Silent Victims: Parts 1 and 2

The Impact of Thalidomide on One Family

The eldest brother of Thalidomide survivor Leslie Millar has written two gripping books about the devastating impact of Thalidomide.

In Silent Victims: Part 1, Gary Millar, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, focuses on the life of Margaret Marjorie Millar – Madge – mother lost in the fog of the drug’s tragic legacy. Told through meticulously transcribed medical case notes and interwoven with deeply personal reflections from Madge’s son, Gary, Silent Victims offers a raw yet factual exploration of Thalidomide’s impact through the lens of one family and is a call to reflect on the untold stories of all of the silent victims of the Thalidomide scandal.

On November 24th, his publisher, Writing on the Wall, launched Silent Victims: Part 2, the powerful sequel to his acclaimed Silent Victims: Part 1. This compelling follow-up shifts the focus from Gary’s mother, Margaret, to the wider Millar family, tracing six decades of resilience, love, and struggle in the aftermath of Thalidomide.

At the heart of the story is Gary’s brother, Leslie Millar, a Thalidomide survivor whose life was shaped by a world that often misunderstood and excluded him. Through photographs, memories, and meticulous research, Gary reveals the profound impact of Thalidomide, not only on Leslie, but on his entire family.

Raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful, Silent Victims: Part 2 gives a voice to the silent victims of medical negligence, while celebrating the strength, humour, and humanity of those who refused to be defined by tragedy.

Drawing on photographs, memories, and painstaking research, Gary uncovers how the shadow of Thalidomide shaped not only Leslie’s life, but also the lives of his parents and siblings who lived in its aftermath.

Read the stories, and discover a moving narrative of heartache, courage and resilience.

Get your copies
Silent Victims: Part 1 is available at writingonthewall.org.uk/shop/silent-victims
Silent Victims: Part 2 is available at writingonthewall.org.uk/shop/silent-victims-part-2