The Whittakers of Whittington Health celebrate 67 years of combined service

Mandy Whittaker has been working in Whittington Health’s finance department since 1987. She was 23 years old and working in an office that she recalls being full of smoke and ashtrays. There were no computers, so Mandy would meticulously complete all calculations by hand.

 

Jason kicked off his career at Whittington Health 30 years ago. He was 19 years old, and started his first day at the Whit cleaning the floors in the Emergency Department.

Mandy remembers first meeting Jason when he came by Payroll to drop off his timesheets. Soon, they would begin dating and regularly meeting at the hospital’s old social club – which back then would serve alcohol from 5pm.

 

The club was a safe haven for staff to socialise post-shift and would host music, karaoke nights, quizzes and Christmas parties.

 

They fondly recall the club getting so rowdy one Friday night, that the Trust’s Chief Executive at the time came down from his office to ask them to kindly keep the noise down.

 

Last Wednesday, 17 January, the Trust held a special event to acknowledge 40 members of staff, including the Whittakers, who have completed 30 years or more of long service at Whittington Health. And although long gone, the social club was a hot topic of conversation, fondly remembered as 'the place to be,' and apparently was responsible for many other Trust marriages – not just the Whittakers.

Now, Jason has risen through the ranks from cleaner to working as the Trust’s Logistics Development Manager, overseeing procurement logistics for 11 NHS Trusts across North Central London.

And as Mandy prepares to retire this year, the couple reflects on a lifetime of memories and experiences within the hospital's walls.

Jason Whittaker says, "My Mum and Dad worked at the Whittington, I was born there, Mandy was born there. Our son was born there, and he, too, worked there for a bit! The place has just got bigger and bigger and it’s always been there for us."

Mandy Whittaker, reflecting on her long tenure, shares, "I was so young when I started, and I have seen so much change at Whittington Health through the years. People would walk into the finance office and ask, 'are you there?' because you couldn’t see anything through all the cigarette smoke! The Whittington’s helped me bring our son into the world, it helped me meet my husband - it has been a big part of our lives."

Dr Clare Dollery, Acting Deputy Chief Executive of the Whittington says, “We feel really lucky to have people like the Whittakers as part of our Whittington family and are so thankful for the dedication and commitment they have shown to our organisation.”