As the demolition of the old Royal Liverpool University Hospital nears its conclusion, we spoke with a group of long-serving porters who shared their collective memories of a place that was much more than just a workplace.
Irene Jones and siblings Terence Allt and Pauline Bedson, have all dedicated significant portions of their lives to the Royal, with their service spanning from the early 1980s to the present day. With a combined experience of over 60 years, these porters have witnessed the hospital's evolution firsthand.
Though they joined the Royal at different times—Pauline in 1981, Irene in 1990, and Terence in 2009—all three porters share a deep connection to the hospital. "The people you work with become your second family," says Pauline, who returned multiple times despite family commitments.
Irene, who progressed from kitchen staff to Chargehand Porter, agrees: "Even when the building was deteriorating, it's the people who matter." Their experiences, from Terence's first day in X-Ray to Pauline's decades of service, all point to the strong community that defined the old Royal.
Their diverse roles kept the hospital running smoothly day and night. Terence worked in the pool of porters, handling patient transport and other essential duties. Irene supervised the busy X-Ray department as a Chargehand Porter, while Pauline adapted to various portering positions throughout her career. "Despite the serious nature of hospital work, we found time to laugh together. We all helped each other out, which made the Royal such a special place," Pauline reflects.
The hospital community provided crucial support during personal challenges. When Terence and Pauline's father passed away, their colleagues rallied around them. "Everyone from the portering department who could attend came to the church next to the Royal to commemorate our dad's memory," Terence shares. "It was a moment of sharing feelings and appreciating how we were more than colleagues - we were family."
The COVID-19 pandemic tested the resilience of porters. "Moving dying patients during COVID was incredibly hard, but we had to remain professional," they remember. "Yet even in those darkest moments, the support we gave each other made it possible to continue."
When it came time for the transition to the new hospital in 2022, the porters worked alongside the property team who organised the moves. "We helped move all the patients through the connecting corridor," they explain. "The approximate average was around 70 people daily. Our priority was ensuring safety and quick transfers to minimise disruption to patient care." The contribution of porters was essential to a successful hospital move.
Despite the modern facilities of the new Royal, there's a shared nostalgia for the old building. When asked to describe the old Royal in just a few words, their answers reveal a deep personal attachment. Terence calls it a "Good Old Hospital," Irene describes it as a "Happy Hospital" and Pauline says simply, "Home."
As they continue their service in the new building, these dedicated porters remind us that a hospital's true essence lies not in its structure but in the people who work there - a legacy that carries forward even as the old building fades into memory.