A FROME man who has given his 100th blood donation in almost 60 years said it gives him a warm feeling inside.
John Smart told Frome Times he was spoilt by the blood team at his landmark visit to the Memorial Theatre on Tuesday 20th July, and instead of being rewarded with a biscuit with his cup of tea afterwards he was given a packet of custard creams. John said, “I have no intention of stopping – I’m 100 not out!”
John first gave blood in 1970 and says, “It’s changed around the edges but the format is still the same as it was from the word go. The blood team are always so welcoming and friendly.
“The reason I started was because, where I worked at Butler and Tanner in Frome, our employer agreed with the blood team that they would come and do a session in the canteen and that we would be paid for the time and get a cup of tea and biscuit afterwards – that’s what swung it.
“We were a group of young lads and we all came back with our arms in the air.”
John said there was no altruistic motive on his part until after a while he realised “there was some poor person at the other end who needed it and that it possibly made a life-saving difference to them.
“It gives you a warm feeling inside,” John said.
“In the last 18 months people have become even more aware and appreciative of the NHS but behind the scenes and aside from all the pandemic stuff, they are doing serious operations and procedures – a lot of which couldn’t be done if it wasn’t for the blood bank.”
In recent years the blood donation service has sent links to donors so they can see which hospital their donation has helped.
John said, “In 2019 one of mine went to a children’s hospital – but I did think some poor little chap has some 73-year-old’s blood” he joked.
He used to donate twice a year but when it went to metric it changed to three times a year. He had a break in the middle because of work and life but says, “I don’t intend to stop now!”
John said giving blood could not be easier and he also sees it as a personal MOT. “It’s such an easy process,” he says. “No-one should be afraid of giving it a go.”
“You are asked a few questions about your lifestyle, habits etc.
“They take a prick of blood from your finger and drop it into a tube of green liquid which will confirm whether you will be accepted or rejected to donate.
“I’ve never been rejected.
“You go and lie down – nowadays it’s a hi-tech chair that can go at all different angles, it’s so comfortable, not like the army camp beds we used to have!
“They take your blood pressure and most of the time you can’t even feel you’re giving blood. You lay there and it goes into a machine.”
He said it was embarrassing being spoilt and having his story publicised but if his positive experience convinces even one person to donate blood, then it has been a success.
John’s wife Pam also used to donate blood until she had to stop for medical reasons and their son, Richard, continues to donate.
Pic 1: John with (l to r) granddaughter, Lisa, wife, Pam, and daughter, Jean
Pic 2: John enjoying his tea and biscuits
Pic 3: John holding is 100th donation balloon, with Pam
Pic 4: John giving blood
Pic 5: John giving blood
