A FORMER investment banker has started a new career after finally fulfilling her childhood ambition to train as a midwife - at the age of 61.

Claire Slater, from Redditch, recently started her dream job in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Worcestershire Royal Hospital after completing her midwife training last summer.

"Ever since I was 10 years old I’d always dreamed of doing it as a career – but life had got in the way,” said Claire.

It was not the first time Claire had worked in hospitals.

Claire began her working life as an auxiliary nurse in a surgical ward and A&E at the Alexandra Hospital, before becoming a radiography technician at the same hospital.

She added: “I left these roles to have my children, which then led me down a different path."

As her children grew older, Claire worked as a primary school teacher for several years before being headhunted to work in the banking sector.

A successful career in investment banking in the City of London followed, including a spell as a regional director of a large multi-national company.

However, after a period of illness, Claire re-evaluated her life and career options and decided it was time to do what she had always dreamed of doing.

“I wanted to train for a while but we couldn’t afford to give up my earning to go through training," she said.

"It was a busy time for us with our children all needing to be supported through university and getting married.

"It was after our fourth child’s wedding that my husband said to me, ‘right, what is it you would most love to do’, and that’s when I said I’ve always wanted to be a midwife."

Claire was accepted onto a midwifery course at the University of Worcester, which involved training placements at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and it was on one of these placements where she decided exactly where she wanted to end up.

“On my training course I did a placement on NICU and I absolutely fell in love with it.

"I feel that I get to experience the most of that special bond and see more of the baby growing on the neonatal unit."

Completing her midwife training course in August, Claire applied for a position in the neonatal unit which accepted her to join the team.

Despite the stage of her working life, Claire is determined that this is only the beginning of a new chapter for her.

She advised others in a similar situation who still wish to get into the career that no matter your age, just do it.