Nurses throw dice in 300-year-old ceremony

Two nurses have taken part in a centuries-old tradition to recognise the people caring for a Surrey town.

Anne Hope and Jenny Watkins went head to head in the annual Guildford Poyle Dicing Ceremony, overseen by the town's mayor.

The ritual, which dates back more than 300 years, involves throwing dice to determine how charitable funds left by two benefactors are distributed.

Watkins said: "What a lovely experience, being part of Guildford history with my amazing colleague Anne and representing all of the caring staff at Royal Surrey."

The ceremony distributes proceeds from bequests made by John How, who died in 1676, and John Parsons, who died in 1703.

Traditionally, the event involved a "maid of good report working in Guildford" but is now used to recognise people providing care in the community.

Hope is the Royal Surrey County Hospital cancer centre's lead nurse while Watkins is the lead nurse in the hospital's safeguarding adult team.

The pair threw dice in an ornate, wood-panelled room as part of the formal proceedings.

Unusually, the participant who loses the dice throw is awarded a slightly higher sum of money.

Watkins, who has been a nurse for five decades, said: "We are both now officially Maids of Guildford."

Hope said: "It felt a real privilege to be part of something that has such history and I couldn't think of a more deserving person to do it with in Jenny's 50th year of being in the NHS, which is truly inspiring."

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