Tribute paid to Brighton's Royal Alexandra hospital children's nurse

Ralph Gahnstrom was just 66 when he died on New Year's Day after being diagnosed with stage four cancer.

He worked as a paediatric nurse at Brighton's Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital for 35 years and had only retired in April.

His wife Susie, 49, said when Ralph retired he "lost a limb" and had just begun to find his way when he was diagnosed in September.

Ralph and Susie

She said: "Ralph was known at work for his corny jokes, giving the kids nicknames and asking what teams they supported.

"He was a big Brighton and Hove Albion fan, a big Beatles fan.

"Everything he did he did with a big passion."

Ralph was a huge Brighton fan

The pair, of Hendon Street, Brighton, met while working at the hospital in 1999 and had been together ever since. They have two sons, Jack, 14 and Sydney, 11.

Ralph also had six grownup children from his previous marriage, and two grandchildren Freddie and Maisie.

Ralph and all his children

Susie said: "What was so amazing about Ralph is he grew up in care and he came from nothing, now he will have a church full of people saying goodbye to him.

"He has had this huge impact on everyone he met."

His colleague of over 30 years Liz Hedgethorne said: "He was extremely loyal, hardworking, funny – he was just amazing. Everyone loved him, colleagues and patients.

“He loved his family, the Alex and the Albion. Over the years he has cared for hundreds and hundreds of children.

Ralph with his work colleagues. Top: His retirement party. Left: Ralph in 1999. Right: Ralph in the early 2000s

“He was such a caring man, nothing was ever too much for him and it is so awful that he became ill so soon after he retired. We are all so sad.

“Ralph was a great friend and great colleague and I miss him – we all miss him – really badly.”

Ralph's funeral will take place on Friday, February 4, and following the service at St John the Baptist in Kemp Town, the cortege will drive past the Royal Alex one last time.

Friends, patients and colleagues are being encouraged to go to the hospital to say a final goodbye between 11am and 11.15am.

Susie says it is the only thing Ralph had asked for.

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