Hospital's farewell to scientist

A popular scientist in charge of one of a Wolverhampton hospital's biggest departments has retired after a career spanning more than 40 years.

Margaret Evans has stepped down as head of medical physics and clinical engineering in the Deanesley Centre, where she led more than 70 people working with radiation and radiotherapy treatments.

The 63-year-old graduated with a physics degree at Exeter University in 1966. at a time when women were rarely found in the laboratory. Mrs Evans, of Paulbrook Road, Bridgnorth, joined the former Royal Wolverhampton Hospital in 1967 and moved to New Cross in 1996.

In her time she has seen massive changes in the way radiotherapy is used, having started out using slide rules to plan treatments.

She said: "We have moved from manual planning of treatment to completely computerised, 3D plans which can be shaped to the tumour area. When I started there were only seven of us in the department but now there are more than 70. I'm very grateful to the staff, they are an absolutely brilliant team."

Colleague Sue Ryan, the chief nuclear medical technologist, said: "It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Margaret. She is extremely loyal to her staff and the hospital and a very intelligent person."

Colleagues presented Mrs Evans with flowers and gifts at a farewell ceremony yesterday.