THEY proudly pose for a photograph in their smart and pristine uniforms which have been starched to within an inch of their lives.

Not a hair is out of place as this group of Southend nurses show.

This group shot of nurses taken sometime in the 1950s outside Southend Hospital shows that although the uniforms, hairstyles and even comfy footwear may have evolved, nurses today still aim to be as professional, caring and compassionate as ever.

The caps and pinafores worn by the nurses of the Fifties have of course, faded out over the decades.

The traditional nurses cap had to go due to concerns over its potential to carry bacteria.

At the time this photo was taken Southend Hospital was still growing. It had around 25 consultants and 11 resident medical staff.