Joan Stober was a woman of courage and resilience, who when initially rejected from training as a nurse, did not take a closed door as a final answer and instead tried again. This tenacity led to her becoming a fever nurse, and on 5 July 1948, when the NHS was born, she was probably one of ( if not the first) Black British nurse in practice. Joan’s mother came from Hull and her father came from the Gold Coast, now Ghana. Joan’s work in health later saw her complete training and become a midwifery sister. Joan’s work in health sat alongside a strong involvement in social justice. Joan participated in many community projects and initiatives and she worked hard for a fairer society. She also took up leadership roles, becoming a chair of governors in Liverpool because she knew the local schools needed to reform and that they needed to give better support to children and their families.  Joan would go on to set up the Liverpool Black Organisation. In the aftermath of the tragic murder of Anthony Walker, Joan worked to build community cohesion, working on a voluntary basis with Merseyside police. Joan sadly died, aged ninety-three earlier this year. 

We are proud to bring the story of Joan Stober, to a new generation of people. In her kindness and ambition for the community, Joan Stober is a role model.