POPULAR Trowbridge Birthing Centre matron Beryl Orchard is inviting mothers who she has cared for over the years to join her for a tea party on April 21 to celebrate her retirement.

Mrs Orchard, who lives in Staverton with her husband Adrian, has been a midwife for 36 years and has spent 30 of those years working in Trowbridge, Chippenham and Bath, helping over 1,000 women give birth.

She has been matron at the Trowbridge Birthing Centre since 2009 and is retiring to spend more time with her five grandchildren and to help her husband with the running of The Blackberries Camping Park, which they opened in Monkton Farleigh

The retirement party is being held for 60-year-old at Trowbridge Community Hospital from 3pm on April 21 and Mrs Orchard is hoping some of the two generations of babies she has delivered come along for tea and cake.

Mrs Orchard said: “I’m absolutely passionate about midwifery and for me the most important thing, as well as the safety of the mother and baby, is that the mother and family receive a great service.

“There has never been any other job for me. It is a life changing experience for the mother and birth can have implications for the whole family, so it’s important we help them through the antenatal and post natal stages, as well as the birth.

“It should be a fulfilling experience for the mum and it’s important to get that right. I have so enjoyed being in the position of matron at Trowbridge as it has allowed me to support the staff and encourage them to give a high quality service.

“The party is not just for staff, it’s also for the mums I have helped give birth over the years and I would love to see some of the ladies I’ve cared for where I have also delivered their child’s newborn years later.”

Mrs Orchard, who is also matron at Chippenham Community Hospital, said the decision to retire was a tough one and she hopes she can continue to work a day a week as a bank midwife, helping out when there are staff shortages.

She added that she would encourage prospective mothers to have their children at a birthing centre like Trowbridge or at home wherever possible.

Mrs Orchard said: “The teams I have managed, not just at Trowbridge and Chippenham, but at Bath as well, have been brilliant and it is always a big team effort.

“I have struggled with the decision about the best time to retire over the last couple of years, but it felt like the right time, especially with the campsite being successful. I also want to spend more time with my grandchildren and do a bit of travelling.”