Brocket Babe

Watching tv the other evening I saw Brocket Hall and as I was born there I googled the house and up popped some very interesting information.

I was unaware there was a group called Brocket Babies that was formed in 2008 to bring together the 8338 that were born in this stately home once owned by Lord Brocket.

Being Silly Saturday I sent Ian up into the loft to bring me down the box of archived photos. I have searched through every photo - and looked elsewhere where photos are kept - to find the only one of me as a new baby in my parents arms. It was a studio photo and has disappeared. The only other photo is of me posing before the studio camera when I was about 6 months old

Ir was a silly way to spend early saturday evening and an emotional one, as old photos frequently bring back sad memories.

Brocket Hall was used as a 50 bed maternity hospital run by the Red Cross from 1939 to 1949 after a large part of the London City Road Maternity hospital was damaged by bombing .Expectant mothers willing to leave their East End homes were evacuated to Brocket Hall near Hatfield in the countryside of Hertfordshire.
My mother was one of them who happily exchanged her crowded living conditions for the luxury of a manor house in extensive grounds. The war was over and the threat of bombing no more, but she eagerly entered the house to await my birth and stayed for a total of two weeks. I recall her telling me how beautiful the interior was with its sweeping staircase.

Apparently all records of the births were lost in a fire when they were returned to London..

What is even more silly is the fact that I have only just found the Brocket Babies website and contacts. I have missed out on lots of great get togethers. When the new owner bought the property he invited all Brocket Babies for a free glass of champagne and a nights stay. (It is currently a hotel and events venue).

Almost every year since 1997 Brocket Hall has been arranging reunions. Each year now there is a big summer reunion where brocket babies meet for a lunch in the beautiful dining room, and are shown around the rooms that were once the maternity hospital . The next reunion is on the 20th August and if my health were better we would definitely have gone. Hopefully we shall attend another time. I would love to see inside the stately home of my birth. And we intend to spoil ourselves by staying the night, but not in the maternity wing.

How silly to have missed out on this over the years, and not knowing of the groups existence.
Mike Leigh, the great film director was born there although this isnt mentioned in his biographies.
I wonder if any Blippers out there share my birth place experience.

There are now over 1100 babies on the register of Brocket Babies and I have applied to be added.

A,little note to add: Lord Brocket was jailed in 1996 for five years for his part in a £4.5m classic car fraud. The 43 year old aristocrat had debts of more than £10m. I think he lost his Hall and never returned to it. What a silly man.

Hope this qualifies for Admirers Silly Challenge. As she knows i love taking part but am quite confined to house at present so my opportunities are limited. Thanks Admirer for continuing to challenge us.