Being a blood donor has no age restriction

“I want to be remembered for the life I gave as well as the life I have lived.
My first blood donation was at St James Hall in 1972 and I have never looked back since,” were the words of Robbie Fitzpatrick (72) who is passionate about saving the lives of those in need by donating blood. Mr Fitzpatrick has been a blood donor for 46 years and has given 212 units of blood to date. He cited that “the public should get involved in donating blood because there is a great need for blood transfusions especially with the high rate of accidents on our roads”.

“The blood bank cannot keep up with the demand without the communities donation,” he explained.
Mr Fritzpatrick started working at the tender age of 16-years-old as an apprentice carpenter and joiner at NPA Provincial Building Services (as it was known then).

“I worked at the NPA for five years and later joined Jimmy Marshall Contractors where I worked for four years. During that period we were assigned to demolish the old Methodist Church and rebuild it to what it is today.”
Mr Fitzpatrick then went back to work at the Provincial Building Services and worked there for 12 years. In the last three years of those 12 years, he was promoted to being a building inspector in Dundee.
In 1984 he started his very own business called Robby’s Home Maintenance.
“Starting my own business wasn’t hard those days especially because my work was already well known,” said Mr Fitzpatrick.
“My wife and I will be celebrating 50 years of marriage next year. We got married in 1969 and I still remember that day as if it was yesterday,” he said, “I married a beautiful woman from Newcastle, Liz (neè Nott) and we have three beautiful children together.” Mr Fritzpatrick’s eldest daughter, Laura, is a teacher, Mark is a certified mechanical engineer and his youngest daughter Carol is a certified chartered accountant. He has been staying in the same house, which he built in 1972 and where he used to pay R15 for water and lights.

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Mr Fitzpatrick has been working at the Dundee Adult Care Centre for the past nine years as a maintenance carpenter.
Six interesting facts about Mr Fritzpatrick
As a parent, he was involved with the Dundee Boy Scouts and Girl Guides for 14 years where Mark (his son ) gained his Springbok Scout and his Chief Scout awards.
He built, repaired and renovated schools, the museum, Oriental Centre, Exhibition hall, community halls, Pottery Centre, Staff Quarters and the Old Age Home, all in and around Rorke’s Drift under the guidance of the late Sheila Henderson. He worked with the SA Engineers Corp in the Civilian Army for 10 years. Mr Fritzpatrick was involved with the Dundee Commandos for 12 years. He has been an active member of St James Church since 1979.
He has been very fortunate in getting support in his business (which is in the process of winding down) from the local community.