Midwives celebrate the Rankin Maternity with reunion

The hospital in Neil Street, which closed down in 1994, continues to hold a special place in the hearts of the people of Inverclyde.

Many of the team who worked there continued to serve in the new unit based at Inverclyde Royal, taking with them the highest of standards from the Rankin and continuing until they retired.

Thirty years on they are coming together again for an afternoon tea and a walk down memory lane.

Organiser Patricia McCracken, who retired eight years ago, said: "Many of us trained together, when into midwifery together and worked together until we retired.

"We went on to deliver one another's babies, we were like a family and we are still friends.

"This reunion is for all staff, everyone who worked at the Rankin, not just midwives.

"We want to have a celebration to mark 30 years since it closed, it is something that we had talked about and we thought let's do it."

Patricia worked for 40 years as a midwife, starting in 1979 in the Rankin before continuing at the consultant-led Rankin unit at IRH, which later gave way to the community maternity unit.

She is organising the event in the Greenock Wanderers clubhouse with former colleagues Brenda Darrah, Margaret Robertson and Shirley Roche.

Together they all worked for 40 years delivering babies and post natal care to mums across Inverclyde.

Back in the day that would mean new mums staying with them and being looked after for up 10 days after the delivery.

Retired midwife Shirley followed in the footsteps of her mum Etta Scott, now 91, to become a midwife.

She said: "My mum worked in the Rankin so I was brought up with it, it was part of my life as well.

"It is a real privilege to be part of those precious moments in families' lives. People still remember us, they come up and say you delivered my son or daughter. Sometimes it is the dads who remember us more."

Former midwife Brenda stayed near the hospital and could be relied upon to come in when there was an emergency.

Brenda said: "My husband used to bring in the Christmas dinner!"

Her proudest moment was when her daughter Jolene, 43, followed her into the profession.

She said: "Jolene came to work with us a student in the IRH and we delivered a baby together. That was very special. She now works down in Scarborough."

On her retirement Brenda wrote a poem reflecting on her 40 years and the changes to maternity services.

It ended with the lines: 'For me, my journey's over, I've finished my working life, but somewhere deep inside me, I'll always be a 'Rankin midwife'.

Colleague Margaret Robertson, who came down from the Isle of Lewis to train in nursing, met her husband and stayed in Greenock, will be at the reunion too.

She said: "It will be lovely day having everyone together, and to remember all the people we worked with who have passed on."

Those much missed former friends include Edie Best and Michaeline McCluskey who passed away last September.

The reunion takes place on Saturday September 18 from 2-5pm, with tickets priced £15. To find out more email rankinstaffreunion@hotmail.com or phone 07842712098.