An Addingham grandfather who donated a kidney to a complete stranger is hoping his lifesaving gift will inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Alan Davies, 67, a grandfather-of-three, has recovered well after undergoing surgery at St James’s Hospital in Leeds in early March.

Mr Davies knows the recipient is a middle-aged woman and has received a letter from her.

She wrote that she was “extremely honoured and very lucky to be the recipient”, was feeling stronger every day and was glad the days of dialysis were over.

She said the actions of Mr Davies had transformed her life.

The retired chartered engineer, who lives with his wife Linda, 64, in Bolton Road, became one of the small, but growing band of altruistic kidney donors after being inspired by former jockey and BBC racing commentator Richard Pitman, who donated a kidney to a stranger in February 2012.

Mr Davies, who is on the council of governors of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and co-ordinator of Addingham Community First Responder Team and Heartstart Addingham, was already a regular blood donor, when he saw an interview on breakfast TV with Mr Pitman and said to Linda: “I fancy having a go at that.”

Mrs Davies, 64, cannot be an altruistic donor as she had cancer 14 years ago but encouraged her husband in his decision, as did their son and daughter. That afternoon Mr Davies rang St James’s Hospital and, as he says, “the rest is history”.

“My recipient had been stood down twice before – so it was third time lucky for her,” he said. “She had been on dialysis two or three times a week.

“When people say ‘you are ever so brave’ we say no – the patient is the brave one.

“Kidney disease is an all consuming condition to have. You are never free of it. The courage of coping with that is phenomenal compared to my weekend in hospital and a few weeks of recovery.”

Mr Davies had to undergo months of careful monitoring on both medical and psychological grounds before being given the final go ahead by the Human Tissue Authority.

Within four hours of going on the register in March, a match had been found and he was admitted to St James’s on a Thursday evening. His left kidney was removed on Friday lunchtime in key hole surgery lasting two-and-a-half hours and he left hospital on Sunday lunchtime.

The recipient received the kidney in a different hospital on the Friday evening.

Mr Davies is now working with the donor committee at Airedale Hospital to promote increased carrying of organ register cards and raise awareness of organ donation and blood donation.

“I am no more vulnerable with one kidney than two,” he said. “Hopefully my story will encourage and inspire people. I feel fine, physically I am fit. It is nothing the average fit person should be frightened of.

“If someone wants to become a live donor I would be willing to talk to them.”