Mother’s archive revealed on first test tube baby’s 40th birthday

A remarkable archive kept by the mother of the world’s first test tube baby has been revealed to mark the 40th anniversary of her birth.

Lesley Brown’s collection of letters, photographs, films, newspapers, magazines and mementos from trips abroad can now be viewed in Bristol.

There are also appointment cards and correspondence from scientists and doctors, gifts given to mark the birth and media contracts in the archive.

One letter from Dr Robert Edwards in December 1977 reads: “Just a short note to let you know that the early results on your blood and urine samples are very encouraging, and indicate that you might be in early pregnancy.

“So please take things quietly – no skiing, climbing, or anything too strenuous including Xmas shopping!”

Mrs Brown and husband John were the first people to successfully undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Their daughter Louise Brown, who turns 40 today, was born at Oldham General Hospital on July 25 1978.

Following her mother’s death in 2012, Louise discovered boxes of material, and a scrapbook of memories including a copy of her birth certificate, tucked in a wardrobe at the family home.

She donated the collection to Bristol Archives, who received a grant from the Wellcome Trust to catalogue and conserve it, in 2016.

Parts of the Lesley Brown Collection will be on display at the Science Museum, with items also on show at the M Shed museum from December.

Louise said: “Mum was a proud Bristolian so it was right to deposit the material in our home city archive.”

Pictures: PA/Getty. A cutting from the archive and Louise now.