For June's main meeting we enjoyed a talk by Tim Carey from Warwickshire & Solihull Blood Bikes

Tim explained they are a charity service that operates 24/7 365 days of the year transferring urgent deliveries between hospitals, clinics and homes in the region. A region that covers 650 sq miles incorporating Good Hope in the North to Stratford Hospital in the South, the Birmingham hospitals and across to Rugby St Cross in the East.

Volunteer dispatchers and riders transfer supplies between locations using a combination of bikes, and if required by for instance the weather, cars and vans. As explained by Tim it's not just blood for transfusion that gets moved. Rather surprisingly it's anything from breast milk and medicines to replacement medical equipment. And all with time critical urgency.

After the meeting there was quite the queue to sit astride the very impressive BMW R1250RT for photos. As pointed out, given the mileage and weather a decent quality of transport is really required and cheaper options would just breakdown. Tim's sly suggestion was not to send any such photos to the kids, but the grandkids - far more easily impressed.

A collection from u3a members raised nearly £400 which since the Blood Bike volunteers take no pay will be directly used to support the operations of this rather invisible but vital service.