A MIDWIFE who has delivered hundreds of babies has retired after 20 years working in Westbury.
Angela Hyde has been a midwife for 40 years, and has been specifically helping Westbury families for the last 20.
On Friday 27th November Angela was joined by friends, family, colleagues past and present and mothers and babies at Westbury Hospital to send her off after a long and dedicated career.
Angela said, “It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I was worried that no-one was going to come. My sister tried counting but she gave up at 200.
“I’ve got lots and lots of lovely memories to look back on. The people of Westbury have been superb to work with, they’ve taken me into their homes and I’ve shared their ups and downs. It’s been a privilege to be able to be there with them.”
Angela received 13 bouquets of flowers at the event, and was praised by NHS Wiltshire chief executive Jeff James, and MP Dr Andrew Murrison.
Those who turned out to send Angela off included a grandmother and mother who had both had Angela as a midwife, and her grandson Kean, whom she delivered herself.
Louise Evans, clinical lead at Trowbridge Birthing Centre, said, “She’s always worked very, very hard and her dedication is wonderful.
“She’s always cared very much for the women. This is a recognition of her dedication to the job and it’s a very good turnout.”
Beryl Orchard, manager of Trowbridge Birthing Centre has known Angela more than 20 years.
She said, “Angela has always been like a mother hen to the mums, nothing is too much trouble.
“I was speaking to one lady who was 18 when she was pregnant and she was so frightened, but she said Angela was very motherly and calmed her down.”
Angela trained as a nurse in the 1960s, and only took a course in midwifery because she thought a nurse would be expected to know how to deliver a child.
She said, “I only intended to do it for six months. The teachers and midwives were so enthusiastic, I caught the bug from them and carried on. I never went back.
“In this job, if you only put a little in you only get a little out, but if you put a lot in you get a lot out.”
She added that only once in 40 years had she not wanted to go into work, because she was coming down with an illness.
“The people of Westbury are marvellous. They respect your profession and it’s really nice.”
Angela said that she’s now looking forward to a large family Christmas, before looking forward to touring England with her husband Mike, who is due to retire in the new year, and their two dogs in a camper van.
Angela added, “I’m so grateful to the mums and my colleagues throughout the last 40 years. Without them my job wouldn’t have been enjoyable.”
