SHE was the first baby born in the maternity unit that Dorset health bosses never wanted to open.

Hannah Currie was front page news 25 years ago after arriving at Royal Bournemouth Hospital at 12.20am on February 16, weighing 8lbs 1oz.

She has marked her birthday by writing to the hospital and the Daily Echo to say thank you.

When the hospital was built, plans were to centralise maternity services in Poole but more than 35,000 signed a protest petition under the Daily Echo’s Babies in Bournemouth campaign and the unit was opened.

Today both Bournemouth and Poole have maternity units - despite preferred proposals out to consultation to centralise care at RBH as part of Dorset’s Clinical Services Review.

Hannah, who now works in London for an accountancy firm, said: “I’m really proud I was the first baby born at Bournemouth. Not many people can say that. I often use it as an ice-breaker at work events.

“I waited a few minutes while the nurses removed the shrink wrap from all the brand new equipment. VIP treatment indeed! I don’t remember much about it. The brief (although it didn’t seem quite so brief for my mum) journey from Planet Mother to the outside world went smoothly and without complication.

“Later that day the mayor and his wife and a photographer from the Echo came to see me. I was front page news and that front page has pride of place in my scrapbook.”

Mum Helen, from Highcliffe, said: “It was a huge surprise. We were set to go to the Poole unit until the last moment.”

Hannah, who went to Cardiff University to complete a degree in business management, said: “Looking into the future it would be good to have more of the same - a happy, healthy, active and fulfilling life.”

Carmen Cross, Head of Midwifery said: “Hearing from Hannah Currie and her family was so special and completely unexpected. To think it’s 25 years since the very first birth at our hospital is incredible and having Hannah get in touch was a lovely way to commemorate the occasion.

“Maternity and midwifery services have developed a lot over the last 25 years, but ultimately we are still doing the same thing – working hard to bring babies into the world healthily and safely. It’s been fantastic to find out what Hannah has been up to and to see what an accomplished young woman she has become. We would like to wish Hannah a very happy birthday for yesterday and we wish her and her family all the very best for the future.”

Around 380 babies are delivered at RBH every year compared to 5,000 at Poole Hospital.