TWENTY-five years ago Stephen Smith was persuaded by work colleagues to give blood.

And earlier this month Mr Smith, from Bicester, collected an award to mark his 75th donation.

After the presentation at the Four Pillars Hotel, in Oxford, the engineer manager said: “A few of my colleagues had donated a couple of times and I don’t think I would have gone if they hadn’t said a few things to make me donate.”

Initially he gave blood once every six months and then began to make platelet donations, which is a longer process but can be done up to once a fortnight.

Platelets are a product of blood which help to stem loss by enabling clotting – they only have a seven day shelf-life.

Platelet transfusions are often needed for very ill patients whose bone marrow isn’t working properly, including cancer or leukaemia sufferers undergoing chemotherapy.

Mr Smith, who is married, said: “Yes, I am proud. The award is in the sitting room and it is in pride of place next to pictures of my family and children.

“Giving blood takes just 20 minutes every few months and people can go to a local donor session convenient to them.”