It was a very stormy start for Flora Masson and letters between her and Nightingale reveal how she was treated.

"In the mornings she had to weigh the meat and was also a 'grocer's boy'."

As Masson found her feet, she was the subject of several investigations by hospital administration – an attempt to force her out – which Nightingale helped to fight off.

She said: "They had to fight for it, some doctors wanted professional nursing and some were content with treating them as domestic servants.

"The pair's determination though paved the way for nursing as we know it here in Oxford."

The talk was following by an exhibition of artefacts, uniforms and equipment from Oxford's rich nursing history attended my many former trainees, staff, and students at the University.

Rita Bayley trained as a nurse in Oxford from 1968-71 before later working in Warwickshire.

The 66-year-old said that despite all the technological advancements, the essence of nursing would always remain the same.

She said: "There have been vast changes even since I trained here and the role of nursing is always changing.

"Now they have 3D machines and robots to deal with for example.

"But even in 125 years the values of nursing and looking after patients will stay the same – we all share these values and it's what brings us all together here today."

Dr Liz Westcott, head of the department of nursing at Oxford Brookes was thrilled with how the celebratory year was going.

She said: "This is the fourth lecture in the series and our second exhibition.

"We have had very good attendance so far and we are delighted so many former members of staff and students and those who trained in Oxford have come along.

"We have plenty more events planned throughout the year as we celebrate 125 years of nursing education in Oxford."

The next event planned is a 125 years celebratory lunch at Brookes Restaurant on May 21.

It is anyone who wished to celebrate nursing and you can book by emailing rthompson-vango@brookes.ac.uk or calling 01865 482565