Susan Duffy (nee Williams/Paskar)

I left Wirral after 6th form to attend University in Leeds to study Nursing. (I am sure my reference from Mrs Pam Nicholson helped because my grades weren’t the best!) 3 years later I was a qualified nurse looking after surgical patients in St James Hospital.

A couple of years later I took the opportunity to work as a nurse in California, working in Los Angeles as an Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant nurse, even looking after a few well known Hollywood stars!

I was able to travel a little in the US, including Seattle, New York, Hawaii, Las Vegas and the Caribbean. I made some lifelong friends along the way.

I was supposed to stay for 2 years but stayed for 11! I returned to the UK in 2011 and continue to work in Haematology (Blood Cancers) as a Nurse Specialist. I have completed an MSc in Practice Development and have a role working as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, continuing to look after patients with all kinds of blood problems.

Over 27 years later I still have wonderful friends from my Wirral days including Kathy Heywood (nee Gouldson), our Headgirl, and Carol Morris, my long suffering A level sociology teacher.

I am a busy parent with a 12 year old son, and 2 step-kids 8 and 6. I work full time and I love to return to the Wirral regularly to see family and friends.

Good luck to all the current Wirral girls! There are lots of great opportunities out there if you are brave enough to give them a go. If you enjoy something and are passionate about it, there’s a good chance you will learn to be good at it!