Victorian nursing legend immortalised in drama

Connie Flexman, 89, and nephew Peter Jones with letters from relative Agnes Jones, who nursed with Florence Nightingale. Picture / Martin Sykes

Two New Zealand relatives of nursing legend Agnes Jones, who worked with Florence Nightingale in the 19th century, will travel to Britain next month for the premiere of a new documentary-drama about her life.

Agnes Jones died of typhus in 1868, contracted while working as matron of the Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary.

After her death, Florence Nightingale wrote a letter of condolence to her parents, Colonel and Mrs Jones.

The letter ended up in the hands of Agnes Jones' great-niece Connie Flexman, now 89, who lives in Pukekohe, south of Auckland.

In the letter, Florence Nightingale praised her colleague and described her as having "the humility of a child and the power, quietness and activity of a general".

A story about Mrs Flexman and the Florence Nightingale letter featured in the Herald in 1976.

The drama, called Agnes, was written for the BBC by Felicity McCall and will tell the story of Agnes Jones' life.

McCall has also written a play of the same name, which was staged in 2004 in Derry, Ireland, where Agnes Jones was born.

The film will premiere in Derry on November 3.

Mrs Flexman will not be attending, but said yesterday that her great-aunt had been an amazing woman.

"She must have had a ton of guts to go nursing in those days. The conditions were simply horrific."

She said she was pleased a film had been made about Agnes' life.

Agnes Jones' great-great nephew Peter Jones, 62, who lives in Onewhero, will attend the premiere with his daughter Theresa.

"It was outstanding news to find out they were making a docu-drama about Agnes and we are very excited. She was a very brave woman."

Mr Jones, who found out about the film on the internet while doing research, said two other relatives, who live in Cambridge, England, would also be at the premiere. He contacted McCall and was invited with other family members to attend as VIP guests.