May 12th is International Nurses’ Day and in this podcast, our final one of Season 3, we celebrate the life of one of Hampshire’s most influential Victorians, the nurse and campaigner Florence Nightingale. From her home at Embley Park near Romsey, she set off for the Crimean War where she introduced pioneering hygiene measures that saved countless lives and established a template for modern nursing. Her ‘Wash your Hands’ message has never been more relevant.
Julie Dypdal talks to local artist Sophie Hacker about the stained glass window she created for Romsey Abbey to mark Florence Nightingale’s bicentenary last year, and Florence’s lasting legacy in the county and beyond.
Sophie Hacker
Sophie specialises in Church Art, including stained glass windows, vestments, and re-ordering liturgical space. She is a trustee of Art and Christianity, the UK's leading organisation in the field of visual art and religion, and a Visiting Scholar at Sarum College in Salisbury Cathedral Close.
Since 2006 she has been Arts and Exhibitions Consultant for Winchester Cathedral. Current projects include a large stained glass window for Romsey Abbey to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, a new altar frontal for Winchester Cathedral, and a chapel Cross for the official residence of the Bishop of London.
Further Information and Additional Links
The Royal Hampshire County Hospital lamp has been exhibited during previous Winchester Heritage Open Days, but is not currently available to view.
To see one of Florence’s lamps, you can visit the Florence Nightingale Museum on the grounds of St Thomas’ Hospital in London. The Museum is closed due to Covid restrictions but plans to reopen on the first full weekend of each month from June 2021, government guidelines permitting.
To see more of Sophie’s work or what she is up to next, check out her:
Website: www.sophiehacker.com
Instagram: @sophieartstory
Twitter: @sophiehackerart
Facebook: @sophieartstory
This episode is the final one of Season 3, there will be a short break before we launch Season 4.