COLIN PULLAN, MBE
1932-2022
Founder of the Take Heart Charity
in Leeds General Infirmary
Colin Pullan was an ambulance Driver in Leeds and while serving, had
heart problems which necessitated by-pass Surgery in 1988. He was well
cared for by hospital staff, but after 6 weeks was dismayed to learn that
there would be no further follow-up. He had befriended others in the
same position and they kept contact. This developed into meetings in a
pub when they decided to form a club to support ex cardiac patients.
Colin decided to form a charity so that funds could be raised and together
with some hospital staff including Philip Kay, a cardiac surgeon, Take Heart
was born.
Small donations were made and the first things bought were exercise
machines and patients were invited to a course of keeping fit after their
surgery.
Take Heart grew rapidly and every donation has been spent on the Heart
patients, wards and staff of the Yorkshire Heart Centre in LGI. The charity
provides free bedside TV and phone calls for all heart in-patients, medical
equipment for staff and even furniture and decor for the heart wards. One
major provision is free accommodation for out-of-town relatives of heart
surgical patients.
In October 2002, Colin was awarded the MBE by HM The Queen in
Buckingham Palace.
Take Heart has gone from strength to strength with more than 5000
members enrolling and is unique in that it has no paid staff. All trustees
give their services voluntarily.
Colin passed away in Leeds General Infirmary in 7th April 2022. He leaves
wife Mary and daughter Jackie. Mary continues to reside in the Pudsey
care home which she had shared with Colin.
Thousands of people have expressed grateful thanks to Colin and he will
be sadly missed.
Alec McLean, Treasurer
