Dr Marilyn Rogers MBE celebrated 50 years of being a midwife on the 26th February, and last week her colleagues threw her a surprise party to show how much they appreciate her. Marilyn is one of our lactation consultants in the infant feeding team.

The event was opened with a few words from Maternity Matron, Jo Machon, who first met Marilyn in 1996 when she looked after her whilst she was in labour with her daughter. Marilyn met that same daughter earlier last week to discuss hand expression and feeding, as she is about to have her own baby.

The surprise celebration had cakes and sweet treats baked by two of our labour ward coordinators. Plenty of colleagues attended the event, including retired midwives and breastfeeding supporters. The walls were covered with lots of photos of her during her career. Marilyn was told she was just going out for lunch, so was very surprised to see everyone and very grateful too.

Jo said: "Marilyn spoke of how she has had the most wonderful midwifery career and all at CHFT - working in all areas of midwifery and even dipping into the OD department to work as a trainer for a short while.

"She led CHFT in the Breastfeeding Initiative (BFI) long before other Trusts. We were ahead of the game thanks to her, and one of the first Trusts to be awarded the BFI status. Many years later, under her direction, we received the BFI Gold Award, which we still hold today.

"Marilyn retired 12 months ago but still works part time, sharing her expertise in the infant feeding clinic and the frenulotomy (tongue tie) clinic.  She still looks forward to coming to work every week and isn't ready to stop just yet."

Jo added: "She is respected, not just at CHFT, but nationally in the infant world and we are very lucky to have her working with us. She is kind and gentle and always has been. Women and babies are at the forefront of everything she does."