Recalling the historical moment Ms Perry, 45, who now lives in Lancing, said: “I didn’t know the move was happening that day. It wasn’t until afterwards that I was told Megan was the last baby to be born there and we were being transferred to Medway Maritime Hospital and the newspapers were coming that I was aware the workmen had been waiting to come in and clear my room. I couldn’t be moved because I was too far gone in terms of labour.
“After 28 hours of labour I just wanted some tea and toast and a bath. So, while I was in the bath my mum, who was with me for the birth, and the workmen were gathering everything together.”
Megan, 25, who travelled from Birmingham to be part of the celebrations, said: “Meeting Mary who helped deliver me was very emotional and we all had a bit of a cry. Although I’ve seen the newspaper cuttings that my mum has kept as she’s put them in a frame, we’ve never really discussed what happened in depth so it’s been nice to hear all of the stories.”
Mary, who was a midwife for 40 years, said: “It was quite emotional to meet Amanda and Megan who I helped deliver with my former colleague Gloria Rogers.
“Moving day was crazy but great fun and magical as well. We were decamping at All Saints in the morning, then receiving mums at Medway in the afternoon. I remember getting lost three times on my first day as I tried to find my way around the new building.
“I feel very privileged to have been a midwife during those golden years.”
Nicola McKenna was the first mum to have a baby at Medway after her son Callum was born on 6 July at 11.58am weighing 8lbs 5ozs.
The married mum of two, from Strood, said: “I was taken to All Saints initially but they decided to move me to Medway after a few hours. I couldn’t believe I had gone into labour the day All Saints was closing. It all happened so fast but it was well organised and I was looked after and transferred in an ambulance with gas and air.
“When I got to Medway I was placed in a lovely brand-new room all to myself with a bathroom. The staff were amazing and the room was spotless.
“The hospital gave us a special edition Steiff Bear, which we still have along with other items and newspaper cuttings that are in a box in the loft as part of the kids’ childhood memories.”
Neil Bryant and his partner Helen Pierce, whose daughter Hannah was born at All Saints at 8.51pm on 5 July and transferred to Medway the following day, attended the anniversary event which included photos of them soon after Hannah was born.
The dad of two, from Chatham, said: “The day Hannah was born it was boiling hot in the day, followed by a thunderstorm in the evening. By 9pm most of the equipment had been packed up but some of the electrical equipment wasn’t working properly due to the storm.
“I remember about 10 mums and their babies had to sleep in one dark room that night and from 10am the next day the mums had to carry their babies to a couple of ambulances that were waiting outside to take them to the brand-new ward at Medway Maritime Hospital. The ambulances were followed by a TV camera crew.
“When we got there, we had our own room until we left on Friday 9 July.”
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