Dr J Richard Smith is one of the world’s leading gynaecological surgeons, and a specialist in cancer survivorship and fertility sparing surgery for women with cancer. He has NHS approval to perform the very first womb transplants in the UK. A few years ago a major health scare forced Richard to question his belief in his own personal invincibility and face the reality of mortality. An inner search led him to read the spiritual classic The Way of a Pilgrim and, with the guidance of his priest, to start practising contemplative prayer, chant and pilgrimage.