Former midwife looks back on 100 years (From Watford Observer)

Former midwife looks back on 100 years

11:00am Wednesday 18th November 2009 in

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A retired district nurse and midwife has celebrated her 100th birthday putting down her longevity to ‘hard work’ while doing a job she loved.

Bertha Kilgannan was born in Jersey on November 18, 1909 and moved to Tiverton in Devon as a child where she went to school.

Her grandmother and mother were district nurses and the young Bertha followed into the profession, which sisters Doris and Thora also took up.

Bertha lost her father to the First World War and brother Cyril, who was in the RAF died in his 30s.

She married, to become Bertha Hookway and had a son and daughter.

After retirement she moved to Watford where she lived in Hemming Way with her much loved Yorkshire Terrier Bobby before settling in Primrose Lodge Care Home in Essex Road this summer.

Bertha said of her career as a midwife when she would go door-to-door on her bicycle: “I loved it. I loved my babies and the mothers.

“It was hard work, but it was an interesting job - you were interested in the mother’s and their babies.”

She added: “I used to love to go dancing and to the theatre. I used to go to the balls at the school, or anywhere really.

“They were lovely. We used to have fun in those days.”

On turning 100 Wednesday she said: “I have had a good life. It’s been a long life. I never thought I would live this long. I am going to turn the clocks back.

“I look back and think I wish I had done something, but it has not been too bad in the long run. I cannot grumble. I have had a good life.”