Pupil Nurse Emma Bowring

Mick Jagger winked at me

By Ian Hembrow

A friend of mine pointed out this intriguing inscription on one of the benches in Highfield Park.

I’d love to find out what story lies behind Pupil Nurse Emma Bowring and how this affected her colleagues and patients at the hospital.

Does anyone remember Emma or know more about her encounter with The Rolling Stone?

BBC Three Counties Radio has joined the quest to unravel the mystery behind the bench – see http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/threecounties/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9377000/9377749.stm

Can you help?

This page was added on 07/12/2010.

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  • Thanks Rachelle – that’s lovely!

    By Ian Hembrow (11/12/2023)
  • Better late than never. Just found this.
    Emma Bowring was my best friend. We grew up as next door neighbours in Mill Hill. We were inseparable as kids and her home was a warm and inviting one. She was only 19 when she was tragically killed in a bus accident between London and Durham when some sheep crossed a motorway. This was actually discussed in parliament as the drivers were known to drive too fast on that stretch of road. She loved music and according to a fellow nursing student, once came back from a Mick Jagger concert claiming that he had winked at her, which was possible as she was an attractive girl. After all these years, there is still a big hole in my heart where she used to be. May she rest in peace.

    By Rachelle (Pinner) Greenblatt (28/11/2023)
  • I too find the inscription intriguing on the bench in the commemorative garden in Hillend Park. Who was Emma and why did Mick Jagger wink at her ?

    By Margaret D (19/09/2020)
  • I remember Emma from when she worked at Newcastle rvi. I’d had a blow on the head. It broke my heart to read about her back then.

    By Jeffery DABBS (14/01/2018)
  • The Herts Advertiser followed up this story and revealed the ‘mystery link’ in the following article at – http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/mystery_link_between_rolling_stone_and_st_albans_nurse_is_revealed_1_820208?ot=archant.PrintFriendlyPageLayout.ot

    By C D (07/04/2011)