When it comes to babies, ­midwife Kay Southard has always delivered – for the past 64 years. The dedicated carer’s staggering life story could be a script from the TV hit Call The Midwife. But it may be a little too feel-good even for the heartwarming hit BBC series.

Kay has helped bring thousands of babiessafely into the world and, amazingly, at the age of 82, is still helping mums. She volunteers at her town’s birthing centre and jokes: “I meet the ‘babies’ I have delivered having their babies, and the mothers say. ‘You are still here’. I see mums and their grown-up children in town when I’m shopping. The first baby I delivered was in 1965 so their mums will be my age. They always have a catch-up.”