Nobel Dad

Jenny (far left) with her mum and sisters in the early 1970s

Professor Robert Edwards is the physiologist who developed the IVF technique - along with his late colleague, Dr Patrick Steptoe. They established the world's first IVF clinic, Bourn Hall in Cambridgeshire.

Professor Edwards' second daughter Dr Jenny Joy and her four sisters are full of pride today. They have travelled to Sweden to celebrate their father being awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine on Friday.

Jenny, now 50, was 18 when Louise Brown was born.

'Waiting to pounce'

She remembers: "That moment was the pinnacle - but there'd been so many years of research leading to it.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteDad was totally dedicated - nothing was going to put him off. ”

End QuoteDr Jenny JoyDaughter of Professor Edwards "I just remember Dad going to the hospital in Oldham quite regularly - and then coming back elated.

"The press were camped out there waiting for the birth. There were huge celebrations.

"Having a healthy baby was the key thing - the critics were waiting to pounce.

"There had been pregnancies before and they hadn't gone full term. When the baby was born safely, everyone was ecstatic. There had been so many hurdles on the way.

"In the early days the press reports were often sensational. But Dad was totally dedicated to his cause and nothing was going to put him off.

"It was wonderful for Dad to have a big family of five girls. It made him appreciate what others were missing.

"He was well aware of the anguish of infertility, and he thought that having life and children was one of the most important things in the world."

Professor Edwards, 85, is too frail to travel to Sweden to collect the award - so his wife, Ruth Fowler, is collecting it on his behalf.

They met when she was studying for her PhD in Edinburgh, and she worked alongside him, helping produce scientific papers as well as looking after the family.

IVF is now a well-established technique, but in those days it was controversial.

Alien

The infertile women who were seeking treatment often had to keep their efforts secret from family and friends.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteDad considered standing as MP for Cambridge. We're glad he chose physiology!”

End QuoteDr Jenny JoyDaughter of Professor Robert Edwards Jenny said: "This idea of a test-tube baby was alien to most people's thoughts. People imagined them actually growing in test tubes.

"We grew up with the press on the phone, trying to talk to Dad.

"Now everyone knows someone who's had IVF. And for us, the programme has been part of our lives."

Jenny now works in butterfly conservation - but she was an auxiliary nurse at Bourn Hall when it opened.

She's keen to pay tribute to her father's determination, and his other qualities and interests.

She said: "Whatever the setbacks in his work on IVF, it never put him off.