Sleigh, Fanny

We deeply regret to record the death of Miss Fanny Sleigh, known for years as Sister President at "Barts". Miss Sleigh, who died at her residence at 1 Bigwood Road N.W., was the third daughter of the late Alexander Sleigh, of Liverpool.

In 1881, on our appointment of Matron at St Batholomew's Hospital, Miss Sleigh had been a Sister at the Hospital for some years, and was one of those devoted band of young on comparison with those veterans who had been there for a quarter of a century. Fanny Sleigh was temperamentally a typical nurse, fundamentally sympathetic with suffering, of a sweet gaiety, gentle, skilful, artistic - what we recognise as a really "lovely character. She possessed a faculty for affection that penetrated the depths of her being; and, indeed, we do not believe she could have existed without power of expression of her warm love of humanity.

Known affectionately as "Sister Pressie, many generations of probationers came under her gentle influence in the fine surgical ward, which she ruled with such kindly sway. She retired from the hospital at the age limit some years ago, and has since lived with her books, her loom, her magic needle, surrounded by artistic treasures, and, deeply religious, has now passed to her rest. To her sister, Miss Mabel Sleigh, trained at Saint Bartholomew's, and well known in the past as Sister Lucas we offer our heartfelt sympathy at the loss of a sister so precious. As we go to Press, a memorial service is being held at St Bartholomew's the Less.

Biographical

Personal details

Professional details