QUAILE, Barbara Helen, n. Renton, born Edinburgh 28 March 1906, died Glasgow 15 Feb. 1999. Hospital matron. Daughter of Ida Sandeman, and David Renton, solicitor.
Educated at St Trinneans School, Barbara Renton trained as a nurse at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE). She joined the College of Nursing in 1932, obtained her Diplomas in nursing (London 1936) and midwife teaching (1939) and registered as a Sister Tutor in 1946. As Miss Renton, she was the youngest Scottish matron when appointed to the 2,000-bed Emergency Hospital at Bangour in 1940. After the war, she became Matron of the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow (1946–55) then Lady Superintendent of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. She retired to marry Kenneth Quaile, a Glasgow stockbroker, in 1959. Later voluntary work included membership of the Western Region Hospital Board, Chair of the governors of Queen's College Glasgow, and divisional president of the Bearsden Red Cross. Her career illustrates commitment to public service and continuing professional education. BEM
• Quaile, B. H. (n.d.) The Story of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Nurse Training School1872–1972. The Scotsman, 5 March 1999 (obit.).
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