Pub landlord donates 100th pint of blood

A pub landlord has celebrated giving away 100 pints in 25 years - not through serving free beer to customers, but by donating blood.

Stephen Cotterill reached the milestone on his 43rd birthday in March, having first signed up for the NHS scheme aged 18.

The publican of the Kings Arms, in Sutton-in-Craven, said being a regular donor was his way of giving back, especially as someone in a "very community-faced" job.

"It doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, everybody needs blood, and I think that's quite a special thing - you can be the richest person in the world, but you still need blood, don't you?," he said.

Stephen made his first donation while he was studying at the former Thomas Danby College in Leeds, after being convinced it was a "good idea" to sign up.

"You're giving something back to the community and not everyone, definitely at that age, can always afford to give to charity all the time," he said.

"So you're giving something back, without having to put your hand in your pocket as well."

Since then, he has donated the maximum of four times per year - men can donate every 12 weeks, women every 16 - over the past two decades.

The age threshold for donation is between 17 to 65, so Stephen estimates he might be one of the youngest people to hit the 100th donation milestone.

He said while none of his immediate family had ever needed a transfusion some of his friends had and customers at the pub had also spoken to him about how they have been helped.

Stephen also receives texts through NHS Blood and Transplant which tell him when and where his blood has been used, which can sometimes be close to home.

"After a couple of weeks, you'll get a text message through and it'll say, 'thank you for your donation, your blood has been sent to so-and-so hospital'.

"I'm about a mile down the road from Airedale Hospital, and a few months ago it went there, so that was quite nice knowing it's gone to one of the local hospitals.

"You're also reassured that 'oh, my blood's good, so I feel good as well'."

The next milestone to celebrate will be 125 donations which he can achieve, if he keeps donating four times a year, by age 55.

"You never know, it could be your partner, your parents, or your kids down the line," he said.

"So if you give it now, you feel like you're doing something good."

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