Florence Matilda Saunders was a pioneer of the district nursing service in Peterborough and founded the Peterborough District Nursing Association in 1886. She was the first district nurse and lady superintendent of the Association. She was devoted to caring for the sick poor and relieving their pain and suffering. Although her work could be challenging at times, she was determined to make the service a success. She accepted no remuneration for the work that she did and was a generous benefactor of the Association. When she died in 1904, the Peterborough District Nursing Association became known as the Florence Saunders District Nursing Association in honour of her memory.
Death of the dean of Peterborough. The Peterborough and Huntingdonshire Standard, 27 July 1878, p.5.
14.
Death of Mrs Saunders. The Peterborough advertiser, 16 December 1882, p.2.
15.
Who was Florence Saunders? A second Florence Nightingale!. The Peterborough Advertiser, 20 March 1931, p.3.
16.
Memorial tablet to Miss Gibson on a column in the south aisle in Peterborough Cathedral.
17.
Funeral of Miss Van Dissel. The Peterborough advertiser, 2 May 1914, p.5.
18.
Peterboro’s “Grand Old Lady”: Freedom of the City accorded Miss Margaret Gibson, reminiscences and appreciations. The Peterborough and Hunts Standard, 3 September 1926, p.7.
Peterborough District Nursing Association. The Peterborough Advertiser, 17 December 1887, p.6.
21.
ThomasM. Thomas James Walker (1835–1916): surgeon and general practitioner. Journal of Medical Biography2018;26: 2–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0967772016637973.
22.
Death of Mr A Percival of Peterborough. The Peterborough Advertiser, 6 April 1907, p.6.
23.
Peterborough District Nursing Association: important alteration of rules. The Peterborough and Huntingdonshire Standard, 2 May 1903, p.6.
24.
District Nursing Association, Op cit ref 21.
25.
Peterborough District Nursing Association. The Peterborough Advertiser, 21 May 1892, p.5.
26.
Peterborough District Nursing Association. The Peterborough Advertiser, 20 August 1892, p.5.
27.
UK and Ireland, Op cit ref 19.
28.
Peterborough District Nursing Association: proposed expansion to New England. The Peterborough Advertiser, 24 February 1894, p.6.
29.
Peterboro’ and District Nursing Association. The Peterborough Advertiser, 20 May 1893, p.6.
30.
A noble life of self-sacrifice: Miss Florence Saunders’ devotion to the suffering poor. The Peterborough and Huntingdonshire Standard, 16 April 1904, p.6.
31.
CohenS. The district nurse. Oxford: Shire Publications Ltd, 2010, pp.23–29.
Autolycus. Gift to the city by the late Miss Saunders. The Citizen, 20 April 1904, p.5. (Autolycus was the pseudonym used by Frank Loomes, the editor of the Peterborough Advertiser when writing for other newspapers).
40.
Obituary. John Thompson. The Builder1898; 74: 375–376.
41.
Who was Florence, Op cit ref 15.
42.
Death of Miss Florence Saunders of Peterborough: a life’s noble work amongst the sick poor. The Peterborough Advertiser. 16 April 1904, p.6.
43.
Noble life, Op cit ref 32.
44.
Florence Matilda Saunders: death certificate. General Register Office, www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/home.asp (2024, accessed 9 December 2024).
45.
The late Miss Saunders. The Citizen, 20 April 1904, p.5.
46.
BrintonW. On the pathology, symptoms and treatment of ulcer of the stomach: with an appendix of cases. London: Churchill, 1857, pp.111–147, https://wellcomecollection.org/works/e7qc58cx (accessed 23 January 2025).
47.
Peterborough Board of Guardians: a notable tribute to the late Nurse Saunders. The Citizen, 20 April 1904, p.6.
48.
Funeral of Miss Saunders: the poor express their sympathy by attending in hundreds. The Citizen, 20 April 1904, p.6.
49.
Peterborough Nursing Association: terms of the late Miss Saunders’ gift. The Peterborough and Hunts Standard, 30 April 1904, p.6.
50.
Florence Saunders District Nursing Association: new commemorative name, a generous bequest of £400, Dr Walker’s scheme to secure St Oswald’s for nurses, public to be asked to subscribe. ThePeterborough Express, 11 May 1904, p.3.
51.
Dedicating St Oswald’s Close at Peterborough: how £1000 were collected for a nurses’ home. The Peterborough Advertiser, 29 July 1905, p.6.
