New father misses Relay as wife goes in to labour

Published 13 Jul 2012 07:00 0 Comments

AN OLYMPIC effort of a different kind was played out by a Windsor mum who gave birth 10 days overdue on the day the Torch came to town.

Rachel Endacott, 37, of Kingsfield, Dedworth, went into labour at around 3.30am on Tuesday morning and gave birth to Bethan Rose Endacott at 7.30am at Wexham Park Hospital.

Husband Richard was due to visit Windsor Castle with his mum, councillor Cynthia Endacott, to watch the Olympic Torch Relay, but had to cancel when he knew the baby was imminent.

Speaking to The Observer, Mr Endacott said: "I was a bit disappointed really because I had been looking forward to seeing the Torch for a long time!

"We didn't know the sex of the baby so I had some Olympic names whizzing round my head.

"Maybe if it was a boy I would have been tempted to call him Usain."

Not all the family missed the spectacle of the Torch passing through Windsor with Cllr Endacott taking Bethan's big brother, two-year-old James, to The Long Walk to catch a glimpse of the Flame.

Cllr Endacott said: "I am absolutely delighted for all the family and it was lovely to still be able to take James to see the Torch.

"It has been a really hectic couple of days, but mother and baby are healthy and well and everybody is in good spirits." Mr Endacott added: "James really loved seeing the Torch Relay, but apparently he wanted to call Fireman Sam to put the Flame out!"

The timing of the birth mirrored those of two years ago when Rachel delivered James on Saturday, February 13, 2010. James arrived at half-time of Wales' Six Nations victory against Scotland and his rugby fanatic father believed he was the lucky charm for his Welsh team after 37 hours in labour.

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