Silver spoon welcome for Ludlow Hospital's first baby of 2015

Cassidy Stewardson was born at Ludlow Hospital on Tuesday weighing 8lb 6 oz – the first newborn to arrive at the town's maternity unit in 2015.

No-one knows exactly how long the tradition has taken place, but each year Ludlow Hospital League of Friends give a silver spoon to the hospital's first baby, and this year was Cassidy's turn.

A week overdue, she kept mum Vicky, 29, and dad Wayne, 35, waiting. But when she decided to enter the world, she didn't hang about.

Vicky, who manages the Castle Lodge Buttery in Castle Square, Ludlow, said: "It all happened quite quickly – we got here about 1.45pm and she was born at 3.25pm.

"She was worth the wait. It was well timed because I was hoping to see the new year in and it was nice to have Christmas with the two daughters we already have."

The Stewardsons are already parents to Olivia, seven, who goes to Ludlow Infant School, and Scarlett, aged three.

Vicky said: "They're really smitten with her, they love her to bits – they've just been fighting over who's going to hold her."

The first birth at Ludlow Hospital is often a few days after new year as many mothers-to-be end up going to Shrewsbury or Telford.

But the Stewardsons insisted on giving birth at their local hospital.

Vicky said: "I was meant to be going to Telford, I had to fight to have her here – I've had all three deliveries here.

"It's a good job I did, because with the speed she arrived I might not have made it to Telford.

"They've been brilliant here – the care doesn't end when the baby's born," she said.

The family was given a silver spoon by Peter Corfield, chairman of the hospital's league of friends. He said the practice was started possibly as long as 40 years ago by lifetime president of the friends Howard Watkins, who died in 2013, and members were keeping the tradition alive.

"It was always a silver spoon, but of late we've tried to make it an antique silver spoon," said Mr Corfield. "We start looking in about October and this one was donated by an antique dealer, we've had it about a month.

"We feel it's a little better than something that was stamped out last week," he said.

Cassidy was delivered by Ludlow midwife Hannah Price, assisted by Margaret Gregory.