A MIDWIFE who served Bradford for nearly 50 years but died from Covid-19 last year is set to be remembered with a lasting memorial at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Chris Senior, of Scholes, died aged 67 at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 due to complications from Covid-19.

But the "selfless and caring " Chris gave 48 years of service as a midwife to the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

“Midwifery was her passion and heaven knows how many lives she brought into this world," said Chris' sister, Jacky Wilcock, of Dewsbury.

“She touched so many lives, and midwifery is a profession where you can do that.

“She loved it as much as the day she passed away as the day she started. She did so want to fulfill 50 years.

“She mentored so many new midwives coming into the profession,” said Jacky, who talked about the friends she made over the years.

"Many midwives have given us sweet messages saying how she inspired them.

“Chris was my friend for 36 years,” said Kim Armitage, a midwife and friend. “She was the most selfless, wonderful caring person you could ever wish to call your friend.

“As a midwife these qualities abounded with her care and support for her women. She would go above and beyond what was expected and her women loved her for it. She is sorely missed.”

“Mums who had babies delivered by Chris also told us how inspirational she was and how much she helped them.”

And Jacky said although Chris championed breastfeeding, she also did not force mothers who did not feel it was right for them.

“She understood and talked them through it.”

To recognise her contributions as a midwife and as a lasting legacy to her memory, colleagues in the maternity unit at BRI chose to purchase a piece of artwork by a North East artist which depicts a mum breastfeeding her new baby.

The artwork along with a plaque and bench seat is to be unveiled at the maternity unit at 10am on Friday, October 8.

“We thought a lot of what we wanted to do as a lasting legacy of Chris.

"We raised just over £1,500 in memory of Chris by doing a walk from Dewsbury to the BRI Maternity Unit on November14, 2020.

The walk, led by Jacky and Chris' son Adam Senior, started at Dewsbury and took in St Luke's Hospital, where Chris trained as a midwife, before finishing at the BRI maternity unit.

“It was a privilege to known Chris,” added Jacky.. “She always had your back.”