Helen returned to employment after Fiona (the youngest) started school. Helen's love of working with children , and her experience of looking after her 3 younger brothers whilst her dad was away in the war and her mum left to run the Ironmongers shop in Melrose, and her experience at Barnardos,  saw her gaining employment as a Nursery Nurse at the newly opened Strathesk Nursery in Penicuik. Helen remained there until she retired. It was there she made lifelong friends, Thea Russell being one of them.