Simpson's Memorial
Maternity Pavilion

Lauriston Place, Edinburgh

Question

Lizzie Cariss

Thank you to Lizzie Cariss who wrote

Twin Babies

"I have a photograph of twin babies taken, I believe, by my late mother when she was doing her midwifery training at the Simpson Pavilion, Edinburgh in the late 1930s or early 40s.

On the back of the photo their names, Robert and Maxwell are written, but no surname.

Their birth weights were noted at 1 lb 12 ozs and 2 lbs 4 ozs.  I have often wondered what became of these tiny souls, if they survived.

Do you have any advice as to how one might obtain more information?"

Frank White, Blackley, north Manchester, England:  November 16, 2011

Reply to Lizzie Cariss

If you'd like to send a reply to Lizzie, please email me than I'll pass on her email address to you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  November 25, 2012

Reply

1.

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

Hi Lizzie:

Thanks for your email.  I hope you'll be able to discover more about the babies. 

1.  I've added your question to this page (above) in the hope that somebody may be able to help you.  Perhaps another of the girls who was training at the same time as your mother might read the question and send a reply.   I'll let you know if that happens.

2.  If you are able to email me a copy of your photo, I could try adding it to the paragraph above.  Perhaps somebody might recognise it and reply.

3.  The Simpson Maternity Hospital is now part of the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France, Edinburgh.  You could try contacting the RIE to see if they have any records that might help, perhaps making your request under the Freedom of Information Act. 

However I feel that this is a 'long shot'  The hospital might reply saying that they have no information or that they cannot access it without knowing the surname, or that they cannot release anything they have because of the Data Protection Act.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  November 25, 2012

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