Edgbaston care home launches search for woman born in C&A over 40 years ago

A care home in Edgbaston is appealing to the local community to help find someone who made an unforgettable entrance into the world over 40 years ago.

June Berry, who lives at Care UK’s Metchley Manor on Church Road in Edgbaston, helped bring a baby named Rachael into the world in 1984 while working as a store employee at C&A in Birmingham City Centre – and now, 41 years later, her care home is hoping to reunite them. 

June, who was trained as a first aider, became a local hero when she stepped in to assist Eulalie, Rachael’s mother, when she went into labour at the store. With little time to spare, June helped to deliver Rachael in the shop. 

The pair reconnected on 5 June 1993 for the grand re-opening of the lower ground floor at C&A, where they were invited to officially open the store. 

Reflecting on the day, June Berry said: ‘’It was an ordinary day at work, and I would never have imagined I’d end up delivering a baby. I remember holding Eulalie’s hand and somehow managing to stay calm until the paramedics arrived, but by then, I had already delivered Rachael. It took me a long time to get over the shock, but it’s something that will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Kim-Marie Newton, Home Manager at Metchley Manor, said: “Unless you work as a nurse, it’s not every day you get to deliver a baby at work. Even now that decades have passed, the memory is still incredibly fresh in June’s mind: she still has a newspaper clipping to show for it too!

“When June first mentioned this incredible story, we knew we had to do everything we could to help reconnect her with Rachael. We’ve started asking people around us, but now we want to call on the community to help us with our search.  

‘’Reuniting June with Rachael after all this time would be fantastic. If you have any information that could help, please get in touch with us!’’

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Metchley Manor, which remains open to potential residents, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities.