A shopping centre manager from North Wales is urging people to make a special gift on the day of the royal wedding – by giving blood.
According to Kevin Critchley, it doesn’t have to be royal blood – the commoner variety is just fine.
That’s because the extra Bank Holiday on the big day is causing headache for the National Blood Service.
Bank Holidays always lead to a drop in the number of blood donations because people are off work and relaxing – or in this case watching the nuptials at Westminster Abbey.
The organisation is holding two blood donor sessions in Wrexham next week – the first one on Tuesday (April 26) and the second on the day of the wedding.
Kevin invited the National Blood Service to Wrexham’s Eagles Meadow shopping centre, where he’s the manager, to promote the two sessions.
He’s been a regular donor since 1982 when his wife needed a transfusion following the birth of their first daughter.
In January, he was given a lapel badge to mark his 50th donation and he wants as many people as possible to attend the donor days this week so that blood stocks receive a vital boost.
Kevin explained: “When our first daughter was born, it was complicated and my wife needed a transfusion.
“She was born successfully and I wanted to give something back for all the work that they did in looking after my wife and my daughter. Just saying thank you over and over again didn’t seem enough
“One of the nurses said the best thing you can do is give blood so I have been doing it ever since 1982 when she was born.
“The human body has about eight pints of blood so it works out at around six and a half bodies of blood – certainly a bit more than an armful as Tony Hancock famously said.
“The thought that somebody’s life has been saved because you’ve given blood is wonderful. It’s a great feeling.
“It’s an easy thing to do, the staff are really nice and helpful and make you feel totally at ease. They give you nice cake and biscuits afterwards – what more could you want?
“What they really need is people with commoner blood like mine. It doesn’t have to be the royal blue blood variety!
Donor Relations Assistant Lyn Babington, who works with the Service’s Cheshire and North Wales team, said: “Kevin is definitely a role model.
“Only four per cent of the eligible population give blood and we need more donors.
“Bank Holidays cause us a problem because we need the continuity of the blood supply which diminishes because people are on holiday.
“The Royal Wedding is absolutely marvellous but unfortunately hospitals need the blood 24 hours a day, seven days a week – our job is to supply that constant demand.
“If people want a break from the Royal Wedding or a nice cup of tea in the afternoon, we’d be delighted to see them. It doesn’t have to be royal blood – it can be anybody’s blood as long as it’s red.”
The donor session on Tuesday, April 26, is being held at the Memorial Hall, in Wrexham, between 10am to 12noon and between 1,20pm 3.45pm and the one on the day of the royal wedding on Friday, April 29, is being held at the town’s Ramada Hotel between 10am to 12noon and between 1,20pm 3.45pm
