Irene realises lifetime’s ambition

Irene Turner has finally realised her lifetimes’ ambition to become a physiotherapist after graduating from the University of Teesside’s School of Health with two top prizes.

Irene, originally from South Africa, travelled the globe before turning to the Middlesbrough-based University for her BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy.

As well as gaining a 2.1, Irene won the Electro-Medical Supplies (EMS) Student of the Year Award and the Valerie Lord Prize for Physiotherapy.

Now 27 and living in Queens Road, Richmond, Surrey, she is working as an Outpatients Physiotherapist at Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge, Middlesex.

“I already had an honours degree in Human Movement Studies from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, but really wanted to do Physiotherapy and couldn’t get in. So I turned to the University of Teesside, which I knew had a good reputation for the subject and came up for an interview. Everyone was very nice and I thoroughly enjoyed the course and at last have the job I have always wanted,” said Irene.

Her father, John, flew over from South Africa for her graduation ceremony at Middlesbrough Town Hall and her mother, Anita and step-father, David Lewis, also travelled to Teesside for the big day from their home in Reeves Lane, Knighton, Powys, central Wales.

Before graduating, Irene took a two-month placement in Peel Memorial Hospital, Toronto, Canada and during her studies was also a keen sportswoman. She took part in a London to Paris Triathlon to raise money for the Marrowbone Environment Fund (MEF) and long-distance fund-raising cycle rides through Jordan and from Turkey to London to support the British Lung Foundation.

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