An eminent cardiologist with a renowned reputation has always harboured another ambition – Dr Michael Rigby is a secret rock and roller.

So when a musician, overcome with gratitude that Dr Rigby’s skills had saved the life of his baby girl, discovered his longing, a musical duo was born.

It all started when baby Marcella was born at Epsom General Hospital – the first child of actress Helen McNee, 36, and singer-songwriter Elio Pace, 41, who has also played as session musician to some of the biggest names in showbusiness.

The couple from Spa Drive, Epsom, became worried about their daughter and took her back to hospital for a check up.

The baby was transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital, London, where she was taken into the care of Dr Rigby and underwent major surgery.

The baby had serious heart problems, which would have killed her within days if she had not been treated.

Mr Pace said: “I was just so grateful, I didn’t know what we could do or say to express our gratitude.

“He is a lovely man, wonderful, he just brushed it off and said ‘It’s my job’, but we wanted him to know how we felt”

Later the musician and the doctor were chatting informally in the hospital corridor and discovered a mutual love of music, then the doctor confessed ambition to learn to play a different style of music Mr Pace, who has made several records and regularly plays with his 10 piece band, said: “I just couldn’t believe it – I said ‘But that is what I do, that’s me.”

He has been giving the doctor, who already played the piano, private lessons and he can now swap Bach for Basie and Handel for Haley.

Mr Pace and the good doctor will be playing together at the hospital Christmas show, and Mr Pace in planning a concert in the New Year to showcase the doctor’s talent.

It will feature some of the top musicians in the country, keen to support the hospital and its work to save desperately sick adults and children.

In the meantime Marcella is doing well, but will have to undergo more surgery in the future. She is then expected to live a long and healthy life.

• Got a great story for us? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.