ONE of the world's most respected surgeons and scientists set out to win the hearts and minds of young people in Newport yesterday.

Sir Magdi Yacoub was at Duffryn High School in Newport which was hosting the inaugural Morgan Lecture.

He gave a fascinating insight into the heart and why it is so important to look after it.

Sir Magdi before a packed audience of pupils from Duffryn and other schools and distinguished guests including Nobel prize winner Sir Martin Evans, the chief medical officer for Wales Tony Jewell and First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

As well as stressing the importance of looking after the heart by adopting a healthy lifestyle, especially from a young age, the professor also wanted to inspire pupils to follow a career in scientific research.

Not only was he an inspirational role model for the youngsters in the school hall, he was also able to tell them about one of their own who is achieving success in the field.

Former Duffryn pupil Leanne Filkin is currently a researcher at Imperial College London and has published papers, Sir Magdi told his audience.

He said young people were also needed to work with Chain of Hope, a charity he founded to help children in countries without access to heart surgery.

Sir Magdi added this represented a global message. "We are not living alone."

He stressed how important the heart was and how to look after it.

"I also want to recruit young minds to the massive opportunities in discovery and in healing people, not only in their own community but around the world."

During questions afterwards, he revealed he was just four when he decided to become a heart surgeon following the death of his aunt aged just 22 of rheumatic heart disease.

Surgeon made most transplant ops

Newport doctor and councillor Ibrahim Hayat organised the Morgan Lecture, which are named for the First Minister.

It is intended to be series of lectures about the heart at more than 200 schools around South Wales.

Rhodri Morgan, who himself underwent heart surgery last year.

He told the audience how many years ago his wife Julie was working as a nurse and went with a young heart patient to Harefield Hospital where she watched Sir Magdi operating.

A Mozart or Bach recording was playing and his "magic hands" seemed to move with the rhythm of the music.

Sir Magdi Yacoub was born in Cairo where he qualified as a doctor in 1957.

He came to Britain five years later becoming a pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery.

Harefield Hospital becamse the country's leading transplant centre under his leadership.

He has performed more transplants than any other surgeon in the world.

Although he retired seven years ago, Sir Magdi continues to head research at Harefield Hospital.

He is a Fellow of The Royal Society.