Surgeon’s gift to Merthyr museum

Nov 1 2007 by Linda Elias, Cynon Valley Leader

A FORMER top Cynon Valley eye surgeon has presented an unusual gift to the Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil and Cyfarthfa Castle Museum.

The gifts take the form of replicas of a special cake which featured in a ceremony earlier this year when Mithu Lalla entrusted a treasured vase into the museum’s safe hands.

The cake featured a photograph of Cyfarthfa Castle and Mr Lalla.

He decided to have a replicas made of it in a non-perishable material to present to the mayor and the museum, where it will be placed alongside the vase.

“A third replica will travel with me to India shortly and I will present it to the museum in Bombay,” said Mr Lalla.

The tale of Mr Lalla and the green vase he donated to the museum is a fascinating one.

When the surgeon saved the sight of a young boy, the child’s family were overwhelmed with gratitude.

They gave Mr Lalla an oriental vase and the child’s grandfather wrote a letter saying: “You gave my grandson the precious gift of sight.

“I want to give you the most precious thing in my house.”

The year was 1976 and Mr Lalla was deeply moved by the gift, which he has treasured for 30 years.

But he decided it was time to present the vase to the Cyfarthfa Castle Museum for the people of Merthyr and Cynon Valley to enjoy.

Mr Lalla was a consultant surgeon at Prince Charles Hospital and retired from his 17-year post in 1992.

During his distinguished career he brought the waiting list for eye surgery down from six years to two weeks.

He was a champion of the NHS, and proud of the fact he never held a private clinic.

His skills, combined with his popularity, inspired the people of Merthyr and the Cynon Valley to donate more than £200,000 to the eye department.

A Welsh slate plaque, fashioned in the shape of an eye, stands in his honour at the entrance to the hospital.

Museum curator Scott Reid said the vase told the tale of a dedicated surgeon and how he inspired the community to raise funds to create a first-class eye unit.

The vase was manufactured in Bohemia in the 1880s and was originally one of a pair.

A replica of the cake will now stand alongside the vase at the Merthyr museum.