Colin Bloomfield
{{short description|British radio personality}}
{{for|the Jamaican cricketer|Colin Bloomfield (cricketer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Colin Bloomfield
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 22 February 1982
| birth_place = Montford Bridge, Shropshire, England
| death_date = 25 April 2015 (aged 33)
| death_place = Shropshire, England
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| occupation = Radio personality
| years_active = 2005–2015
| known_for = Coverage of Derby County F.C. for BBC Radio Derby
| notable_works =
}}
Colin Bloomfield (22 February 1982 – 25 April 2015) was an English radio personality best known for his coverage of Derby County F.C. on BBC Radio Derby, as a presenter, reporter and commentator. Following his terminal prognosis for melanoma, he became an activist and fundraiser, setting up an eponymous appeal to educate children about the illness.
Early life and media career
Bloomfield was born in Montford Bridge, Shropshire. His father Lawrie was the first managing editor of BBC Radio Shropshire after it was founded in 1985. He attended Bicton School, The Corbet School in Baschurch, Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. Bloomfield spent ten years working at BBC Radio Derby.{{cite news|title=Shropshire-born BBC Radio Derby presenter Colin Bloomfield dies aged 33|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/04/25/shropshire-born-bbc-radio-derby-presenter-colin-bloomfield-dies-aged-33/|accessdate=29 April 2015|work=Shropshire Star|date=25 April 2015}} A fan of his local team Shrewsbury Town, he was best known for his radio coverage of Derby County, but also presented content on other issues, including interviewing the Prime Minister, David Cameron.{{cite news|title=Colin Bloomfield: BBC Radio Derby presenter dies after cancer battle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-32236757|accessdate=29 April 2015|work=BBC News|date=25 April 2015}}
Illness
In 2001, Bloomfield discovered changes in a mole, which turned out to be a malignant melanoma. It was removed from his leg, and he was given an all-clear in 2006.{{cite news|last1=Hawley|first1=Z.|title=Colin Bloomfield: BBC Radio Derby presenter launches Melanoma Appeal to educate Derbyshire children about sun safety|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Colin-Bloomfield-launches-Melanoma-Appeal-educate/story-26029422-detail/story.html|accessdate=29 April 2015|work=Derby Telegraph|date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707195133/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Colin-Bloomfield-launches-Melanoma-Appeal-educate/story-26029422-detail/story.html|archive-date=7 July 2015|url-status=dead}} However, in 2013, it returned. The following year, after it metastasised to his lungs, he was told that he had months to live. He remained open and optimistic despite his illness.
In February 2015, he initiated the Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal in conjunction with BBC Radio Derby, the Derby Telegraph and charity Skcin. The appeal aims to educate children on prevention of melanoma. On 31 March, it reached its initial target of £45,000 after a £10,000 donation from the city's Freemasons, and a new target of £75,000 was set. Derby County had raised £14,000 for it with £10 from every away ticket sold for their fixture against Norwich City.{{cite news|title=Colin Bloomfield appeal: Cancer appeal reaches £45k target|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-32132613|accessdate=29 April 2015|work=BBC News|date=31 March 2015}}
Former England footballer and manager Kevin Keegan gave a presentation at Derby County's Pride Park which raised £600 for the appeal in April.{{cite news|last1=Tyler|first1=Kelly|title=Ex-England football ace Kevin Keegan helps boost Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/King-Kev-helps-boost-Colin-s-cancer-appeal/story-26278744-detail/story.html|accessdate=29 April 2015|work=Derby Telegraph|date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405102137/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/King-Kev-helps-boost-Colin-s-cancer-appeal/story-26278744-detail/story.html|archive-date=5 April 2015|url-status=dead}} Former footballer Jimmy Greaves and comedian Bobby Davro also gave performances for the appeal.{{cite news|last1=Hawley|first1=Zena|title=Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Davro to hold Derby event in aid of Colin Bloomfield appeal|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Jimmy-Greaves-Bobby-Davro-hold-joint-event-aid/story-26362140-detail/story.html|accessdate=29 April 2015|work=Derby Telegraph|date=21 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429042513/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Jimmy-Greaves-Bobby-Davro-hold-joint-event-aid/story-26362140-detail/story.html|archive-date=29 April 2015|url-status=dead}} The Derby Brewing Company made a new beer in honour of former Derby County player Dave Mackay, who had died earlier that year, with some of the profits going to the appeal.{{cite news|last1=Severn|first1=Joey|title=Beer brewed in honour of Dave Mackay will boost Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Beer-brewed-honour-Dave-Mackay-boost-Colin/story-26270237-detail/story.html|accessdate=29 April 2015|work=Derby Telegraph|date=1 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403042138/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Beer-brewed-honour-Dave-Mackay-boost-Colin/story-26270237-detail/story.html|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=dead}}
Death
Bloomfield died at a hospice near his family home on 25 April 2015, aged 33. Later that day, Shrewsbury Town achieved promotion to League One, which they dedicated to Bloomfield and to Lloyd Burton, an eleven-year-old fan who had died of a brain tumour earlier that week.{{cite news|title=Colin Bloomfield: One Direction singer and Shrewsbury Town pay tribute to Radio Derby presenter after promotion|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Colin-Bloomfield-Shrewsbury-Town-pay-tribute/story-26389266-detail/story.html|accessdate=2 May 2015|work=Derby Telegraph|date=25 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429191219/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Colin-Bloomfield-Shrewsbury-Town-pay-tribute/story-26389266-detail/story.html|archive-date=29 April 2015|url-status=dead}}
Bloomfield's funeral was held on 13 May, at St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, with his coffin endowed with a Shrewsbury Town flag and Derby County scarf. Shrewsbury manager Mickey Mellon read from the Bible, and former Derby player Roger Davies and Derbyshire-born Olympic swimmer Ross Davenport were among the mourners.{{cite news|title=Colin Bloomfield: BBC Radio Derby presenter funeral held|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-32690729|accessdate=1 November 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 May 2015}}
By the time of his funeral, Bloomfield's appeal had raised over £100,000. It operates a free mobile mole-checking service around the Derby area, and of 500 people it had checked, 28 were given urgent referrals to doctors.{{cite news|last1=Hawley|first1=Zena|title=Colin Bloomfield: 28 people urged to see doctor urgently after getting moles checked|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Colin-Bloomfield-Radio-Derby-presenter-s-legacy/story-26488654-detail/story.html|work=Derby Telegraph|date=13 May 2015|access-date=1 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724205154/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Colin-Bloomfield-Radio-Derby-presenter-s-legacy/story-26488654-detail/story.html|archive-date=24 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{portalbar|Biography|Radio|BBC|Derbyshire}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloomfield, Colin}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Central Lancashire
Category:People from Shrewsbury
Category:English radio presenters
Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters
Category:English association football commentators
Category:Charity fundraisers (people)
Category:Deaths from cancer in England