Near-birth at Iden summer fete

Natalie Eldridge, of Sea Road, Winchelsea Beach, and her husband Robert Winton welcomed Betsy Winton into the world at 11pm, 12 hours after her waters broke.

The 38-year-old and her two daughters Tilly, seven, and Dolly, six, could not leave their stall at the fair on Saturday, July 25, until 5.30pm as their car was surrounded in the middle of the field.

So Natalie put on a brave face and held on until the fete ended and said the girls were excited to meet their new baby sister.

“It’s lucky we didn’t have it there as it would have been the most exciting thing that’s ever happened at the fete,” she said.

“It was quite good as the girls were very excited as we weren’t expected to her and we didn’t actually think we were going to get out.

“I did think ‘I’m going to end up having her here’ but thankfully we made it.”

It only took 45 minutes after Natalie’s waters broke to give birth to Tilly and Dolly so she was a little bit concerned as Betsy could have come any minute.

But she managed to hold on until they got to the Conquest Hospital and gave birth to the healthy Betsy who weighed 6lb and 5oz.

Treasurer of the fete committee John Bridge congratulated Natalie on her newest arrival.

“Congratulations and I hope to see her again at the fete with a plus one,” he said.

The self-employed hairdresser was holding a stall with her daughters to try and sell a few bits after having an extension at her home.

“We go every year but this was the first time I have had a stall there but we had an extension at home so we had lots of stuff to get rid of.

“People were saying I must have been mad having the stall when I was due to have her but we just about made it.”

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