FRIENDS and colleagues of a much-loved nurse threw her a surprise celebration to mark her 40 years of service to the NHS. District nurse team leader Julie Thompson has devoted four decades of her working life to helping people in Warrington, including those in need of palliative care towards the end of their lives. Described as ‘vibrant and knowledgeable’ by her work friends, the 58-year-old Cinnamon Brow resident began her NHS career at Culcheth’s Newchurch Hospital in 1981. After eight years, she started at Birchwood Medical Centre, working for 10 years as a bath nurse before qualifying as a district nurse in 2002 and specialist community practitioner in 2008.