Gordon Brown reveals how tragic death of baby daughter helped save life of ex-Labour leader’s grandchild
Gordon and Sarah helped set up a research laboratory after their premature daughter Jennifer died aged just 10 days old in 2002
FORMER Prime Minister Gordon Brown has revealed the tragic death of his baby daughter helped save the life of the grandchild of former Labour leader John Smith.
The politician and his wife Sarah helped set up a research laboratory after their premature daughter Jennifer died aged just 10 days old in 2002.
Mr Smith's daughter Catherine Smith, 43, revealed work carried out at the lab "impacted directly" on the care given to her daughter Ella McConnachie, now two.
She said it had "improved her chance of survival" after she was born at 28 weeks weighing just 1lb 10oz.
Former PM Mr Brown described Catherine's father as "my friend, my colleague, my mentor", saying that even 23 years after his death the politician is still "sorely missed".
Fifteen years after Jennifer's death, he said he and his wife are "so proud" to see what has been achieved by staff at the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory (JBRL) at the University of Edinburgh.