Honoured for his 75 pints

Derek Fish received an engraved glass bowl from the National Blood Service for reaching the milestone of donating 75 pints of blood. Each can be used to save three lives.

Devoted Mr Fish has since donated his 77th pint '“ at The Hub community centre in Bognor Regis town centre on Tuesday afternoon '“ to maintain his loyalty.

He said: 'As time goes on when you're a donor, you appreciate you are doing something worthwhile. I hope that even just one person will be encouraged to become a donor by reading this article.'

The presentation in London for his 75th donation included a talk from a man with a rare blood condition who has been kept alive by blood transfusions.

'If you ever needed convincing that donating blood was a good thing to do, just listening to one person like that is enough to encourage anyone to become a donor,' he said.

Mr Fish began his regular three-times-a-year appearances at the donor sessions on January 13, 1961, when he was just 19.

He was an apprentice blacksmith/welder and his boss encouraged him to go along with him to Hove Town Hall.

'He had just finished his national service and had had two years of blood donating and convinced me to join him,' said Mr Fish (66), of Guernsey Farm Lane.

His O rhesus positive blood has since flowed freely at the donor sessions followed by a cup of tea and biscuits or snacks. Occasional breaks because of illness and family commitments have failed to dim his enthusiasm.

'I would like to think I will get to 90 pints donated,' he said, 'before I have to stop at the age of 70.'

Times have changed since retired council housing manager Mr Fish gave his first pints when sessions were full and hopeful donors had to be turned away.

Conditions such as CJD and Aids mean that more restrictions apply to potential donors than before to mean the presence of donors like Mr Fish is as important as ever.