I AM amazed at the news about Ian Shackleford (Warrington Guardian, March 10).

Not only did he perform a cervical vertebral fusion on me, which frankly saved me from enduring a life without the sport I love, he sat for a whole evening the night before my father Prof Frank Jones passed away from cancer.

The work he and many others like him does is precious.

My family are forever thankful for Mr Shackleford for his knowledge, professional expertise and support.

CATHY WILSON Warrington