Margate Retirement Village nurse retires after 40 years’ service
Spending quality time with family is priority now.
A nurse who has given more than four decades of service to Margate Retirement Village is hanging up his uniform to enjoy a well-earned retirement.
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Thomas Xolo (66) of Lamont Area, started his nursing career in September 1976 at the former Village of Happiness in the nursing department.
In 1973 he attended first aid classes at the Red Cross and in 1976 he took up employment as an assistant nurse at the Village and then went on to become a permanent staff member.
In 1998 Mr Xolo was retrenched but a month or two later he was called back to take up his position.
“I love my job and I enjoyed taking care of senior citizens. I liked taking them for walks around the village and assisting with their feeding routines. They always had a story to share which was very informative and interesting which I am going to miss. The management at the village have been very good to me so much so that the village was my second home. I am going to miss my colleagues and the people I cared for. They are amazing,” said Mr Xolo.
But it doesn’t end there as Mr Xolo plans on working from home.
“One just can’t give up on working now that one’s retired. You have to keep busy and keep the body fit. I love gardening and farming and look forward to selling my vegetables such as amadumbe in Margate. I will also be spending quality time with my family and more especially with my five grandchildren,” he said.
Matron Marilyn Watson said they are sad to lose Mr Xolo. “We understand that he has retired but there is that bond that we staff and patients have built with him. He loved his job and showed passion for what he did. We at the Village are really going to miss him,” she said.
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