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The sudden death on May 2 of RCN member Joy Reilly after a short illness has left her family, friends and colleagues devastated. Joy's death at the early age of 57 will leave a void in the RCN in Northern Ireland and in particular the South and East Belfast Branch. She played a key role in developing the RCN's effectiveness, especially as a Northern Ireland Board member and previously through the Psychiatric Society. She retired from her post as ward sister in 'Shimna' Knockbraken Healthcare Park (formerly Purdysburn Hospital) only last autumn. She will be sadly missed by her patients, colleagues and friends in the health service and by the many friends she made on the mainland during the times she attended RRB and Congress.

Nineteen employees with mental handicaps were interviewed in order to specify factors related to job‐finding, job‐support, successful and unsuccessful placements, types of jobs, and individual personal characteristics. It was found that less than half of the people interviewed had received help from an “employment expert” in their job research, many had other special needs in addition to their mental handicap, and most had maintained their jobs successfully. The results of this small study indicate that people with mental handicaps can successfully enter the open job‐market and become reliable and efficient employees.