FORMER Wolsingham School pupil admitted as a Livery Freeman granted the Freedom of the City of
London
A CROOK man who attended Wolsingham School in the 1970s, last month attended the Guildhall in
London to make a declaration to King Charles.
Peter Boylan began his secondary education in 1973 and after missing his mock O levels due to a
hospital admission, he achieved only two in the real examinations. He did not give up, however, and
was allowed into the 6th form but had to re-sit his O levels and at the second attempt, he passed
them all, including Maths and the new subjects of English Law and Human Biology.
He then had the minimum requirement to enter his chosen profession of Nursing. He applied for
nursing courses, after having helped to look after his increasingly disabled grandfather until his
death. He was successful in gaining a place at Sunderland Royal Infirmary and after three years, left
as a State Registered Nurse just a few days after his 21 st birthday.
At 22 years old, he moved to London to become a student at the Whittington Hospital – this time
as a student midwife – a highly unusual occupation for a man at this time. In fact, it was the only
hospital in the country that allowed men to train for the job. He qualified, becoming one of the first
men to do so and continued to deliver babies until the late 1980s.
He became a senior nurse with responsibility for planning and developing a new service – for
people with HIV. This was a high-profile position at a time when there was very little known about
the disease.
Peter said, “I was fortunate to meet some very brave people but sadly, I also saw many young
people die. I became involved in HIV infection from a health perspective at national level.”
He became Chairman of the HIV Nursing Society at the Royal College of Nursing, being presented to
Princess Diana. He became her guide when she officially opened the service that Peter had
developed.
Later, Peter left the NHS for a while and began working as a Business Development Manager for a
pharmaceutical company and working with the Royal College of Nursing – developing training videos
and events for District Nurses working with people with HIV. He would spend three years leading
reviews of NHS Trusts, testing their clinical governance systems, and involving Ofsted. In 2012, he
was appointed Chief Nurse for Northamptonshire, before later serving as a non-executive director
on an NHS Board. During the pandemic, he returned to clinical practice and managed mass
vaccination centres in Hertfordshire and now still helps his local GP practice visiting patients in their
homes to ensure those who are housebound receive their required vaccinations.
He has spent his whole career in and around the nursing profession. Last year he was admitted
as a Freeman to the Worshipful Company of Nurses, the 111th livery company in London. And in
April this year last month he attended a ceremony at the Guildhall in London, where he made his
declaration to the King and to the Lord Mayor.
“I was honoured to be granted the Freedom of the City of London as a Citizen and Nurse,” he
said.
With more than 45 years’ service as a nurse and still enjoying what he does and what he can
gainfully contribute to society, Peter said he was very humbled to receive such an honour.
Many congratulations, Peter. You deserve your success.
