A woman celebrated her 80th birthday by revisiting the hospital where she began her nursing career nearly 60 years ago. Agnes Musikavanhu, one of the first overseas nurses to help address staffing shortages in Swansea Bay in 1967, left Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) alone at 22 to train at Morriston Hospital.
Returning decades later, she found the World War Two-era hospital had transformed beyond recognition, according to BBC. She recalled that when asked recently about her 80th birthday plans, she immediately chose a trip to the Welsh hospital where she began her career.
Despite moving to London and working for 20 years in public health and managing a private clinic in Zimbabwe, the retired nurse never forgot the warm welcome she received in Wales.
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“My sons said, ‘mam, you are about to turn 80, what would you like to do?’
“I said, ‘do you know what? Of all things, I want to go back to Morriston Hospital in south Wales, where I came as a young girl’.”
She added that she had “happy memories” of her time at Morriston. “Welsh people are very warm, very friendly and very social.”
Musikavanhu’s first visit to Wales was met with many uncertainties. “I was the first black nurse to come here from Rhodesia.
“I was frightened because of the segregation between white and black people in Rhodesia.”
Upon arriving at Morriston Hospital, she initially felt lonely as the only Black nurse. However, within two days, the warmth and hospitality of the Welsh people made her feel welcome and at home.
“They would come say ‘come and talk to me’ and invite me to the dining room.”
On her return to Morriston Hospital, Musikavanhu was accompanied by her three sons, Farai, Tendai, and Rugare. They were given a tour of the hospital, enjoyed tea and Welsh cakes, and the staff sang Happy Birthday to her in Welsh.
“There’s a lot of change, a lot of new buildings, I hear the old hospital is demolished now, but it’s beautiful.”
The workforce has also undergone a significant transformation, becoming far more diverse. “I’m very, very pleased. Very happy to see you have welcomed so many nurses from overseas.
“When I came here I was the only one, and to know that you have recruited so many people is special.”
Deputy head of nursing emergency care and hospital operations, Rebecca Davies, said: “I’m really proud of what Agnes did as a pioneer for all the nurses who have travelled to work here.
“It’s been really emotional meeting and talking about nursing and how it has changed.”
Her son Farai said the family was “blown away by the sheer love and welcome”.
“We weren’t ready for the genuine show of affection that the staff at Morriston showed us today,” he said. “Back in the 1960s things were very different. Rhodesia was a British colony, thing were difficult racially and socially, but mum always spoke about this place with fondness.
“She had some unpleasant experiences as an immigrant but she cannot remember any of them being in Swansea.”
Among those who joined Musikavanhu for tea was fellow Zimbabwean Gondai Dhliwayo, an infection control nurse at Morriston Hospital.
“I left home when I was 18 in 2001. I did my nurse training in north Wales and got my first job in Swansea in 2004.
“I think Agnes is a bit of a trailblazer. One of the first black women to come to Swansea, she’s an inspiration.”
