PINT FOR PINT

Series

Series Name: Mining Review 9th Year

Issue

Issue No.

Date Released

Apr 1956

Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: Wyrley No.3 pioneers blood transfusion
NCB Commentary - As part of the wide range of hospital routine, hospitals in mining areas receive the occasional casualty from neighbouring collieries.
After an accident, Tom Pepper, Training Officer at Wyrley No. 3 colliery, usually accompanies Don Tait - First Aid Attendent - with the casualty.
8 years ago, on one of these visites, as Pepper and Tait were leaving the hospital, a Blood Transfusion Service Poster captured their attention.
Tom Pepper decided to enrol as a blood donor. In due course he went back to the hospital to give him first contribution, and took with him Don Tait, Sid Pritchard and Sam Vaughan. Talking to other donors and to the burses made them all realise that the demand for blood donors didn’t die with the war.
Back at the club Sid Pritchard put up a scheme to the committee, to recruit donors at the colliery and in the village. As an inducement was born the pint for a pint idea. The club would put up a pint of beer or its equivalent for every blood donation given.
At Wyrley No. 3 pit recruiting gathered pace. Among early volunteers were Horace Tindall, Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Richards of the Canteen staff and Blacksmith Tom Rankine. The Rankine family came in too. Other collier’s womenfolk followed their example.
Today, when local donors gather for a session, the club is a busy place.
So many donors are assembled that the hospital sends round a mobile unit of the National Blood Transfusion Service. For the waiting queue time passes quickly. One by one they move into an annexe to the hall, which is temporarily rigged out as a surgery.
By now, most of the Wyrley folk are old hands at the game and don’t have to be reassured that giving their blood is a simple and painless business. But they all know full well that their contribution may be instrumental in saving the life of someone they will never know.
Each person’s transfusion is labelled up according to its group before it’s refrigerated for storage at National Blood Transfusion centres.
The men and women of Wyrley can be proud of the public service they volunteer to perform. Their example is one which may stimulate interest throughout the coalfields in the continuing demands for fresh blood donors throughout the country.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 5th March 1956.

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