My Bristol favourites: Louise Brown

At 11.47am on July 25, 1978, Louise Brown was the first person on the planet ever to be born through science rather than sexual intercourse. When her mum and dad brought her back home to Bristol, the world’s media gathered to catch a glimpse. Now married with two children and living in Knowle, Louise has written her amazing life story, My Life as the World’s First Test-Tube Baby, published by Bristol Books.

Here are Louise’s top-five Bristol favourites:

St Mary Redcliffe Church
“I used to sit on the top of the bus as it climbed Redcliffe Hill and look at the magnificent spire of St Mary Redcliffe and wish that one day I would get married in that church. My dream came true when I married there and became Mrs Mullinder. OK! magazine had exclusive rights to the wedding in exchange for a fantastic honeymoon cruise – so other media put listening devices in the church and tried to take photographs of me in my wedding dress while the magazine ‘guards’ opened umbrellas to thwart them. I have great memories of our time in the congregation there, and giggling whil being baptised as an adult.”

Bristol Zoo
“My sons Cameron and Aiden love animals. Cameron especially loves lions and we love going to Bristol Zoo and enjoying the gardens and seeing the animals. I think Cameron gets it from my dad, John, who took me to the zoo when I was really young. There are photos and bits of film of me there in the days when they had elephants and polar bears. It was always a place I spent time with my parents and it’s great to do th same with my own children.”

Bristol Balloon Fiesta
“The Bristol Balloon Fiesta has to be the best event of the year when the weather is right. I used to love going to the music events in the week leading up to the fiesta and seeing the magnificent special shape balloons taking off. I try to get there every year but luckily I live in south Bristol so often, when the wind is in the right direction, the balloons come to us! Everyone going out into the street to watch the balloons fly by is a really unique Bristol experience.”

Whitchurch Sports Centre
“Now I am probably the least sporty person you can imagine, but I have very special memories of this place (now Action Indoor Sports). It was very close to where I spent my childhood in Whitchurch and one day the most amazing thing happened – Take That performed there! I remember the excitement of queueing for my first Take That gig with my friends. To be honest, I get just  as excited today and try to get to as many of their concerts as possible.”

Clifton Suspension Bridge
“My gran lived in Westbury-on-Trym when I was little so we used to call the Clifton Suspension Bridge ‘Granny’s Bridge’ as we had to pass under it every time we went to her house. I still think of that today whenever I see it. I’m very proud of all the Brunel connections in Bristol, such as the ss Great Britain and the magnificent suspension bridge. I was born in Oldham as that was where IVF pioneers Patrick Steptoe and Bob Edwards were carrying out their world-changing technique. But I will always be a proud Bristolian, as were my mum and dad.”