Life and Vincent: The woman to thank

Sunday, July 01, 2012

The woman to thank - or blame!

I've always known that I was delivered by a midwife called Nurse Walkerdine. I remember my mother taking about her, and seeing the article about her death in the local paper.

But until today I've never come across any mention of her in a search engine. It led me to a film clip that cannot be downloaded, but which you can watch here:

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/deptford-4-000-babies/query/Colin

The narrator pronounces her name as Miss Walkerdeen but I think my mother, who after all actually met her, would have been correct in calling her Walkerdyne. There is a Valerie Walkerdine who comes up in Google as a nursing professional. I like to think that may be her granddaughter, and that she may have been named after me...

8 comments:

JoJo said...: It's not out of the realm of possibilities that Valerie was named after you!! :D Were you delivered at home or in a hospital?; 8:53 pm
val said...: At home. It was the norm back then, even though the Health Service was in existence.

My mother's first-born was delivered by some nuns, but there were complications - the cord wrapped round his neck - and he was stillborn. She never got over it. For my sister she had the doctor and for me the midwife.; 9:32 pm
val said...: You know, now I think about it, my mum said the midwife told her I looked like a proper little Valerie. Till then I was going to be Elizabeth. But with a sister who was a Margaret, my parents didn't want to sound too royal, and Elizabeth became my middle name.; 9:35 pm
Eliza said...: She looks kind..and thats what you need in a midwife :)

I imagine my Gran would have known the midwife who delivered my Mum quite well, as they lived in a small village..but by the time I came along it was hospital all the way..my dad remembers walking home after I was born..5 miles or so in his slippers, singing all the way :); 11:20 pm
vikeau said...: I must say when I think of an British mid-wife, nurse or nanny, Ms. Walkerdeen is really what pops into my head. How lucky yo have been able to find such a cool piece of history.; 1:46 am
val said...: Eliza, I was born a week early, in my aunt's house which was next door. They had a TV and my dad was watching when he heard what he thought was the cat, and went to let him in! That was cry entry into the world.; 9:11 am
bobbybegood1 said...: Great story, Val. Once upon a time I considered being a doula, which is somewhat similiar to a midwife. Cheers!!; 5:27 pm
bobbybegood1 said...: You funny lady. I think we can indeed thank the woman. Cheers!!; 5:28 pm

Life and Vincent

Sunday, July 01, 2012

The woman to thank - or blame!

8 comments:

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