So Matt and Kaylee returned home, 16 miles away, and awaited developments.
“Mistake,” says Matt bluntly. “No sooner were we home than Kaylee’s waters were all over the sofa and living room carpet, and we were back in the car heading back to hospital.”
As Matt raced down the Lincolnshire lanes in the dark, it quickly became apparent that the baby was going to appear before they reached hospital.
So four miles from their destination, they pulled into the car park of the Waggon and Horses in the village of Branston where an ambulance would meet them, while midwives had warned the pub’s landlord to have towels at the ready – which he did.
“The plan was to help Kaylee out of the car and into the pub lounge – hopefully the ambulance would arrive soon after,” said Matt. “Before we had chance to do this, Kaylee screamed: ‘He's coming now!’
“I got myself quickly round to her side of the car, and sure enough there was a baby's head!
"At this point there’s no time for worry, panic or anything else, time to switch on and do what you can.
“In I went, taking hold of baby's head, when all of a sudden another contraction, and the rest of the baby came out in one go.
"All I needed to do was to catch him before he fell into the foot well!
"I'm no natural with a rugby ball, but on this occasion I'm pleased to say I held on!”
Before long, the ambulance arrived; Kaylee and Spencer were whisked off to the hospital, leaving Matt to thank the landlord and his rather stunned staff before following the ambulance and getting to hospital just in time to cut the cord.
Matt, who serves with Leicestershire fire and rescue service by day, has spent 17 years as a Royal Marines Reservist with the Nottingham detachment of RMR Merseyside.
He’s completed tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as undergone training exercises in Norway, the USA, Brunei and Jamaica. He has plenty of stories to tell from all these tours – but says none compare with the birth of his fourth child (the Commando has two from a previous partner).
“A few weeks later and I’m happy to say that Spencer and Kaylee are both doing well,” says Matt.
“My three other children Austin, Luke and Lilli are chuffed to bits with their new little brother. And the car upholstery has been scrubbed – a lot!”
