“In Daphne’s Footsteps: Honouring Our CRF Nurses Transforming Research and Clinical Trials”

Thank you to everyone who joined the Daphne Steele Memorial Lecture on Wednesday 15 October, held in celebration of Black History Month. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all our nurses — especially those at our Clinical Research Facility, whose passion, leadership and commitment to research continue to embody the trailblazing legacy of Daphne Steele.

Organised by the Association of Guyanese Nurses and Allied Professionals (AGNAP) and supported by the REACH network, the event welcomed over 60 attendees in person, with many more joining online.

The lecture honoured Daphne Steele, the NHS’s first Black matron, and the powerful legacy she created for Black and internationally educated nurses across the UK. Born in Essequibo County, Guyana, Daphne arrived in the UK in 1951, just three years after the NHS was founded. Her trailblazing career, marked by poise, humility and resilience, redefined what was possible for those who followed.

James Blythe, Interim Group Chief Executive, opened the event by reflecting on the vital role of the Windrush generation and international colleagues in sustaining public services. He urged attendees to “calmly and passionately make the argument for inclusion,” before introducing Professor Arlene Wellman, Strategic Adviser at the Florence Nightingale Foundation and England’s most senior internationally educated nurse, who delivered this year’s lecture.

Describing Daphne as a “quiet revolutionary,” Arlene shared how Daphne’s leadership and presence paved the way for others to “walk further, speak louder and lead with confidence.”

As Arlene, and others, continue to honour Daphne’s legacy, she reminded us that “Daphne opened the door, so we can hold it open for others to walk through”.