Patricia Rashbrook: How she became Britain’s oldest mom

December 26, 2025 by salah

Both she and John were approaching retirement age, but still felt energetic enough to care for a baby. However, traditional fertility treatments in the UK had turned them away — most clinics refuse treatment to women over 55.

Determined, they sought out Italian fertility expert Professor Severino Antinori, a controversial figure known for helping postmenopausal women conceive.

After four failed IVF attempts in Italy, the couple turned to Russia, where Patricia underwent another round of treatment using a donor egg. The procedure wasn’t cheap — Patricia reportedly paid the equivalent of $12,000 for the chance to become a mother again. And finally, it worked.

On July 5, 2006, Patricia gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Jude, via C-section. As she and John welcomed their son, Elgar’s Salut d’Amour played in the background —the same piece of music that had been played at their wedding.

“We would not have gone ahead if we’d felt we would not be good enough parents,” Patricia insisted.

For John, the moment was overwhelming.Continue reading…