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Sorrento Hospital Nursing Home

I was born in the Sorrento Hospital in January 1945. According to the family story, my father drove my mother there in their red MG sports car - I forget the model, but they were quite popular and sought after! The dilemma was that he had the task of driving me there fast to make sure I was not born on the floor of the MG. On the other hand, the faster he drove the more the more bumpy the ride and the greater the threat of my arriving before we all reached the hospital.

There was to be another 'dilemma' shortly after I was born. It seems that as I (allegedly) was brought to my mother for an early feed, my mother sensed that she had been given another baby! 'My' 'swaddling clothes' were eventually unwrapped to 'prove' that 'I' was not 'me'! The baby about to suckle had normal toes. I had two webbed toes on both feet. The real 'I' was recovered about to suckle from an Eastern European lady. You can draw your own conclusions about what might have happened had I not been born with webbed toes!

I was interested in the postings about the hospital being known as the 'Stork Hospital'. Certainly, that was the family 'story' on how babies were brought into the world - said with knowing near merriment. Also, the posting about 'sugar bag' babies. Again, my mother frequently referred to very small premature babies in terms of sugar bags.

Lord Richard
 
The same thing happened to me!!! After a bombing raid, my mother was given "me" to feed, and she insisted the baby was not hers. Finally, my mother was satisfied with the baby she was given. I too have wondered, did my mother really know who I was! Seems the nurses did this on a regular way
 
Lord Richard you were lucky as my sister was born there in April 1945 - it could have been a lot worse.
 
Hello Bro & Sisa Sorentinos. I too was born in this magical sounnding place in March 1945 before being taken home to Sparkhill. Any ideas when it started?
 
Here's a receipt for Confinement(birth) at Sorrento year1942 before the good old NHS my Brother.
Me born Dudley Road only £3:5s:0d for me, done on the cheap.
 
In June 1960 I was born at Copthorne Hospital, Shrewsbury, 2 months premature.
I was baptised in the Hospital Chapel, then whisked away to the Sorrento Hospital where I spent 2 maybe 3 months. In those days my parents didn't have a car and could not afford to visit and had to depend on the local nursing Sister to phone and check on my progress.
I have always wondered who looked after me for the first few months of my life and it must have been really hard for my Mum, having given birth and not being to have that initial bond with her new born baby.
Are there any records available from the Sorrento? It would be interesting to find out more.
Netty1
 
For the best information on Sorrento click on Main Sites at the head of this page, click on Birmingham B14, scroll down to War Years, scroll down to Moseley and Sorrento hospitals. Text and pictures are brilliant.
 
Sparkhill Boy said:
For the best information on Sorrento click on Main Sites at the head of this page, click on Birmingham B14, scroll down to War Years, scroll down to Moseley and Sorrento hospitals. Text and pictures are brilliant.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that it was really interesting and what a grand looking place. It's hard to imagine actually being there and the first face I would have seen would have been that of a nurse and not my Mum.

:)
 
Following a visit to Birmingham last week found the site of Sorrento Hospital on Wake Green Road. Sadly now a block of low level flats. Aptly named "Sorrento"
Us Sorrentinos still have a place to remember!
 
Not of the block of flats,
Pictures of the original Sorrento are on this site. Go to Main Sites at head of this page, click on B14. Scroll down to war years, scroll down to sorrento hospital.
 
I was born in Sorrento as well Jan 21st, 1953. And I always had a mad urge to go to.....................Melbourne!
 
I have so enjoyed reading all the SORRENTO MEMORIES!! M kes me a little sad though,:cry:..I was born in Sorrento Hospital , Oct. 26th. 1950. My parents always talked about it.... but when my brother was born 2 years later I was sent to Father Hudson's Homes in Coleshill to be looked after the nuns for 3 weeks cos there was no one to look after me. my parents were Polish and didn't know anyone well enough to trust me with. !!! When thay came to pick me up and I had forgotten who they were...so they say!!:(
 
Hanna that reminds me that I was said to have forgotten my Mom when she came back from Hospital wiht my little sister. I hid.

Now this reminds me that I and my sister always understood that she was born in Sorrento but when asking her to dig out some information for me she discovered that according to her birth certificate she was actually born at Selly Oak. Now why on earth would we have been told it was Sorrento?
 
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Bernie D'Boult said:
Hann thta reminds me that I was said to have forgotten my Mom when she came back from Hospital wiht my little sister. I hid.

Now this reminds me that I and my sister always understood that she was born in Sorrento but when asking her to dig out some information for me she discovered that according to her birth certificate she was actually born at Selly Oak. Now why on earth would we have been told it was Sorrento?
Click to expand...
That's where Sorrento Hospital was. My birth Cert says 15, Wake Green Rd.
 
Sorrento was, as you say, in Wake Green Road, Moseley; which is about 3 1/2 miles away from Selly Oak Hospital where my sister's birth certificate shows she was actually born.
 
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Hello again, My daughter Stephanie was born at the Sorrento on Primrose day 1955, I still sit and wonder where all those years have gone,to be
honest the place always looked a bit of a dump to me, cheers Bernard
 
Bernard67Arnold said:
Hello again, My daughter Stephanie was born at the Sorrento on Primrose day 1955, I still sit and wonder where all those years have gone,to be
honest the place always looked a bit of a dump to me, cheers Bernard
Click to expand...
Hi Bernard, I went there with my Dad in 1950. I wasn't allowed in the wards so I had to wait by the window of the room my Mum and baby sister were. Dad lifted me up so I could see them thru the window.
The window overlooked a cloistered square with grass and flowers growing. Must have been better maintained then as I thought it looked quite posh, I was a 5 year old brought up in Saltley, which was a dump.
 
I gave birth to my children in Sorrento in the early 80s.
I was very sorry to hear that it had closed down.

They had the best itu unit in the country for sick babies.
They saved my son who had complications.
 
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hi
i was born at the sorrento in march during the bad snow of 1947
the story my dad always told me was that i lost him a fortune on the horses becouse mom was in labour with me ( knowing my dear old dad it was more than likely 5 bob he lost
josie
 
I've been to the real Sorrento in Italy (Bay of Naples) last year, so whenever I pass Sorrento Court on Wake Green Road, it reminds me of it!



I do remember in the 1990s when the site was derelict houses (of the former hospital).
 
My father was stationed in Italy during the war at a military placed called Pozzuolli, he absolutely loved Sorrento and The Amalfi Coast, he used to talk about it often. My eldest brother Bruce was born at The Sorrento on March 26th 1948 but sadly died of leukemia in 1950. This year my son and his wife married in Sorrento, Italy and I felt I had a special bond
.
 
I was born at the Sorrento at 4 pm on 14 November 1948 - same day as the then Princess Elizabeth gave birth to Prince Charles at 9 pm - according to the Birmingham newspaper there were 4 boys and 2 girls born at the Sorrento that day including a set of twin boys that my mum told me where born a few minutes before 9 and a few minutes after. I wonder where those people who shared by birth place and date are.
 
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