A GRIEVING mum has spoken of the joy of finally finding the grave of her stillborn baby, 57 years after her daughter’s body was cruelly taken away from her moments after her birth.

Enid Smith was just 19 when she gave birth to baby Daisy at St John’s Hospital, in Chelmsford, on July 17, 1963.

The first-time mum had been rushed to hospital after suffering from high blood pressure.

Tragically Daisy was born dead.

Enid, now 75, said: “I knew something was wrong because the day before I had to go to the William Julien Courtauld Hospital in Braintree for blood pressure checks.

“I couldn’t understand why they kept taking my blood pressure but in those days you didn’t challenge doctors. Then it all kicked off that night and my baby died of accidental pre-natal haemorrhage.

Enid, who lived in Great Bardfield, wasn’t even allowed to hold her dead daughter after she was born.

“I could feel her being born and that was it,” she said.

“I saw this white bundle go out of the room and she was gone.”

Enid and Daisy’s dad Terry, who died ten years ago, were never told what became of their daughter.

They later had two healthy children – Marion and Andrew – but Enid has always wanted to find Daisy’s grave.

“I’ve been wanting to find her for a long time because I knew she must be somewhere, but I didn’t know where,” said Enid, who now lives in Braintree.

“As I got older it seemed I needed to find her even more.

“Apparently in those days you didn’t get to see your stillborn baby – they were just taken away.

“You weren’t even allowed to cry because you would disturb the other babies.

“I have spoken to other mums who have lost their babies and nowadays you are allowed to hold them and give them a cuddle, but they just took mine away.”

Enid and second husband Graham Bulleid have now visited Daisy’s final resting place in Chelmsford Cemetery.

Paula Jackson, who runs Brief Lives - Remembered and specialises in tracing stillborn babies, helped the couple find her unmarked grave.

Enid said: “She was buried with five other babies in a communal grave.

“We went up there and found out where she was last Wednesday.

“They showed us the grave and the book entry which said Baby Smith and they had had a service for those babies in the chapel.”

Graham said: “Attitudes have changed and things have improved since the Sixties.

“Mothers can now see their stillborn baby and talk to them and name them and get a birth certificate.”

Enid added: “It’s all been very emotional, but Graham has been a real strength. There have been tears and tears and tears, but finding Daisy was lovely after all this time.

“It is a great weight off my shoulders. She is always with me and I never forgot her, especially when her birthday came around.

“Now I know where she is and I can go and visit her.

“Although I can’t put a headstone on her grave I can put a plaque and a rose in the rosebed.”

Enid hopes her amazing story will help other parents who suffered the anguish of losing their stillborn babies all those years ago.

She said: “If we can help just one couple to find their lost baby that would be fantastic.”

Poem for Daisy

I never heard your first cry

I never saw your face

I never held you in my arms

I never had that chance

I never knew your place of rest

I had nowhere to go

I never thought I'd find you

I never thought I would

I will never forget

Just as if I would

All these NEVERS have now changed

As by chance I have found you

As time goes by, they say it heals

And yes, I suppose it does

My mind is now at rest

Rest in peace baby Daisy

Mummy