SAVING OTHERS IS IN MAIRI’S BLOOD
Great-grandfather had transfusion in 1886
The great-granddaughter of the recipient of one of the first successful blood transfusions carried out in Scotland has urged others to donate to the life-saving blood donation service.
Mairi Philp from Comrie made the appeal after giving her 91st unit of blood earlier this week.
Her great- grandfather, James Philp, was critically injured in a quarry explosion but survived thanks to the expertise of medics and the availability of the new procedure in 1886.
Former district nurse Mairi said: “We need as many folk as possible to donate blood. I do this to thank and honour the surgeons who saved my great-grandfather’s life way back in January, 1886.
“Had it not been for the courage, skill and dedication of these men, Papa would have surely died and future generations, including me, would not exist.”
The mobile blood donor unit was in Crieff on Monday.
At the moment giving blood is by appointment only.
And for one Strath resident it was important that the date was in her diary.
Mairi Philp from Comrie, who first gave blood in1974 in the Lesser City Hall in Perth when she was 19, was giving her 91st unit of blood and is well on her way to her goal of 100 units.
The former midwife, district nurse and village outreach worker is urging others to support the service – but not just because of her former profession.
Mairi’s reason for giving blood goes back more than 100 years.
Her great-grandfather, James Philp, was critically injured in a quarry explosion only seven days after his marriage.
He lost his forearm and his leg. His life was saved by Thomas Annandale, who later became a professor, and Dr J M Cotterill, who would go on to receive a knighthood.
Mairi said: “We need as many folk as possible to donate blood. I do this to thank and honour the surgeons who saved my great-grandfather’s life way back in January 1886.
“His was one of the first successful blood transfusions carried out in Scotland.
“Had it not been for the courage, skill and dedication of these men, Papa would have surely died and future generations, including me, would not exist.
“Papa lived to be 77 years old, fathered nine children and celebrated his golden wedding in December 1935.
“I would encourage everyone to donate blood if they can.”
And the story of her great-grandfather is just one of many that Mairi is making sure will be passed on to future generations of the Philp, Ballantyne, Peden, Frame, McIntyre, MacKenzie, Low and Graham families.
Last year she decided to document her family history and wrote her first book ‘Family Lines’ over the first six months of lockdown.
But Mairi, who was presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to the community in 2018,has been delving into the family tree for more than 30 years in total.
She told the Herald: “It is the story of my family since 1853 – greatgrandparents, grandparents and my Mum and Dad. I have sent 60 copies all over the world to my cousins and other relations.
“I am absolutely determined that my family’s stories must not be lost and must be passed on to the next generation.
“My second book is a transcription of my grandfather’s 1916 war diary – ‘George’s Journey’.
“It has been sent to the relevant relatives as well.
“I have become over the years the family’s photo and story keeper. Because I was a nosey child, I asked the questions and bothered the relatives and remembered the answers. I didn’t want the family to lose the stories.
“It’s the most important thing I have ever done for my family – to keep these stories alive.”
But Mairi stressed that giving blood is also important, particularly as the pandemic has changed the way the mobile units operate.
She added: “They are only having four people every half hour at the moment. For my grouping the poster said there were six days left of A-positive blood so I would urge people to give.”
• Register via www.scotblood.co.uk or by calling 03459 090999.
I do this to thank and honour the surgeons who saved my great-grandfather’s life way back in January 1886.
Mairi Philp