GWENDA James paid a visit to her last round of patients yesterday before celebrating her retirement after 40 years of midwifery in Newport.

Mrs James, 65 on Saturday, of Shirenewton, near Chepstow, trained in London and then moved back to her native Wales, where she worked as a registered nurse at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, for four years.

In 1965 she became a midwife and she says she has loved her work.

The grandmother of three said: "It's going to feel very strange walking through those doors and leaving tonight although I think I will do a couple more shifts now and then to help out.

"I have loved meeting and working with so many people - each one a special individual - for so long.

"The secret to a career as long as this one is simply to learn to get on with people."

Mrs James will enjoy a formal presentation dinner organised for her by Royal Gwent colleagues.