St Neots Quads
They were regarded as a sensation by the press, and were sponsored by a baby formula manufacturer; they were frequently called on to be present at events for publicity purposes.
[2] Newspaper reports soon publicised the birth: St Neots Quadruplets Babies' Condition "Much Improved": The quadruplets – a girl and three boys – born on Thursday morning at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Miles, in Ferrars Avenue, Eynesbury, St. Neots, were stated by Dr. Harrisson to be doing exceptionally well and to be very much improved yesterday.
Dr. Harrisson's daughter, Mrs. Winifred Crossley, who is an experienced pilot, is making arrangements to fly the milk from Hendon, landing on the common near St. Neots.
Four nurses from the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London, have been sent to St. Neots to help in their care.
An oxygen tent has been placed at the service of the babies by the British Red Cross Society in case of need.
"[6] Mr Miles said that he went to work as usual that day, but confessed to being a 'little late', and came home at lunchtime to find a huge group of reporters on his doorstep, and by 3 pm he said he had 'still not had a bite'.
Milk was brought twice a day from Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London; it was skimmed and diluted with water to enable the babies to digest it.
Miles at Eynesbury, Huntingdonshire, on Thursday, are being attended by four nurses from the Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.
The babies are now lying in a specially heated room at Dr. Harrisson's house at St. Neot's, having been moved from their parents' home on Saturday.
Dr. Harrisson explained that there had been a rush of people to see them at their home, and he thought it advisable to take them to his house, where also there was more convenience and better accommodation for the nurses.
Harrisson estimated that the care of the quads would be extremely expensive, amounting to about £5,000, and he started a public fund raising appeal.
A limited contribution was available to the family in the form of a Royal Bounty, first established by Queen Victoria in 1849, for each child of a multiple birth "to enable the parents to meet sudden expenses thrown upon them".
As well as funfair entertainments, and some gruesome medical exhibits, the St Neots Quads made an appearance on 5 July 1939.
The company supported the Miles Quads for many years, and when the family moved to a new home at 27 New Street, St Neots,[note 2] Cow & Gate gave financial assistance toward making a nursery there, as well as providing baby milk and weaning foods, and giving them birthday presents.
The Quads appeared in many Cow & Gate advertising campaigns, and the income this provided helped Mr and Mrs Miles with the expense.
Born at Ferrers (sic) Avenue, Eynesbury on 28th November 1935 to Mr and Mrs Miles, they attracted national interest.
On Wednesday 9 March three of the quads, Paul, Ernest and Ann, returned to unveil the blue plaque; Michael was unable to attend as he lives in South Africa.
Some information about their adult life was published in the article: Ann moved to a nearby town and had three children with husband Bob Browning, later finding work as a school assistant.
