Chronicle Comment: Jean Purdy should not be the forgotten IVF pioneer

Jean Purdy's work led to the birth of the first test tube baby, Louise Brown, in 1978

Oldham is world renowned for being the town where the world's first "test tube baby" was conceived.

Quite rightly, Oldham is fiercely proud of being the birthplace of Louise Brown.

The work of Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards is celebrated in Oldham.  But it is a travesty that the work of Jean Purdy has not been recognised in the same way.

Jean Purdy joined the team when she was hired as a lab technician by Edwards.  In reality, she did so much more.  Jean was the the first person to witness the successful cell division of the human embryo that would become Louise Brown, the first IVF baby.

Purdy was based in Cambridge (as was Edwards) but regularly travelled hundreds of miles to Oldham to work with Steptoe at his lab.

Perhaps it was Purdy's gender that has meant her role has been mostly ignored or even the job title "lab technician" wasn't seen as important.  Whatever the reason, Robert Edwards would tirelessly fight for Purdy's recognition, and had campaigned for her name to be added to the plaque in Oldham.

Her name was eventually added to the plaque - now at Dr Kershaw's Hospice on Turf Lane - in 2015

Oldham’s cabinet member for health and social care, Councillor Zahid Chauhan now says he is determined to raise the profile of Purdy and to "make it right".  

It should be a matter of deep regret that the work of Jean Purdy has not been recognised in the same way as that of Edwards and Steptoe.  The Oldham Chronicle supports any move to recognise the pioneering work of Jean Purdy and her contribution to the world of IVF from Oldham.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.