THE first Christmas baby born at Paisley Maternity hospital joined midwives to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the unit.

Anne Marie Smith was born on December 25 1969 and said it was an emotional to return to the hospital, now the Royal Alexandra, as her mother Maureen passed away last year.

She joined some of the ‘babies’ born in the first few days, who received a special commemorative bib as a keepsake.

Paisley Maternity Unit was on the site before the main Royal Alexandra Hospital Maternity Unit opened its doors in 1988.

The original unit had 112 beds and two places for private patients.

In 1988 the new Royal Alexandra Hospital was built with a new maternity unit and this is where, for the last 31 years women across Renfrewshire have given birth to their little bundles of joy.

Anne Marie said: “My mum was over the moon to have the first Christmas baby at the new hospital.

“It was quite emotional coming along to the party – we lost her last year.

“But I knew she would have wanted me to be there and I took along the cutting from the newspaper at the time.

“Mum treasured it for years and gave it to me on my 40th birthday. It now hangs in my kitchen – lovely memories to treasure.”

Dorothy Finlay, Lead Midwife at the unit with 37 years service said: “The team from the clinical staff to the domestic staff provide a world class service to local women and their families and we should be immensely proud of the care and support we give to each and every woman who comes through the doors of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Maternity Unit.”

As well as staff, patients and babies, Councillor Lorraine Cameron, Provost of Renfrewshire, joined the celebrations with a word of thanks for everything the staff have done for the last 50 years to support mums to be across Renfrewshire.