Amazing Grace: mum of the world’s first ‘test-tube’ boy, who paved the way for IVF treatment

Desperately wanted a family

“I was one of six children and had always desperately wanted a family. We had been trying for seven years when I was told that I would never have children. I had ovarian cysts, blocked fallopian tubes and a lot of adhesions. 

“I have always been one of those people who follows the adage ‘never say never’ and it was sheer luck really that I came across an article in a magazine at a friend’s house about the pioneering work being done in Oldham by Steptoe and Edwards.

“I applied to be part of their programme and was accepted.” 

World’s first IVF boy

“Bob Edwards and Jean Purdy, who I knew as Jeannie, went out of their way to support me and reassure me; I owe them so much. They were wonderful for just coming to see me on the ward and keeping my spirits up. 

“Jeannie was the person in charge once the eggs had been retrieved. She was responsible for putting them in the petri dish and watching them and bringing them on. And she was just amazing, very supportive. She used to stick her head round my door – I would hear the theatre door sliding, it made a noise, so I always knew she was on her way, and I remember her saying ‘looking good Grace’ and giving me the thumbs up. She was the kindest, loveliest person. 

“My second treatment worked. We all knew about Lesley Brown and shortly after I returned home to Scotland, myself two months pregnant, Lesley gave birth to Louise and made news around the world. 

“Alastair was born six months after Louise. His birth had proved once and for all that IVF worked and that Louise’s birth wasn’t a ‘one-off.’”

IVF… most wonderful thing

Grace continues: “From there Bob, Patrick and Jeannie were able to open Bourn Hall as the world’s first IVF clinic. Just look at how many millions of IVF babies there are now in the world – that to me is the most wonderful thing. 

“Bob and Jeannie became great friends of mine and Bob and Alastair had a very close bond; he was Alastair’s hero and mentor. Patrick, too, maintained an interest in how Alastair was doing and regularly asked after him until he sadly passed away.” 

Grace is very close to her son.  

“Becoming a mum, when I had been told it would never happen, meant everything – it still does; it felt such a privilege. To me Alastair is the most wonderful son in the world and the apple of my eye. He recently celebrated his 45th birthday and I made him a birthday cake as I have done every year since he was born! 

Twenty years celebration of Fertility Network UK

“More than four decades on from my treatment I love the fact that IVF is now so ‘commonplace’, is accepted and regarded as totally ‘normal’ and that people talk about infertility and IVF so much more openly.”

Much of that openness has come about by the campaigning of Fertility Network UK and Grace is to speak at its 20th celebrations on 28th February 2024.

She says: “I think that it is great that there are organisations such as Fertility Network offering support to people facing infertility or going through treatment.”