Wirral pair are Britain’s most generous blood donors – with more than 300 pints between them

Nov 25 2009 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

THE UK’s top two blood donors both hail from Wirral.

Greasby man Tom Kelly was honoured by Prime Minister Gordon Brown last month for being the most prolific blood donor in the country, after giving 156 pints over 52 years.

But it has since emerged that Mr Kelly, 72, has been superseded by another Briton, who, bizarrely enough, lives just round the corner in Pensby.

Jim Foxcroft turns 71 in March and has managed to overtake Mr Kelly in the blood giving stakes thanks to a rule change.

Tom Kelly was forced to retire from donating for medical reasons in 2008, when the age limit was set at 70-years-old.

But in May this year, that age limit was removed allowing Jim Foxcroft to equal Tom’s record on his 70th birthday.

And since then the former Vauxhall’s worker, who began donating when he was 18, has sneaked ahead, giving blood twice to reach a new UK record of 158 pints over a lifetime.

Jim, a grandfather of three, told the News: “I’m just pleased I’ve been able to help save lives.

“I can get some satisfaction knowing there are people walking around thanks to me, and other blood donors.