Doris Newton

Doris Newton (ne Collins ) was born on the 30th March 1901 in Liversedge, West Yorkshire. After working for a number of years in the local mill she decided to change career pathways and in the early 1920’s she started her nurse training in Staincliffe, Dewsbury, Yorkshire. Doris qualified as a state registered nurse in 1924. In 1927 she felt the draw to midwifery and gained a place at Dundee Royal Infirmary, to train as a State Registered Midwife.

Doris returned to Yorkshire in 1929 where she practised as a local midwife in Haig. She subsequently met and married Merlin Newton, a miner at the local pit in Haig, and in 1932 they had their only daughter Jean. Six weeks after giving birth to Jean Doris returned to duty to care for the women and babies of Haig.

In 1936 she moved with her husband Merlin and daughter Jean to Mapplewell where she gained the position of the local community midwife for Mappelwell and Staincross. She remained in Mapplewell and Staincross as the local midwife for 33 years. During this time “Nurse Newton” became a minor celebrity in the village, being one of the first people to own and drive a car. She delivered hundreds of babies, and many of their babies, until she was forced to retire at the age of 65.