First Babies Born At St. Helens Now Aged Two

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27397, 9 July 1954, Page 7

First Babies Born At St. Helens Now Aged Two

“Michael Jefferies slept soundly in his cot last night, quite oblivious of the bustle about him and the plaintive cries of a few of his colleagues. They were his seniors, but Michael had every right to sleep soundly; as the first baby bom ip the new St. Helens Hospital, he was entitled to regard them with a certain amount of superiority.” It is now two years since the lines above appeared as part of a report in “The Press,” and yesterday it was quite. obvious that in two years Michael Jefferies has learned all the engaging ways of a toddler, and is well abreast of his contemporaries in the gentle ar<of making mischief. The arrival of Michael Jefferies created considerable interest in Christchurch, because the contractor for the new hospital, Mr W. Williamson, gave £5O each to the first boy and the first girl born there. The new hospital was occupied on the morning of July 7, 1952, and Michael was born at 4.50 p.m. that day. When photographed with his mother, Mrs F. H.

Jefferies, at the hospital he weighed something like 61b Boz. Photographed yesterday at his home at 287 Barrington street, he weighed about 341 b, and was looking forward with keen anticipation to a party tomorrow which is not likely to result in any sort of reduction. Another guest at this function will be his smaller sister, Judith Ann, who is a few months old. Michael’s co-winner at St. Helens was Paulette Small, the first child of Mrs F. Small, of 181 Brougham street. She kept everyone waiting and did not arrive to claim her £5O prize until July 10, so she will celebrate her birthday tomorrow. She was 71b 2oz at birth, and now tips the scales at an attractive 2st 21b. When interviewed yesterday, had no comment to make. She slept. In two years of busy existence St. Helens has been the birthplace of 1330 children, and 200 other, difficult, cases have been transferred there as well. At first only the ground floor was in use, but now three are being used, and the fourth is available, in special circumstances, for doctors’ patients.