SOME left boyfriends, others left children and many left parents and friends as they waved goodbye to the Philippines for a new life in Abergavenny.

To mark the tenth anniversary of their arrival, the 14 Filipino nurses who moved to Abergavenny on June 1, 2001, met for a thanksgiving mass on Wednesday at Our Lady and St Michael's Catholic Church.

The nurses were qualified nursing staff in the Philippines when they took up the NHS’ offer of working in Wales and many arrived in the UK with just one suitcase.

Lilibeth Delarama, 38, who left behind her daughter and ten-month-old son until they joined her two years later, said: "At first it was heartbreaking. For a month we cried every day."

The first batch of nurses saw 24 start work at the Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny and 43 at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.

Each was assigned to a different specialism of nursing and many have gone on to become sisters, theatre mangers and anaesthetic nurses.

Some are also mentors providing training to students.

Claire and Victor Privido were dating in the Philippines and married over here eight years ago.

Mr Privido said many took up the NHS’ offer for the opportunity to further their career and many still work at the same hospitals.

With around 20 children between them, many of the nurses have met their husbands or wives in Wales.