SHE has spent almost 50 years caring for patients in York, but now a dedicated and “life-long” nurse is retiring at the age of 70.

Anita Murray, of Rawcliffe, took up mental health nursing in York in 1962 after moving from her native Germany in her twenties.

She said: “I have been a nurse all my life. I wanted to do it ever since I was a girl.

“When I left school I started straight away in nursing school to do my general nursing.”

It was while visiting a college friend in York in 1961 that Mrs Murray met her future husband, and one year later she moved to the city and began working as mental health nurse at Clifton Hospital.

She said nursing had “changed dramatically” since then and spoke of the privilege she and her follow nurses felt at being in the job.

“When the matron told you off you quaked in your boots, but you realised that her strictness was always linked to proper, decent care.”

She said money now played a big part in modern nursing and that it was run more like a business. “For me the welfare of the patient should come first,” she said.

“I know loyalty to our employer is important, but the patients depend on you, and you will never change my mind.”

During her 48-year career she described herself as being a “lifelong learner” and last year she was awarded an award of merit from the Royal College of Nursing for her work with patients in York.

Each year she also accompanies patients on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes, organised by the Diocese of Middlesbrough.

Looking forward to her retirement she said she intended to keep herself busy by continuing her voluntary work with the Alzheimer’s Society as well as indulging her love of rambling.

Mrs Murray’s colleague, Sheila Mackenzie, said her friend had made a “massive contribution”.

“She is an angel and a really good role model for student nurses,” she said.