BLOOD donors from Winchester have been honoured at a recent awards ceremony. James Gray, Angela Lewis and Bob Bradshaw were recognised at the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) awards held at The Hub Theatre in Southampton on November 6.

The awards celebrate those who have made either 75 or 100 donations, or 500 donations if they donate platelets. Mr Bradshaw, who first started giving blood in Ireland with members of his rugby club, said: “You never know when you or a member of your family will need to rely on the generosity of strangers who donate their blood. I am happy to give blood and often respond to urgent broadcasts on the radio as I think that as long as I am healthy I should do my bit.”

Also at the event was Steph Robinson, a student at the University of Southampton who has inflammatory bowel disease. She said: “Thank you is not enough to express how grateful I am to still be here. I hope that what I said at the event can demonstrate to all the blood donors how much their time and generosity means to me and all those that receive blood.”