By The first woman in the world to give birth to a test tube baby has died at the age of 64.
Lesley Brown made history on 25 July 1978 when she gave birth to daughter Louise Brown, now 33, following IVF treatment at Oldham General Hospital.
The world's first test tube mum Lesley Brown, her daughter Louise and her husband John © SWNS
She had been desperately trying for a baby for nine years with husband John, but the couple struggled to conceive as Lesley had blocked fallopian tubes.
The couple then signed up to an experimental procedure, called In-Vitro Fertilisation, where eggs are fertilised with sperm outside the body and then implanted into the womb.
[Related article: IVF treatment extended to women up to the age of 42]
Professor Bob Edwards - awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 for his work - and Dr Patrick Steptoe carried out the procedure in 1977.
Lesley, from Whitchurch, Bristol, became pregnant on the first attempt, with five pound and 12 ounce Louise Joy Brown born by caesarean section at 11.47pm on 25 July 1978.
Lesley Brown in 1978 © RexShe later repeated the procedure to conceive her second daughter Natalie.
Yesterday, Lesley's family announced that she had died at Bristol Royal Infirmary on 6 June, following a short illness.
Her daughter, Louise, said: “Mum was a very quiet and private person who ended up in the world spotlight because she wanted a family so much. We are all missing her terribly.”
Speaking on behalf of Professor Robert Edwards and the team at Bourn Hall Clinic, Mike Macamee, CEO said: “Lesley was a devoted mum and grandmother and through her bravery and determination many millions of women have been given the chance to become mothers.
“She was a lovely gentle lady and we will all remember her with deep affection.”
More than three million babies around the world have been born using IVF treatment.
