Lapsed labour of love finally reborn

By BRONWYN SELL

The dream of a Hamilton scientist has come true 15 years after his death.

Dr Walter Whittlestone, a respected dairy industry chemist, was the brains behind the invention of a pioneering human breast pump in 1967.

He and his colleagues never had the money to produce more than a few and the patent eventually lapsed.

Then 18 months ago one of Dr Whittlestone's business partners, Yvonne Foreman, was contacted by an American company which had heard about the pump and wanted to manufacture it.

Yesterday, Mrs Foreman, a breast-feeding advocate whose late husband was another partner, finally got to see their labour of love when a pump was brought to her Hamilton home.

The pump will be officially launched in Washington DC at the end of the month.

Mrs Foreman said it had been heartbreaking to see the invention wasted, but they did not have the money to take it further until the Americans came on board.

She said breast pumps were used for babies with cleft palates, or when mothers and babies were separated.

"We gave the whole thing up with regret, and to have it resurrected is a dream come true."