PARTIALLY-sighted piano tuner Barry Heaton has a new driver - thanks to the skill of medics who performed a lifesaving heart transplant.

Former Royal Mail manager Robert Smith, 49, has taken the part time job three years after the operation at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.

Two days a week he transports Barry, who lives in the Lynwood area of Darwen, from job to job around the North West.

"It's a really interesting job. I get to go to lots of big houses and meet some very interesting people, occasionally even celebrities," explained Robert, of Bolton.

"Most of the work that Barry does is in private houses but we also visit a lot of schools and the other week he tuned a piano in Hull town hall.

"The bulk of the clients are in Blackburn, Clitheroe, Bolton and Manchester, but we can find ourselves anywhere in the region." The married father of two had the transplant in August 1996. He added: "I am now back in pretty good shape and just want to get on with my life. I don't really think too much about my transplant now but I can be pretty sure that I would not be here at all if the right donor had not come along."

Ann Stuart, manager of the New Heart New Start Appeal said: "Robert is one of a rapidly growing number of men and women throughout the region whose renewed health and zest for life clearly demonstrates the real benefits of transplantation in human terms.

"Unfortunately, there are many others now on the waiting list for a transplant and our ability to give them this second chance depends entirely upon the availability of donor organs and their generosity of donor families."

A £1.5million campaign has been launched to establish a dedicated ward, now in its early planning stages. The appeal also needs to raise £300,000 a year to provide continuing support to the transplant programme and the newly opened transplant research unit.

Donations can be sent to Ann Stuart, appeal manager, Wythenshawe Hospital New Heart New Start Appeal, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M23 9LT, tel 0161 945 2166.

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