He did not drink, did not smoke and was quite an athlete - completing mini-marathons and running at least three miles a day.

But in 1988 massive chest pains in the early hours were the first signs that all was not well.

"I thought I was in peak condition," he said. "I was 10st 2 and feeling fine."

But doctors at Wythenshawe Hospital diagnosed a coronary thrombosis.

He had a massive heart attack and Harold's wife, Susan, was told that the initial procedures might not be successful.

"One minute I was a tremendously busy dental surgeon, the next minute I was completely incapacitated in hospital," he said.

When told he would need a heart transplant, Harold, then 57, initially refused to consider the operation.

But the influence of the surgeons at the heart unit, which is now threatened with closure, and a veiled ultimatum from his wife made him change his mind.

"Susan said she had never interfered with any decision I had ever made, but she really wanted me to have it done," he said.

He replied with a 'dramatic' speech, telling Susan she was a 'very beautiful woman and still young enough to remarry'.

"I felt a bit like Clark Gable, but it went down like a lead balloon," he said.

She told him: 'Being married to you is enough marriage for one lifetime.'

The couple's frank discussions persuaded Harold to wait for a transplant. Five months later he was in theatre.

"My first thought when I woke up was about the heart donor," he said.

"I was profoundly moved that in the depths of their great tragedy their thought was to help another.

"It saved my life and I am not an emotional person but it moved me to tears."

Harold spoke to the Knutsford Guardian about his operation as the Wythenshawe Transplant Centre faced closure due to Government 'rationalisation'.

"It would be a tragedy if the centre closes," he said. "It has been a source of great comfort to me.

"It is like going into a friend's house every time I go back."

The centre also 'went beyond the call of duty' in supporting Harole's wife and their two children.

"They were absolutely wonderful at every stage," said Susan. "This centre is the NHS at its very best.

"We can still ring 24 hours a day if we think we have a problem and you can guarantee whoever answers the phone will know who Harold is.

"The continuity of staff over the years is incredible."

The fact that Harold, now 70, enjoys a '99% normal' life is a testament too to the continuing dedication of the team at the centre.

"It is one of the most dramatic operations you can have," said Susan.

"We took him in for the operation in a wheelchair, but he came out a spring chicken."

Within weeks of the operation Harold was back training, on his exercise bike and at his local gym and he even took up microlighting.

For the Wythenshawe Transplant Centre, Harold is also one of their greatest success stories - with the heart transplant for over 13 years.