When Western Gazette editor Martin Heal turned up at his local blood donating session, he was expecting to be the star of the show.

Martin was due to donate his 75th ‘pint’ after 37 years of giving blood.

But he was upstaged by the “bleeder” in the next bed – Ron Harris, who lives up the road from Martin in Sherborne, was giving his 100th donation.

Martin first gave blood when he went to a session as a (very young) reporter to do a first person piece to publicise the blood transfusion service.

He said: “I remember I did a tongue-in-cheek article along the lines of the Tony Hancock record.

“My wife, Pat, was in the Red Cross at the time and was pouring out the tea at the session. She was the first person I persuaded to give blood.

“Her giving was interrupted by the births of our three children but she has made more than 50 donations.

“We both feel it is one of the most worthwhile things we do. We know a number of people whose lives have been saved by a transfusion.”

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