'I felt urge to do it' says man baptised in hospital bed

A retired antiques dealer who said his mum was too busy "putting bread on the table" in World War Two to think about having him christened has finally fulfilled his dream.

Bill Starling, from Telford in Shropshire, said he felt an urge to get baptised in his hospital bed after he was admitted for major surgery.

The 82-year-old was undergoing extensive orthopaedic surgery at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen, near Oswestry, when he was warned he might not survive.

But he made it through surgery to be baptised in his bed by the hospital's lead chaplain, Simon Airey. It was the first service of its kind at the hospital in living memory.

"When I was born in Birmingham in 1942, there were bombs dropping around us," Mr Starling, from Sutton Heights, said.

"Dad was in Burma and my mum was a strong person but I don't think she thought about arranging a Christening; putting bread on the table was more important.

"Over the years I've thought about it and expressed to my wife Sylvia that it was something I'd like to do."

Mr Starling came to the hospital under the care of consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Sudheer Karlakki, and underwent the extensive surgery.

"I had a new pelvis and right hip, and a titanium bone going down to my knee," the father-of-three said.

"I was warned I might not come through it, but I have, and I'm so very grateful."

Mr Starling said he approached the hospital reverend about the baptism after seeing him talking to patients, saying "he seemed such a nice guy".

"I just felt an urge that I must do this, and I'm so pleased he agreed," he said.

"Everyone at the hospital has been so good to me, and I am delighted that I have finally got baptised here."

The Rev Simon Airey said: "I was certainly surprised when Bill asked me, but I was more than happy to oblige.

"It's the first baptism I have ever done in a hospital, and speaking to a few people in the chaplaincy team no-one else can ever remember one happening here before either, so it's certainly extremely unusual.

"Everyone pulled out all the stops, and it was a lovely event. My congratulations to Bill and I wish him well with his recovery as he continues his journey with God."

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