This donor's certificate booklet was produced by the Blood Transfusion Service in 1940 and belonged to Mrs Eveline Parkin of 60 Throstle Terrace, Leeds. The booklet would have been used between 1941 and 1945, during the Second World War, to record an individual's blood donations.
As Britain prepared for and experienced wartime casualties on the Home Front, country-wide organised blood banking became increasingly important in maintaining good blood stocks for civilians injured in air raids. Donor certificate booklets such as this acted as official records of an individual's participation in the service, documenting the date and location of donations while also helping medical staff monitor donors.
The booklet demonstrates how blood donation had become a consistent component of Britain's wartime healthcare system, relying upon the continued commitment of volunteer donors rather than paid contributions. Its use throughout the war also reflects the long-term positive nature of this donor's contribution, showcasing that blood donation was not presented as a single patriotic act but as an ongoing civic responsibility in which all the public must try and participate.
There were some areas of the UK where paid donation practices were common between the First and Second World War. The Manchester Public Health Department, for example, paid five shillings, the equivalent to around £14 today, for a blood test from a potential donor, and 10 shillings sixpence for a donation, equating to around £29 today. This amount later increased to three guineas by 1930, the equivalent of £183 in May 2026.
