Heart transplant patient dies 19 years after life-saving op

SADLY missed . . . Bob Jay, with his wife Muriel

ONE of the longest surviving heart transplant patients in Greater Manchester has died at the age of 79.

Former Royal Navy man and ex-Oldham Athletic physiotherapist Bob Jay had enjoyed many happy years since undergoing the transplant at Wythenshawe Hospital in 1992.

The grandfather-of-four, of Thornham Lane, Royton, died suddenly at home on Sunday, March 6.

Since the heart operation, Mr Jay had worked tirelessly for Wythenshawe Hospital’s New Start charity to help others in the desperate situation of needing a transplant.

He knew how easy it is for anyone to be struck down with heart problems at any time and was appreciative of the life-changing impact a donor organ can have — allowing him to fulfil his dreams of seeing his grandchildren.

Mr Jay, who had served 27 years in the Royal Navy, never smoked, hardly drank, always exercised, had no family history of heart problems and had rarely troubled his doctor, suffered a heart attack in 1989 at the age of 58, having just retired.

He later told the Chronicle: “After years of looking after people and expecting to have a quiet time I got struck down, completely out of the blue.

“After three heart attacks over the next year I was more or less written off.”

But he was offered the lifeline of a heart transplant — a procedure the hospital had only been carrying out for four years.

He was guaranteed four years of life but the transplant lasted nearly 20. Mr Jay made the most of his time, celebrating his golden wedding with his wife, Muriel, in 2001 and winning several medals in badminton and bowls in the European Transplant Games.

Mr Jay and his family had spent 25 years travelling around the world with the Navy, living in Malta and Mauritius and all over the UK. He used to play tennis at Wimbledon and go shooting at Bisley with Royal Navy teams.

In 1975 he left the Navy and joined Oldham Athletic for six years before going on to work as a hospital physiotherapist in Oldham.

The couple enjoyed taking part in activities at Thornham’s St James’ Church and were due to celebrate their diamond wedding in December.

Mrs Jay said: “He was very grateful to Wythenshawe transplant unit for keeping him going for 19 years after the transplant. We volunteered in the charity office as we tried to give a bit back.”

As well as his wife, Mr Jay leaves children Susan and Christopher and grandchildren Isaac, Alex, Aaron and Georgia.

The couple’s eldest son, Simon, a flight sergeant in the Royal Air Force, died in 2002 at the age of 45 from a heart condition.

The funeral takes place at St James’ Church, Thornham, tomorrow at 2pm, prior to committal at Rochdale Crematorium. No flowers by request, donations if desired to New Start.