Harefield Hospital celebrates artwork that commemorated first UK heart transplant

Royal Brompton and Harefield colleagues from the past and present gathered to formally recognise a sculpture, created almost 60 years ago to mark the first British heart transplant.

The Pillar of Tranquillity, a white marble column made by an unknown artist, was commissioned by the wife of the transplant recipient. It was presented to The National Heart Hospital, which later merged with Royal Brompton Hospital, in 1968. It now sits in the Healing Garden at Harefield Hospital.

Janet Ross, daughter of Donald Ross – the pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon who performed the transplant – unveiled the sculpture’s plaque. Alongside her was Professor Jane Somerville, a renowned cardiologist and the physician chosen to assist with the transplant. And Robert Parker, a former heart valve bank manager, who was instrumental in reviving the story of the sculpture.

The plaque says:

The Pillar of Tranquillity was created to mark the first British Heart Transplant. Frederic West (1923-1968) from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex was the recipient and the procedure was performed by Donald Ross at The National Heart Hospital on 3^rd May 1968.

Speaking at the gathering Richard Grocott-Mason, Chief Executive of the Heart, Lung and Critical Care Clinical Group Board, said:

“It is vital that we remember the groundbreaking historical moments and the pioneers who came before us. Their legacy inspires us to continue to innovate for the future of medicine and improvement of care for our patients. It is fitting that the sculpture, the Pillar of Tranquillity, now sits in the Healing Garden, a wellbeing sanctuary in the heart of our hospital that encourages reflection.”

Chaplain at Harefield Hospital, Rev Cameron Barker, reflected:

“This sculpture helps us to mark all the lives that have been touched since the inception of the remarkable transplant programme. Both the lives lost, and the lives saved.”

Jane Somerville shared some of her memories from the time, including about the donor:

“We must never forget that the transplant was made possible because of the donor and his family. I remember he was a labourer working on a construction site, who had died after a fall. The priest at the hospital spoke to the family and encouraged them to consider donating the organ.”

Others at the event included Fernando Riesgo-Gil, the current co-director of transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Harefield, Rosie Pope and Catherine Perry, co-founders of the Healing Garden, and members of the hospitals’ arts team, who facilitated the event.

Donald Ross (1922 to 2014)

Donald Ross was a South African-born British cardiothoracic surgeon and a pioneer of cardiac surgery. He developed the pulmonary autograft – known as the Ross Procedure for the treatment of aortic valve disease. The procedure is still used by surgeons at Harefield today. Ross paved the way for leaders like Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, who performed the first heart-lung transplant in Europe, at Harefield Hospital.