Helipad Spring 2015

The OďŹƒcial Magazine of

Devon Air Ambulance Trust

Spring 2015

The Iconic

Isles of Devon

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Lucky Prize Winners

Peace and tranquility at

Buckfast Abbey Delights of the

Tarka Trail

Inside...

Join Our Weekly Lottery ...more than ÂŁ11,000,000 raised so far!

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Captain Ian Payne takes a stroll around Totnes Registered Charity No.1077998 Company No.3855746

Patient Stories - Real People Saving Real Lives

Welcome

Heléna Holt, Chief Executive Officer

Contributors Neil Devons Sarah Chesters Richard Hunt David FitzGerald Eve DiBartolo Photographers Andy Carter (Dartmouth Photography) Nicola Gaughan Tim Pestridge RHS/Lucy Roche

Neil Devons Helen Beer Lucinda Smith Darren Boxer The Lundy Company

Publisher Heléna Holt h.holt@daat.org 01392 466666 Editor Debbie Gregory 01392 466666 ext.135 d.gregory@daat.org Advertising Sales Julie Hutchins j.hutchins@daat.org 07843 621463 Advertisement Copy copy@daat.org Design & Print Management Silver Foxes Publishing 07455 206470 Distribution & Mailing Silver Foxes Publishing 07455 206470 ISSN (Print) 2055-2343 ISSN (Online) 2055-2351 Next Issue 27July 2015

Doesn’t time fly! Here we are again, with the long-awaited spring and summer months fast approaching.

Longer days and the promise of warmer weather always lead to more activities and our fundraising team are busy supporting a variety of events around the county.

From the adrenalin-filled diving out of aeroplanes or the endurance needed to run the entire length of the South West Coast Path, to the regular Bingo evenings and cake sales, we are grateful to every one of our supporters who ‘goes the extra mile’ to raise funds for the Trust. You can read the story of one man’s remarkable efforts to support the service later in this issue. Our thanks, as always, go to all the amazing fundraisers around the county and to everyone who supports the Trust in any way – your help is invaluable.

Looking ahead, the plans for extending our flying hours into the evenings right through the year are progressing steadily. Whilst we continue our search for suitable landing sites, our paramedics and aircrew are planning the necessary training required for night operations. You can help in our quest to extend the service by completing the donation form on page 9.

Editor’s news

© All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form without prior permission of the publishers. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, Devon Air Ambulance Trust will not accept liability for loss or damage. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of our content but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any omissions, errors or alterations or for the consequences of any reliance on these details; neither can they vouch for the accuracy of claims made by any advertiser. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.

Welcome to this issue of Helipad with its mix of patient stories and informative articles. In this edition, you can read how the Air Ambulance helped when Lindsey, Ian, Andrea, Vince, Lez, Harry and Natalie were all in need of the service. And discover what happened to poor Jan Reynolds in the Dartmoor Legend of The Devil’s Pub Crawl.

If you’re considering upgrading your three-piece suite or anything else in your home, you can now recycle your pre-loved, good quality furniture through our brand new furniture and electrical store, see page 22.

As our pilot, Captain Ian Payne, is more used to seeing the county from the cockpit, we invite him to Take a Walk around Totnes. See what he discovers on page 31.

My thanks, as always, go to the patients who have contacted us and to those who have allowed their story to be told. Thanks also, to all our guest writers and photographers for their contributions to this issue.

www.daat.org

Helipad

is published by Devon Air Ambulance Trust Unit 5 Sandpiper Court Harrington Lane Exeter EX4 8NS T 01392 466666 E info@daat.org W daat.org Registered Charity No 1077998 Registered Company No 3855746

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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In this issue...

On The Cover Issue No.10 Spring 2015 Start Point Lighthouse © Andy Carter, Dartmouth Photography

dartmouthphotography.com

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9

Star Prizes

We are grateful to National Marine Aquarium, World of Country Life, Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival and Devon’s Top Attractions for all our prizes, this time awarded to supporters who are raising funds through Just Giving

Ways to Help

Find out how you can make a difference

Buckfast Abbey

food for spring 20 Seasonal Devon Chef, Richard Hunt, tickles our taste buds with a goat’s cheese pannacotta and ginger cake with vanilla poached rhubarb

news for retail!

22 Great A brand new store, specialising in Furniture and

Electrical goods will open its doors in June and Topsham reopens after refurbishment.

Ride Out / What’s On 10 Motorcycle Some important dates for your diary and we

Golden Girls of Barnstaple 24 The An volunteering success story – meet three

helps Lindsey 12 Teamwork Keen mountain biker, Lindsey Bousfield, goes

from the brink 25 Back Andrea and Vince Vanstone both need to be

ful Buckfast Abbey 16 Beauti Learn about Benedictine Monks, Beekeeping

of Devon 26 Isles We take a look at three iconic islands around

thank Chris Rothwell

head-first over her handlebars

and Buckfast Tonic Wine among other things at this medieval monastry

19 Sarah Chesters, from RHS Rosemoor, shares her A Clematis for every season

wisdom about the many varieties of Clematis

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inspirational ladies

airlifted when their motorbike crashes

our county – Lundy, Drakes and Burgh

Country of Two Rivers 28 The Enjoy the delights of The Tarka Trail, whether on foot, bicycle, horseback or train

48 Meet the Clinical Team 4

Helipad

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42 Starting Young

Contents

12 Teamwork Triumphs 20 Seasonal Food 28

Tarka Trail

Golden Girls

32 Super Supporter

stroll around Totnes 31 AAlthough more used to seeing the county from

the cockpit of a helicopter, Captain Ian Payne takes a stroll around Totnes with his wife, Suzie

support 32 Remarkable Meet Ross Lovell from Chudleigh, who

undertakes madcap personal challenges, on foot and on his bike, to raise funds for DAAT

long road to recovery 34 AKeen archer, Lez James, suffers a severe

blow to the head whilst setting an archery competition course

37 Fourteen months in a wheelchair follows six

Accident changes the course of Ian’s life weeks in hospital after Ian Sargent is injured in a motorbike collision

People 44 Devon Here are just some of our fantastic fundraisers around the county. Our thanks go to all our supporters, groups or individuals, too numerous to mention – a very big Thank You

Support 46 Business Some companies nominate us as their Charity

of the Year and staff from others participate in various activities and events. Whatever way you support us – Thank You

ons 48 Operati A rare opportunity - we are delighted to introduce our Clinical Team

Chat 50 Back Our Patron, David FitzGerald, shares anecdotes from his tour with Falklands Veteran, Simon Weston

Dartmoor Legend - The Devil’s Pub Crawl 38 ADavid Phillips tells the story of poor Jan Reynolds our Lottery 39 Join Some impressive statistics about our in-house Lottery

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Lend us a Tenor

With their light and varied repertoire, we meet members of Torridge Male Voice Choir

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We Love To Talk!

We’re active on many social networks and media channels so you can keep up with everything we’re doing between issues. Follow us on Facebook and Google +, join the Twitter conversation and watch our YouTube films.

ng Young 42 Starti Izzy Martin and Jordan Tillyer raise funds for the Trust and Harry Edwards-Brady and Natalie Cude benefit from the service

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Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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Star Prize Winners JustGiving is a simple and efficient way to donate. Whether you wish to make a one-off donation or request sponsorship for a mad-cap activity or personal challenge, JustGiving is the easy way forward. Here are just some of our supporters who have set up JustGiving pages…

Edwina Stevenson is taking part in 4 challenging runs in North Devon:

“Recently my 89-year old neighbour was airlifted from our village in Fremington to RD&E where he received life-saving surgery. He was taken ill at home and within minutes of calling the emergency services the Devon Air Ambulance arrived. During the flight he suffered a cardiac arrest but was treated on board by the medics. My neighbours are so grateful for the service and would like to raise money for DAAT; however she is blind and he is still recovering. Therefore I would like to raise some money on their behalf through my running challenges in 2015.”

Edwina wins a pair of tickets to Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle.

Steve Wilson will be cycling almost 1,000 miles in the next few months:

“Having used the services of the Air Ambulance in the past, the work these guys do is invaluable. Living in the middle of nowhere as I do, I have first hand experience of the speed they can get to you and the transfer to hospital when all you want is help that nobody else can provide.

They are true lifesavers in every sense! I know in these hard times, it’s hard to dip into your pocket but the smallest amount goes a long way. Thank you.”

Ruth Bullock shaves her head for DAAT: “The idea

literally came to me whilst lying in bed ill last January. I just woke up with the words ‘head shave’ and ‘Devon Air Ambulance’ going through my head! It is a vital service that anyone of us could need at any unexpected moment. The idea became a reality after I asked friends what they thought. Thanks to their encouragement I decided I had to see it through although I have never done anything like it before. My mother, God rest her soul, would be laughing because she always used to say to me “I wish you would do something with your hair”! So let the countdown begin ...”

Ruth wins a family ticket to World of Country Life

Steve wins 4 tickets to any one of Devon’s top attractions!

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Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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Keeping In Touch

Krista Rogers goes dog sledding in Sweden: “I am fundraising for DAAT

because of the brave and quick response service they provide. Devon is covered in beautiful and remote countryside but, in the case of an emergency, this can prove to be a disadvantage to the patient as many landscapes are inaccessible by land ambulance. So the air ambulance is an essential piece of kit for this particular county. Please kindly donate to Devon Air Ambulance and help maintain this vital emergency work.”

Krista wins two tickets to a National Marine Aquarium ‘Adult Night Event’.

The prizes for these winners have been kindly donated by Devon’s Top Attractions - www.lotstodo.co.uk National Marine Aquarium: www.national-aquarium.co.uk World of Country Life: www.worldofcountrylife.co.uk and Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle

Zoe and Gilly jump out of a plane:

“During a recent get-together (and one too many drinks!!) Gilly and I decided what a great idea it would be to face our fear of heights and jump from a plane in order to raise some money for charity.

In the cold light of hangover, we questioned the reality of our decision and, after weeks of convincing ourselves, we have decided to put our fears aside and have organised a skydive to raise some money for DAAT. Many of you will know how petrified we are of heights so we invite you to sponsor us in conquering our fears for what we believe to be a very worthy charity. We will be plummeting from 15,000 ft towards Earth at an average of 130mph!”

www.daat.org

Both Zoe and Gilly win a pair of tickets to Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle.

Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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Devon’s BEST furniture store since 1990 With the largest choice of furniture, beds and sofas in Devon you will be able to choose from classic, contemporary, modern, or traditional styles.

We guarantee that at Prestige Furniture you will find something to suit both your style and your budget with our huge choice. Up to 24 months 0% finance available on all purchases over £799 (subject to status) Bring the family as we also have an indoor and outdoor play area for the children and a coffee area* for you... *All Profits from the coffee area go to DAAT

Visit us be inspired… www.prestigefurniture.co.uk Battle Road, Heathfield TQ12 6RY 01626 830707 Conveniently situated just 1 minute off the A38 near Bovey Tracey

Ways to help Service User Number

Help us Make Night Time Flight Time

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Readers of our last Helipad will be aware that we are aiming to extend our service into the hours of darkness from 2016. This will enable us to help even more people as, sadly, illness, accidents and incidents don’t stop just because it’s dark.

Our aim is to develop a network of pre-surveyed lit community helipads across the county, for example, a village green, a football pitch or a school playing field. We are keen to work with local communities to identify potential sites.

The target is to extend our flying hours from 0700 to midnight all year round. The need for more aircrew, specialist training, equipment and the cost of additional missions will, however, see our operating costs rise by at least £1 million every year. One very simple and efficient way that people can support these plans is to make a regular donation using the attached Direct Debit form. There’s no doubt that every donation will help us get closer to extending our service and may make a different to you or your loved ones.

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Please fill out the form with a ball-point pen and send it to:

Devon Air Ambulance Trust, Sandpiper Court, Harrington Lane, Exeter EX4 8NS Instruction to your bank or building society Please pay PSL re Devon Air Ambulance Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with PSL re Devon Air Ambulance and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my bank/building society.

Name(s) of Account Holder(s)

Bank/Building Society account number Branch sort code Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society To: The Manager of

Bank/Building Society

Address

Postcode Signature(s)

Date Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions form some types of account

Please now complete your details below

Name

Play equipment helps DAAT

Address

“I’m thrilled to be able to give something back to you after everything you’ve done for my family.” This is what Andy White told Caroline Creer, when he visited recently to discuss how his business could help us!

Following the airlift of his twins boys, on two separate occasions, he has come up with a great way to say thank you. Andy has recently opened a new South West office for his company, Vita Play, and will make a donation to Devon Air Ambulance when purchases or installations of their playground equipment or safety surfacing are made in Devon.

For more information: Web: www.vitaplay.co.uk Email: andy@vitaplay.co.uk Mobile: +44 7710 233590

Postcode

Telephone Email

I wish to give Devon Air Ambulance Trust a donation of £ per month/quarter/year (delete as appropriate) Please take Direct Debits on 6th/20th of the month (delete as appropriate) Devon Air Ambulance Trust would like to send you their quarterly magazine and occasional news. If you would prefer not to receive it please tick here ¨ If you would like to receive it via email please tick here ¨ If you are a UK tax payer did you know that we can claim back an additional 25p in the £1 and it won’t cost you any more. For example a donation of £10 will actually donate £12.50. Please tick this box if you wish us to claim Gift Aid Date: D D / M M / Y Y on your donation.

I would like all donations I have made since 6 April 2000 and all future donations to be Gift Aided until I notify you otherwise. To qualify for Gift Aid what you pay in UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax must at least equal the amount we will claim in the tax year.

This guarantee should be detached and retained by the payee

#

The Direct Debit Guarantee

• This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.

• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit PSL re Devon Air Ambulance will notify you five (5) working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request PSL re Devon Air Ambulance to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by PSL re Devon Air Ambulance or your bank or building Society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when PSL re Devon Air Ambulance asks you to • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building Society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

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Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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As we celebrate our 10th Motorcycle Ride Out this year, we say thank you to stalwart supporter, marshal and race route organiser, Chris Rothwell…

What was your motivation for supporting Devon Air Ambulance Trust and our motorcycle ride out?

In 1979 I was involved in a hit and run bike accident on a lonely back road late at night. There was no air ambulance in those days and I had to rely on a friendly passing motorist to take me to hospital. I made a full recovery but lost my bike - many have not been so lucky.

What is your background and how did you come to help in the first place?

I first started riding motorcycles in 1972 and had various machines until 1990 when I had a long break from riding. In 2005, I bought another bike and joined the ranks of a Born Again Biker and, as my wife Gillian liked to ride as a pillion, I was keen to sharpen my skills and be a safe rider. I joined the Devon Advanced Motorcyclists (DAM) and passed the IAM Advanced Motorcycle Test. DAM were involved in the first DAAT Charity ride out in 2005. I helped that first time and have been involved on ever since; from marshalling to organising the route and marshals when I was asked to take over the role in 2009.

Strangely, I have never actually taken part in a DAAT ride out!

What changes have you seen over the 10 years?

The biggest change over the years is the amount of support shown by bikers. The early rides had 100 bikes attending, which we thought was great at the time, but that has now risen to over 1000 and it is growing year on year.

What has been your highlight and fondest memory?

The highlight for me was the first ride we did from Knowstone in 2012. After a month of wet and windy weather with flood warnings everywhere we thought that the ride may have to be cancelled but,

fortunately, the sun came out and there was a huge turnout of 900 bikes.

My fondest memory was seeing one of my old bikes being ridden in to the finish at Teignmouth one year.

Which was your favourite route used by one of rides?

The second route from The Log Cabin Diner, Knowstone, in 2013. A slightly longer 85-mile route with superb roads right down through Devon to Teignmouth. Similar to the year before but we extended the route in 2013 due to public demand.

What is your biggest consideration when planning the route for DAAT? Safety by far. We have to cater for a diverse range of abilities from early learners on their 125cc’s right up to more experienced riders on their BMW tourers and 1000cc+ sportsbikes.

What is your best piece of advice for a motorcyclist in Devon?

Think Car...Wear the right protective gear whether you are on a scooter or a sportsbike and take the time to improve your skills by taking one of the organised Advanced Motorcycle training courses.

Modern motorcycles are more than capable of handling whatever conditions, speed and lean angles they are subjected to...you, probably, are not.

As Chris hangs up his motorcycle boots after this event, we thank him for all his support and help over the last 10 years.

Trago Mills, Newton Abbot to The Den, Teignmouth - 83 mile route Live music, refreshments & trade stands *SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-register online for your free t-shirt at www.daat.org Register on the day from 9-10.30am Ride Out starts at 11am. T-shirts are not included if registering on the day and will cost £5 subject to availability.

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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Diary Dates

Out and about this year...

The DAAT team of staff and volunteers will be at a number of events right across Devon throughout the summer and into autumn, so why not come along and join us for some fantastic days out.

MAY 4 May - Uffculme Show 21-23 May Devon County Show 30 May - Run or Dye

The Great Fulford Estate, Exeter Walk, run or dance your way around the most colourful 5k and become part of the rainbow. 100 volunteers needed for marshalling.

JUNE

SEPTEMBER 5-6 September - Dart 10k Swim

An open water swim from Totnes to Dittisham, ending with a mini festival on the village green. Lots of volunteers are needed for marshalling.

8 September - Widecombe Fair 13 September - DAAT Sea Swim Broadsands, near Paignton.

27 September - DAAT Dragon Boat Racing

Following its success in 2014, Dragon Boat Racing is back at Exeter Quay. Book your place in a boat!

OCTOBER 10-11 October - Commando Challenge

This is your opportunity to get down and dirty at the Royal Marines assault course at Woodbury Common. 100 volunteers needed for marshalling.

14 October - Tavistock Goose Fair

21 June - The Dartmoor Classic Bike Ride

Newton Abbot Race Course. 10 car parking marshals required from 1pm until 5pm.

JULY 10-12 July - Tiverton Balloon Festival 12 July - Motorcycle Ride Out

Starting at Trago Mills, Newton Abbot, and finishing at The Den in Teignmouth, the route covers 83 miles of beautiful Devon countryside. 100 volunteers needed for marshalling.

17-18 July Chagstock Music Festival 25 July - Mid Devon Show 26 July - Totnes Show 27 July - Woolsery Show 29 July - Yealmpton Show

AUGUST 5 August - North Devon Show 6 August - Honiton Show 12 August - Exford Show 13 August - Okehampton Show 15 August - Chistow show 20 August - Chagford Show 21/22 August - Dawlish Air Show 27 August - Holsworthy Show

Are you able to help at any of our events? They are enormous fun; with training on the day, no experience is necessary. For the events that need 100 marshals why not ask friends and family to help too? www.daat.org

Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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Emergency services ‘teamwork’ to help Lindsey Sunday 24th August last year on the Bank Holiday weekend was particularly busy for Air Ambulances in the West County, with our helicopter emergency despatch team tasking crews to no less than 14 jobs between 0800 and 1830 that day.

O

ne job attended by Devon’s Exeter aircrew was to mountain bike rider, Lindsey Bousfield, who had gone head-first over her handlebars on a steep descent, deep in woodland in the Quantock Hills.

Lindsey’s husband, Mick picks up the story. “We were out riding with friends. Lindsey is seriously competitive and had stopped at the top of the path ahead of us. We discussed the route down and Lindsey pointed out the tree trunk across the track, advising that we should all take care. Little did we realise that it would be Lindsey who would come a cropper!

She set off first and was soon out of sight. As I followed behind and came down the track I saw her lying on the ground next to her bike some feet away from the tree trunk.

I thought at first that she was messing around but swiftly realised that her goggles were broken and skewiff and her helmet was also battered and at a very odd angle. While I ran to see what I could do, my friends called the emergency services. We knew, however, that we were right in the heart of woodland with very little mobile signal. It was all very worrying.”

The incident happened on a steep downhill path, deep in woodland. The first responders arrived from the local fire brigade, along with HART responder Dave Dungay, who administered immediate first aid. It was clear, however, that Lindsey needed emergency hospital treatment. But, even when Devon’s Air Ambulance arrived, the helicopter had to land over a mile away. Paramedics Mark Hawley and Richard Walker ran through the woods to the scene, realising that getting an injured patient back the same way was going to be very difficult. Lindsey was slipping in and out of consciousness with an obvious head injury and had also suffered a shoulder injury. Speed was definitely of the essence.

Mark ran back up the hill to get better communications and enlisted the services of another emergency service, that of a Search and Rescue helicopter from Portland. On arrival, with just a small space overhead between the trees, a winchman was lowered to evacuate Lindsey. Safely secured to the stretcher, she was then winched back to the S&R helicopter and conveyed to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Mick continued, “I coped fine to start with and dealt with everything on a practical level. But I really struggled when Lindsey’s breathing got noisier and noisier; I was really frightened for her. It was such a relief to be surrounded by professional medical help.”

Lindsey has no memory of the incident, nor of events for the following five days. On leaving hospital, Lindsey thought that she was ‘completely better’ but, as the days turned into weeks, it became apparent that the swelling in her brain would take some time to heal. “It was only as time went on that I realised the enormity of what had happened and just how many bits were missing!” Lindsey explained.

“Visitors would come and go and I had no memory of our conversations. I had to learn how to be patient – something I’m really not very good at – and I now know that my concussion lasted at least three weeks. I couldn’t believe that I had two helicopters to attend the accident – that’s a really big thing to get my head around. As well as my head injury, I had torn the ligaments in my shoulder so needed physiotherapy and, some weeks later, I discussed my accident with a counsellor. I can now see that my recovery was a long way from complete when I first left hospital but things are definitely better now and there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Speaking to Helipad’s Editor, aircrew paramedic Mark Hawley described the incident as ‘challenging’. “There were several unusual elements to this job. It’s rare for our own helicopter not to be able to get nearer to a patient but Lindsey was tucked right in thick woodland so our pilot, Rob, had to wait with our aircraft while Richard and I ran to the scene. Reaching her, however, we could see that there was a small break overhead that would be just about okay for the Search & Rescue crew to lower a winchman. Fortunately, he was also a paramedic so Lindsey was in very good hands. It was a great example of various emergency teams all working together for the benefit of the patient.”

Coincidentally, the HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) paramedic, Dave Dungay, who also attended this job, has since joined the aircrew of Devon Air Ambulance – welcome to the team, Dave! o

Mark ran back up the hill to get better communications and enlisted the services of another emergency service, that of a Search and Rescue helicopter from Portland

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Patient Story

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Attractions & places to visit in Devon The long summer days are finally here – hooray! With them comes the anticipation of getting out and about, finding new places and exploring some of the many attractions that Devon has to offer. Whether you are a resident of the county or a holiday maker here for just a short time, here are just a few ideas to help you fill your days.

UNLEASH THE HERO IN YOU

The 49th North Devon Show takes place on 5th August 2015 at Umberleigh Barton Farm. The show prides itself on retaining the agricultural heritage of the area as well as showcasing the magnificent animals bred in our region we also have a huge display of produce in our food hall. Our area has a fine tradition of producing high quality food - vegetables, fruit, meats, fish, preserves, plus a variety of local beers and wines. There will be four top local chefs providing cooking demonstrations throughout the day, plus a special guest from BBC Country File - Adam Henson

woodlandspark.com

The North Devon Show Wednesday 5th August 2015 Umberleigh Barton Farm (on the A377) Umberleigh EX37 9DX

The number one family day out in the Galaxy is waiting for heroes at the largest family theme park in the South West. Experience all weather adventures with a spectacular variety of indoor and outdoor attractions for big kids and small kids. The action packed playzones have challenges to keep everyone entertained plus awesome rides and a fabulous ZooFarm with cuddly friends and exotic creatures. Be amazed by speeding hawks in the Falconry Displays, creepy critters in the Bug Shows and sparkling live performers.

FIND FANTASTIC DISCOUNTS and details of opening times on Woodlands Family Theme Park Blackawton, Totnes, TQ9 7DQ Telephone 01803 712598

ADVERTISING FEATURE

EST 1888

No family trip to the picturesque towns of Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon would be complete without a ride on the famous funicular cliff lift.

It’s the best and most exciting way to travel between these two historic towns and will be one of the highlights of the day - for Mums, Dads and all the family. Enjoy stunning views of Exmoor and the North Devon coastline as you glide up and down the 862 foot length of track; from Lynmouth nestling at the foot of the cliffs to Lynton perched 500 feet above.

The Cliff Railway, The Esplanade, Lynmouth, EX35 6EQ Opening times

Explore Haldon Forest Park on 40km of walking and cycling trails to suit all abilities or hone your skills on our cycle skills area and pump loop.

Haldon is also home to Go Ape, Segway Southwest, Forest Cycle Hire and the Ridge Café which is open every day serving a range of delicious, locally sourced food and drink. There is also a life sized Gruffalo sculpture to see.

Prices

April-October 8.30am – Dusk October-April 8.30am-5pm (apart from TuesThurs when gate stays open til 8.30pm)

Telephone 01598 753908 / 753486 www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk

Telephone 01392 834251 www.forestry.gov.uk

10am-5pm 7 Days Per Week Longer opening hours during high season.

Adult £3.70 return, Child 4-13 £2.20

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Helipad

Haldon Forest Park Buller’s Hill, Kennford Exeter, EX6 7XR Open daily.

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

“With 27-holes across 2 golf courses, comprehensive leisure and spa facilities, 2 dining outlets and a 4-star hotel, Woodbury Park really does have something to offer everyone. We have a great range of children’s Summer activities available and lots to keep the parents occupied too!

Set in 350 acres of stunning Devon countryside, there are also 7 flexible function rooms available, offering the perfect backdrop for any occasion.”

Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Club Ltd Woodbury Castle,Exeter EX5 1JJ T: 01395 233382 Opening Times: Clubhouse 07.30 – 23.00 (Food service available 08.00 – 20.15) Terrace Bar & Grill Prices: £1.95 - £16.50

www.daat.org

Attractions

Explore South Devon’s beautiful River Dart in guided traditional long canoes.

There’s canoeshare with family discount, riverside picnics, wildlife, history, and firecraft.

Group hire offers BBQ outings, or trips to riverside hostelries and to prizewinning Sharpham Vineyard.

Travel the magical river across open estuary and discover its secluded creeks and hidden landings.

Join at Tuckenhay TQ9 7EQ or Stoke Gabriel TQ9 6RD Timings follow the tide and change daily so Booking is Essential.

Visit www.canoeadventures.co.uk for Trips and Tariff.

Email canoe@canoeadventures.co.uk 01803 865301

Sleeping with Sharks Family Sleepovers

The National Marine Aquarium, a charity in Devon, has been independently recognised as one of the best museum venues for sleepovers in the world. Do you think you are brave enough to spend a night with the sharks?

From midnight snacks to late night tours, a night at the Aquarium combines fun and learning the whole family will enjoy.

To find out more www.national-aquarium.co.uk/ sleeping-with-sharks or call 01752 275214 For ages 5-15 years

Children Yayyy!

I didmust it! be accompanied by an adult

www.daat.org

Lundy Island - A Unique Landscape Lundy Island lies in the Bristol Channel approximately 11 miles from the coast of North Devon.

It is a place of outstanding natural beauty, the simple pleasure of just relaxing on this remote tranquil island or adventuring out to take in the breathtaking views with the gentle pursuit of bird watching or walking.

If one day is not enough for you, why not take a short break and stay in one of Lundy’s lovely self catering properties.

Travel to Lundy on the island supply ship MS Oldenburg which carries both staying and day visitors from Ilfracombe or Bideford.

Day Trips - March to end of October Staying Passengers - All year round Telephone 01271 863636 www.lundyisland.co.uk

Let Tich take you on a journey past farmsteads and fields.

Explore areas virtually unaffected by time.

Hear about the famous Dartmoor ponies, cattle and sheep.

Tours are for two to six people in a luxury Land Rover on any day in all weathers.

Starting around 10am and returning 4-5pm.

This tour is guided by a true Devonian and is a wonderful holiday experience or a family gift for that special occasion

Call Tich Scott on 01647 231453 or 07970906122 www.properdartmoortours.com

Yarak Birds of Prey

Yarak is the most unique stand alone rural Bird of Prey Centre in the Southwest and specialises in full Hands-On Experiences at realistic prices.

Our centre is set in a rural, peaceful, relaxed environment, giving bird of prey enthusiasts the chance to enjoy being amongst these majestic creatures.

We are renowned for the quality of our Birds of Prey Experiences.

Yarak also caters for public entry and is a Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Centre.

Visit yarakbirdsofprey.co.uk for opening times.

Open throughout the year for hands-on experience days

Langford, nr Cullompton, Devon EX15 1RG

01884 277297

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We can’t wait to meet you...

We are home to hundreds of rescued donkeys. Come and see us free of charge, open 365 days a year.

The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth EX10 0NU Open 9am - dusk Free parking Wheelchair accessible Donations welcome

Telephone 01395 578222 www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk Charity Number: 264818

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Benedictine Monks, Beekeeping and Buckfast Tonic Wine Nestled in the sheltered meadows that line the river Dart outside Buckfastleigh, Buckfast Abbey is home to a community of Benedictine Monks. The idyllic grounds draw both human and nature together; tranquillity is in the air and a peaceful experience awaits all who visit this historic place of beauty.

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he Abbey was founded as a Benedictine monastic settlement in 1018. It flourished during the medieval period under Cistercian Abbots who also lived by the rules of St. Benedict.

Having extensive sheep runs on Dartmoor allowing for the trade of wool as well as running fisheries on the Dart were just a couple of ventures that prospered for the Abbey.

The 16th century saw the Abbey in decline, culminating in its dissolution in 1539. After being used for lay purposes, namely a quarry and a mill, the site was purchased in 1882 by Benedictine Monks who restored it to religious purpose. This makes Buckfast Abbey extraordinary; it is the only English medieval monastery to have been restored and used again for its original purpose. Monastic practice continues at the Abbey, beginning every morning at 5:25 am (or an hour later on Sundays!). Mass, work, study and much more comprise the day, ending after 9:00 pm for final prayers before sleep.

Part of the day at Buckfast Abbey is the production of tonic wine. The recipe is attributed to the French monks who reestablished the Abbey in the 1880s. Imported base wines from Spain, known as ‘mistellas’, were mixed with tonic ingredients according to an old recipe.

By the 1920s, around 1400 bottles were sold annually and eventually marketed as Buckfast Tonic Wine. Today a similar recipe is used, with a selection of base wines from France to provide an ideal medium for the monks to produce a tonic with a smooth, rounded taste.

Wine isn’t the only product Buckfast Abbey is proud of. The Buckfast Bee™ is a trademarked honeybee created from the Abbey’s breeding station on Dartmoor. In 1919, Brother Adam (Karl Kehrle) was put in charge of bees. His intention was to use cross-breeding to develop a new bee that would be as hardy as the black bee, disease-resistant like the Italian bee and, of course, a good honey producer. He made extensive journeys around the world, focusing on regions with native populations of bees, which even included travelling to the Sahara. With over 100,000 miles covered and careful experimentation, the Buckfast Bee™ was born. Because the bee is a good pollen gatherer, gentle, and has a lower tendency to swarm, Buckfast queens are kept by beekeepers all over the world. The Abbey offers talks, workshops, and even home visits in beekeeping due to the level of expertise Buckfast beekeepers can provide.

It’s more than just beekeeping courses that attract visitors to the Abbey each year though. The architecture of the Abbey alone is worth admiring. With its combination of styles, the Abbey Church includes pointed Gothic windows and Romanesque arches that are more common to Anglo-

Norman structures. Much of the exterior was built using local blue limestone. It’s a study in history, with the best features of various pre-modern eras.

Visitors can attend services, stop for a bite to eat at the Grange restaurant and do a bit of shopping in the gift, book and monastic produce shops. Workshops and tours from the education department are available for all ages. A wander in at least one of the Abbey’s gardens completes the serene experience of the grounds. The lavender garden contains 150 species of the flower, and brings butterflies to gather in the summer months. Modelled after medieval pleasure gardens, the sensory garden stimulates the senses; trickling water and fragrant flora allow visitors to enjoy a calm moment away from the bustles of everyday life.

If a day of tranquillity isn’t enough, Buckfast Abbey offers retreats to stay on the grounds. Whether you prefer some peace and quiet on your own, with your partner, or with your entire family and friends, the Abbey can provide a short holiday for everyone.

Buckfast Abbey continues to get ready for its millennial year in 2018. A 26ft X 18ft mural depicting the reconstruction of the Abbey has already been unveiled as early preparations grow closer. Visiting the Abbey during this exciting time is sure to be a treat, as anticipation builds for this monumental year. Whether a few hours to admire this landmark or days of serenity are needed, Buckfast Abbey is a must see Devon destination. o buckfast.org.uk

It is the only English medieval monastery to have been restored and used again for its original purpose

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Beautiful Devon

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PLYMOUTH I HELSTON I www.martinluck.co.uk

Russell Soft Shell 140M

5 Jackets

Prices include one embroidered logo per garment Free Delivery & Free Set Up

Choice of 5 colours

Keep business in the Southwest Keep the Southwest in business Martin Luck Group Limited Row Down House, Langage Park, Plymouth PL7 5EY Tel: 01752 336699 Fax: 01752 330022 sales@martinluck.co.uk

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£35 for only

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*

+ vat each

Brewers Brewers Place, Water-Ma-Trout, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0LW Tel: 01326 563424 Fax: 01326 563606 sales@brewersgroup.com

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Highly water resistant and windproof.

Available

Size Xs - 2XL

*T’s & C’s: Price includes one embroidery per garment. £175 minimum order applies (5 jackets).

Ask for details.

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A Clematis for every season

Gardens

This really is my favourite time of the year, as buds fatten, hedgerows turn green and our gardens begin to overflow with colour and fragrance.

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or rich and long lasting scent for the garden, house and wardrobe, lavender is hard to beat. If you have a heavy or clay soil, grow it in a container with the well-drained soil it needs and place the pot in full sun. As an apprentice gardener I was introduced to Lavandula pedunculata ssp. pedunculata and it’s still my favourite.

One of the best scents comes from the white-flowered mock orange or Philadelphus. There are single, double and variegated forms of this shrub, but Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’ is one of the most reliable and P. microphyllus, though smaller and daintier, has the most divine fragrance, a real dreamy summer’s day scent! They are easy to grow in well drained soil and full sun or partial shade will suffice.

The peony is unjustly thought of as difficult, but they are just a little particular. They prefer full sun, though single flowers tolerate light shade and will last longer too.

Plant the top of the crown just below the soil surface, no deeper than 5cm or flowering will stop.

Incorporate well-rotted organic matter or manure, water well, mulch and fertilise in spring and autumn.

There is a Clematis for every season of the year and every situation with so many colours and flower shapes it’s almost impossible to choose, but I love the delicate nodding flowers of the tough Clematis alpina in white, pink or blue, which cheers up walls, fences or archways on cold spring days, and almost thrives on neglect. In contrast, the summerflowering Clematis ‘Kermesina’, named after the insect from which the red dye cochineal is obtained, has larger, more open flowers of rich crimson-red.¨

Advice Line

Mulching - will make a big difference

in your garden. A layer of 7-9 cm can suppress many weeds, shade the soil and so conserve moisture for the roots throughout summer, and will slowly be dragged down into the soil throughout the year by worms and other soil-living organisms. This helps to aerate the soil as well as creating more drainage channels.

The Chelsea Chop – traditionally carried out around the time of the Chelsea Flower Show, end of May -

Clematis Kermasina

beginning of June. Stems of many herbaceous perennial ofs can be shortened by a third to a half with shears. This delays flowering, shortens the stems so they don’t need to be staked, and the flowers though smaller, are more numerous. It works well on many hardy perennials but particularly Phlox, Lavandula, Sedum, Helenium, Nepeta, Echinacea and Monarda. You can treat all the stems the same, or just those at the front of the clump to lengthen the plant’s flowering period.

Listen in to BBC Radio Devon every Sunday morning from 9.00 – 10.30am, when Sarah Chesters, from RHS Garden Rosemoor, will answer your gardening questions on Pippa Quelch’s Potting Shed programme. www.daat.org

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‘Spring: the season of returning light, warmth and great produce’ Spring is a season which all foodies, or ‘gastronaughts’ as Keith Floyd called us, look forward to as the dark days of winter are passing and the new season brings forth some of the very best of British seasonal produce. Devon chef Richard Hunt sings the praises of local produce.

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fter enjoying the deep flavours of braised, roasted meats and the richness of the festive and winter seasons, the spring brings in the lighter flavours to cooking.

New season lamb is always a delight, served simply with rosemary and garlic. Or, on the topic of garlic, a creamy and rich soup made using the leaves of the wild garlic which grows abundantly in our Westcountry hedgerows, makes a warming treat on a blustery spring day.

Our local shores start to produce some stunning seafood at this time of year, and the Channel ports are alive with great lobsters, Lemon soles, spring plaice, and sweet scallops which our fisherman harvest whilst braving the seasonal weather depressions drifting across the Atlantic bringing forth some mighty gales.

Pan roasted scallops seared until golden in a touch of butter and oil, lightly seasoned with a flake of sea salt or two and finished with just a gentle mist of lemon are just sensational. A secret to great cooking is to buy the best produce and treat it with care and restraint; the way to becoming a great cook.

In the garden, the first of the Asparagus under cloches

Take a stroll to your local farm shop, fishmonger or butcher and ask their advice and ideas is breaking through and already the forced rhubarb has shown its tender pink stems through the candlelit darkness in Yorkshire. In our warm climate here in Devon the first outdoor rhubarb, more robust and fierce than its northern cousin but packed with intense flavour, is moving into our midst and I can’t think of anything finer than a slightly tart and rich rhubarb crumble, served with lashings of Devon clotted cream, or vanilla custard.

The humble potato comes to the fore with the first of the Jersey royals and baby new potatoes. Ready to unearth, these golden jewels can be served simply with butter and seasoning or roasted with fresh thyme and a little rapeseed oil. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination.

Take a stroll to your local farm shop, fishmonger or butcher and ask their advice and ideas; these experts point you in the right direction. Let them guide you through the joys of Spring fayre.

My two recipes I have chosen showcase two great products.

Their growing season is short so appreciate them whilst you can.

Enjoy! o 20

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Vulscombe goat’s cheese pannacotta with crispy asparagus, white balsamic reduction Serves 8-12 Ingredients 600ml double cream 400ml goat’s milk 350g Vulscombe goat’s cheese 6 leaf gelatine soaked in cold water 18 Asparagus spears, blanched and refreshed in iced water, then cut lengthways 150gm Fresh breadcrumbs 2 eggs beaten 100g Plain flour Salt and pepper White balsamic glaze (available from the specialist shelves in supermarkets) Oil for deep frying Method Heat the cream and milk in a pan and melt in the goat’s cheese, season. Then add the gelatine and blend. Pass through a fine sieve and chill in the required shape moulds for at least 3 hours or better overnight.

Dip the asparagus pieces in flour, then egg and finish in the breadcrumbs, deep fry at 180c for 1-2 minutes until golden and crispy, drain on kitchen paper Unmould the pannacotta by dipping for 5 seconds or so in hot water, arrange the asparagus around the plate and garnish with a drizzle of sweet balsamic reduction.

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Devon Food

Spiced ginger cake with vanilla poached rhubarb and Devon clotted cream Serves: 12 Ingredients 100g caster sugar 125g butter 1 egg 225ml treacle 300g plain flour 1 1/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 250ml hot water 1 Vanilla pod split 1 Orange cut into chunks 250 ml water 150g Caster sugar 5 rhubarb stickst cut into 60 pieces Clotted cream Method Heat oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4.

Grease and flour a 23cm (9 in) square tin. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg, and mix in the treacle.

In a bowl, sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Blend into the creamed mixture. Stir in the hot water. Pour into the prepared tin.

Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in tin before serving.

Dissolve the remaining caster sugar and water in a saucepan, add the orange and vanilla and bring to a boil.

Simmer gently for 5-6 minutes until all the sugar is dissolved Add the chunks of rhubarb, and bring back to a gentle boil, remove from the stove and let cool, remove the rhubarb chunks, and keep aside, reduce the remaining liquid by 50% to make a light syrup.

To plate up place a warmed piece of ginger cake on the plate with 5 pieces of rhubarb, place a large quenelle of clotted cream on the plate, drizzle with the syrup and dust with icing sugar. www.daat.org

Besshill Farm Shop was originally set up in the wake of the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

It has since gone from strength to strength selling beef and lamb which is reared on the farm itself.

Also selling locally sourced pork and poultry and vegetables.

We make all own own sausages, burgers and also sell various groceries and locally made cakes.

Free local deliveries can be arranged.

Well worth a visit!

Besshill Farm Shop Arlington, Barnstaple EX31 4SW 01271 850311

besshillfarmshop-barnstaple.co.uk

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Artisan cheese-makers producing Devon Blue - a blue buttery smooth cows milk cheese, from Friesland cows in the South Hams.

Beenleigh Blue - a robust powerful, blue ewes milk cheese, from Friesland and Dorset sheep.

Harbourne Blue - a mellow sweet blue goats milk cheese, from Saanen and Toggenburg goats on the edge of Dartmoor.

All of our cheeses are pasteurised and hand-made to a continental recipe in our small dairy in Totnes.

Totnes, Devon Info@ticklemorecheese.co.uk ticklemorecheese.co.uk

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Great news!

As of summer 2015, with the opening of our brand new store in Summerland Street, Exeter, Devon Air Ambulance Trust will be selling good quality furniture and all manner of electrical items.

Our new shop manager, Sue Whitham

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n Saturday 6th June 2015, Devon Air Ambulance Trust opens a brand new store in Summerland Street, Exeter, and will be selling good quality furniture and all manner of electrical items.

The large store, just down from Sidwell Street on the junction of Verney Street, will have two floors of goods, including bed frames and mattresses, wardrobes and chest of drawers, sofas, armchairs, dining suites and conservatory/garden furniture as well as electrical appliances such as flat screen televisions, dvd recorders, fridges, freezers and smaller items including toasters, irons, table lamps and hairdryers.

Following strict legislation, all soft furnishings will adhere to Fire Safety Regulations with appropriate labelling and all electrical items will be PAT tested and in good condition and working order.

What’s more, we will be able to collect donations of goods for their new store and, where possible, deliver purchases to their new owners.

So, if you are moving house, run a business, hotel, guest house or residential home and are re-stocking any of your furniture or electrical items, why not consider donating your old favourites to the Trust and help keep your two Air Ambulances flying?

DAAT’s Retail Director, Martin Bell, explained “This is a really exciting move for us. We are delighted that from June we will be able to take and sell an even wider range of goods. The store is a great size and in a great location so, along with all the stock available in our other shops, now you can completely kit out a whole house!”

Why not keep in contact with your local DAAT shop by liking their Facebook page ie Topsham Devon Air Ambulance shop!

If you h furnitu ave r donate e to a for furt nd inform her about w ation h can an at we d take, p can’t le contac ase t Whitha Sue 07944 m on 392662 .

We can claim Gift Aid on your donations of furniture and electrical goods too!

Computer generated image

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Topsham shop

Retail

refurbished and reopened

Devon Air Ambulance Trust is delighted to have reopened their Topsham shop following a complete refurbishment.

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nyone wandering along Topsham’s Fore Street would be well-advised to take time out to have a browse in the two DAAT shops, one specialising in all things Vintage & Variety and the other, having been recently refurbished, specialising in everything else.

Martin Bell said “Our Topsham shops are great; not just at raising funds for the Charity, but for being at the heart of the community that supports us so passionately. Last year these two shops raised £80,000 - which actually equates to 24 lifesaving missions - something our customers, staff and volunteers should be very proud of achieving.”

Martin added “We are often asked why we spend money on refurbishing our shops and there are many reasons for this. There is always an obligation with a lease to maintain our premises plus, of course we have an obligation to our staff and volunteers to ensure that their working environment is safe. This refurbishment has allowed us to address all the issues in one go, including a change of lighting, creating space for sorting and improving stock areas off the shop floor; ensuring that our staff and fantastic family of volunteers have a practical and safe working environment.”

The Trust’s Volunteer Support Officer, Rosey Oakes, added “Talking of our ‘fantastic family’ we are also looking for volunteers to help in our Topsham shops. There are loads of really good reasons to volunteer; you’ll be learning new skills and dealing with lots of different people and situations and it’s great for your CV and your confidence. For those new to the area it’s a great way to meet people and make new friends. And don’t forget the feel-good factor you get from knowing you are doing something to help others!”

If you can offer any time, do please pop into any of our shops and speak to the team, or email Rosey at r.oakes@daat.org

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Volunteers

The Golden Girls of Barnstaple Have you ever considered volunteering in a charity shop? Maybe the story of our Golden Girls in Barnstaple will be the inspiration you need…

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ot long after the shop opened in July 2005, Rose came along and introduced herself to manager Averil. Rose, now in her seventies, quickly became a valued member of the team and a great hit with the customers.

Shortly after Rose joined, Janet offered her services and Rose and Janet became firm friends. Despite living in Ilfracombe and having to commute by bus three times a week, Janet also proved an asset to the shop with Averil soon recognising her many skills and strengths, often relying on Janet to run the shop in her absence.

Two years ago Marie was sadly widowed and found herself at a loose end with time on her hands. From visiting the shop as a customer over many years, Marie, now 90, plucked up the courage to ask if she could be of any help.

Welcomed with open arms, Marie joined the team and, along with Rose and Janet, the three have become known as The Golden Girls or, affectionately, The Three Wise Monkeys. From sorting to steaming and from displaying goods to serving customers, every day is different and the shop is filled with the sound of laughter and fun.

Such is their friendship, they now go on regular breaks together, including a week last year in a Blackpool hotel

– which also happened to be the chosen venue for a Transvestite Weekend, causing quite a stir for our Golden Girls!

These three are amongst a team of volunteers who regularly help out in our Barnstaple shop, all playing an important role and all helping Averil to achieve the accolade of 2014 Manager of the Year. A fourth Wise Monkey, volunteer Steve, even cut short his holiday last summer in order to pick Marie up from the shop on her 90th birthday – to take her for a spin on his motorbike!

If you’d like to join us too, pop in to your local DAAT charity shop and have a chat – who knows where it may lead!

Janet, Marie, Steve and Rose

If you would like to find out more details about volunteering with Devon Air Ambulance, please call 01392 466666 or email r.oakes@daat.org 24

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Patient Story

Back from the brink Andrea and Vince Vanstone from Okehampton were out for a ride on Vinces’s motorbike in October 2013 when they had an accident that completely changed their lives.

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hey were involved in a road traffic collision with a Land Rover on the Okehampton to Tavistock road and both were left with life-threatening injuries. A call came through to ambulance control and Devon’s Eaglescott-based Air Ambulance was despatched within minutes to attend.

On arrival, paramedics Mark Hawley and Chris Saunders took over from an off-duty paramedic who had witnessed the incident, and they could see that Andrea, who had been wearing an open-face motorcycle helmet, had suffered severe head and facial injuries, including multiple fractures as well as internal injuries.

Meanwhile, Devon’s Exeter Aircraft was just completing a mission at Derriford Hospital and the aircrew rushed to the scene of the motorbike crash. The two air ambulances passed each other mid-way. On arrival, aircrew paramedics Darren Goodwin and Paul Robinson assisted the land crew to attend to Vince who had suffered injuries to his pelvis, spine, both legs and both wrists.

Both patients were flown to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for vital surgery. Andrea was in a medically induced coma for three weeks and had surgery to reset her jaw, cheek, palette, nose and eye socket as well as treatment where her face had been degloved. When she finally came round, still attached to a number of tubes and wires in the intensive care unit and with no memory of what had happened or understanding of where she was, she thought ‘she had been abducted by aliens’. As the story started to

unfold in her mind, she realised that she didn’t know what had happened to her husband and even if he was alive.

Vince was actually in a neighbouring room in Intensive Care, having undergone major surgery on his broken limbs. He spent 16 weeks lying flat on his back and was in hospital for a total of eight months. His mobility for the following weeks was restricted to a wheelchair and, subsequently, he progressed to walking with sticks.

The couple have no doubt in their minds that Devon’s Air Ambulances saved their lives. Despite many on-going health issues they wanted to say thank you and, one year after their accident, their family and friends held a ‘Back from the Brink’ fundraising party to celebrate their survival. They were amazed at the support from local businesses providing gifts for a raffle and the evening raised over £1,600!

Vince and Andrea were delighted to visit the Devon Air Ambulance Exeter Airbase for an emotional reunion with all four of the paramedics, Darren Goodwin, Paul Robinson, Chris Saunders and Mark Hawley, who attended their incident. Andrea described the meeting as ‘overwhelming’. “It was amazing. These people go out every day saving lives and they don’t even know you. It was very touching, humbling and an amazing experience. To this day, I don’t know how we survived. But, thanks to the work of the medical professionals and the support of our family and friends we are both on the road to recovery.”o

“It was amazing. These people go out every day saving lives and they don’t even know you. It was very touching, humbling and an amazing experience.”

Paul, Darren, Andrea, Vince, Mark and Chris

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The Isles of Devon

Drake, Burgh, Lundy…no, not the shipping forecast but a special part of Devon’s heritage, its islands. Each is very different in topography, ownership, usage and access but each is perceived as part of the Devon offer – what makes the county unique.

Drake’s Island No visitor to Plymouth will have missed Drake’s Island.

There it sits guarding the city, 6.5 acres of volcanic and limestone rock in the middle of Plymouth Sound forcing ferries and warships to edge between it and the Plymouth Hoe on their way to docking.

Variously named St. Michael’s and St Nicholas Island over the centuries, Plymouth’s love affair with its favourite privateer has ensured that Drake has become its enduring name.

The island has featured a chapel; a focal point for defence of the city being first garrisoned in 1551 and later used as barracks during the Napoleonic conflicts; a prison where some noteworthy Roundheads were left to die (it even has an oubliette – a truly horrible hole designed for ‘forgetting’ prisoners once lowered into it!): a place for land-based torpedo prototypes and the location of the first ever submarine related death when carpenter John Day was experimentally submerged in a wooden construction in 1771 but never came up again.

More recently, it became a young people’s adventure training centre before being sold to a private investor in 1995 who is still trying to win consent to build a boutique hotel amid the Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Grade II listed buildings but has recently been thwarted by the presence of a colony of rare little egrets.

Burgh Island Just down the coast and opposite Bigbury-on-Sea is the romantic Burgh Island where its art deco hotel, built in 1929, has been restored and offers elegant 1930s themed experiences for its guests.

The hotel is famous as a film location and for its association with Agatha Christie. The ‘Queen of Crime’ is said to have written And Then There Were None as well as the Hercule Poirot mystery Evil Under the Sun while staying on the island.

It was also a favourite of Noel Coward and where the Dave Clark Five filmed their 1965 film ‘Catch Us If You Can’.

This is another island originally called St. Michael’s and is thought to have once housed a monastery. Its pub, the Pilchard, is reckoned to have served fishermen for 700 years and was a haven for smugglers and wreckers who may have benefitted from the tide which cuts the island off twice a day.

Today’s visitors can walk the 250 metres to the island at low tide or cross on the Sea Tractor, a ‘Heath Robinson’ contraption which ploughs through the waves with its wheels underwater and with passengers safely aloft.

Burgh Island

Drakes Island in Plymouth Sound

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Beautiful Devon

Lundy Island

Lundy Where is Puffin Island, Grail Island or the Kingdom of Heaven? We know it today as Lundy, the dramatic 1100 acre granite island just 12 miles off the coast of Devon and cherished for its remote beauty and its outstanding flora and fauna which caused it to be named a Site of Special Scientific Interest, England’s first statutory Marine Nature Reserve and the first Marine Conservation Zone.

Thought to be named after the Old Norse for puffin (lundi) and island (ey), it is rich in birdlife; particularly puffins but also kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and oystercatchers amongst many other sea and vagrant birds.

Resident mammals include the island’s own distinct breed of wild pony, Soay sheep, Sika deer, pygmy shrews, feral goats and a lot of rabbits.

In addition to its wildlife, Lundy’s popularity with visitors is its calm, uncrowded and gentle environment but this wasn’t always the case. It was once linked to the powerful Knights Templar movement (although there is no real evidence that they had much to do with it) and became known as Grail Island because some thought the knights had hidden the holy relic there.

It later became the home of William de Marisco who

was on the run from Henry III and who built the castle with 9 foot thick walls as his stronghold. It didn’t do him much good as he was caught, hung, drawn and quartered.

Later it became a haunt for pirates and smugglers.

The island has variously been won in a card game, bought with compensation money after slavery was abolished, had a private postal service and its own ‘Puffin’ coinage. It was bought in 1834 by William Hudson Heaven staying in his family for the next 80 years and earning the sobriquet, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Lundy now has a resident population of 28. It is owned by the National Trust and is leased to the Landmark Trust, which runs 23 holiday properties there. There is a bar/restaurant and a shop. It’s beautifully maintained, easily accessible and for many a must-visit place when you’re in Devon.

If you are lucky enough to have visited all three of Devon’s iconic islands, there is one challenge left that you might consider – a visit to Devon Island, reputedly the largest uninhabited island on Earth, located in Baffin Bay, Canada. It has little rain but its polar desert ecology sees temperatures plummet to - 50°C. Even the Inuit community abandoned it in 1936.

Lovely name but it’s better to stay with Drake, Burgh and Lundy, don’t you think? o

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The Tarka Trail

The Country of the Two Rivers When Henry Williamson penned Tarka the Otter in 1927, he would have had no idea that the name would resonate around the world, not just because it is a wonderful and influential book, but because his otter has become synonymous with North Devon and its natural beauty.

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he book actually has a subtitle - Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-Life and Death in the Country of the Two Rivers.

The two rivers are, of course, the Taw and Torridge and they lie at the core of what we now know as The Tarka Trail, a pedestrian and cycle way running in a 180 mile figure-of-eight through landscapes little changed from those described by Henry Williamson.

The trail passes through a variety of land and seascapes from deep river valleys, ancient woodlands and rich farmland to rugged clifftops, mudflats and sandy bays. Major towns on the route include Barnstaple, Bideford, Torrington, Hatherleigh, Okehampton, Lynmouth and Ilfracombe and it intersects with numerous other notable paths including the South West Coastal Path, the Two Moors Way, the West Devon Way, Two Castles Trail, Little Dart Ridge and Valley

Walk, the Macmillan Way West and Dartmoor Way. The trail covers an area of 370 acres (about the same size as Dartmoor) and includes moorland, coastal and estuary walking from gentle ambling to the more strenuous and challenging, much of it waymarked and signposted.

There are 11 easy to follow circular walks; nine with easy access to pubs or cafés. (A Devon County Council leaflet is available from Tourist Information Centres and libraries.)

Some 30 miles of the Tarka Trail is available to cyclists between Braunton and Meeth, using the old railways lines.

At one point it passes by Beam Weir near Great Torrington close to the spot where Tarka was born. The trail also has parallel bus and train routes in places to allow for short lengths to be walked with much of the route suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Buses run parallel to the whole

Throughout this wonderful journey is a rich tapestry of towns and villages set in a wonderfully diverse landscape which brims with natural and manmade masterpieces.

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Beautiful Devon

section of route between Ilfracombe and Okehampton and 18 miles of the Tarka Railway Line from Eggesford to Barnstaple form part of the South loop of the trail.

The contrast and changing landscapes are amazing. With Barnstaple as a starting point, the North Loop takes in the tidal section of the River Taw before heading in an anti-clockwise direction through Bishops Tawton and West Buckland before climbing the hills that overlook Exmoor and on to Lynmouth.

Here the trail joins the South West Costal Path taking in the exhilarating cliff-top panoramas and wide surfing beaches of North Devon before it arcs back to Barnstaple. On its way, it passes Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system in the UK which is designated as both a National Nature Reserve and as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

The southern loop explores the Torridge/Taw Estuary to Bideford passing places such as Fremington Quay and Instow heading for Bideford. This is part of a shared section that covers a 31 mile stretch of former railway line from Braunton to Meeth which has a tarmac surface making it accessible to all.

The stretch from Great Torrington to Meeth is open to horses and passes through Meeth Quarry which is now an enchanting nature reserve run by Devon Wildlife Trust with ‘vast areas of open water, wet grassland, stone quarry face and woodland’ supporting diverse habitats and providing easy access to wildlife watching. The Bull and Dragon pub at Meeth is a regular starting point for walkers who join the trail at Meeth Halt; originally a small railway station on the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway.

The route also takes in Iddlesleigh, famed for its ‘War Horse’ connections, before heading down to Okehampton across to Sticklepath, South Tawton, North Tawton and up to Eggesford Station on its way back to Barnstaple.

Throughout this wonderful journey is a rich tapestry of towns and villages set in a wonderfully diverse landscape which brims with natural and man-made masterpieces. Its accessibility to all and the range of choices open to visitors on how to enjoy it, makes the Tarka Trail a true national treasure and something for Devon to be very proud of. o

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Devon Air Ambulance Trust Sunday 27 September 2015

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Winter Walks

A Stroll Around Totnes Our pilots are much more used to seeing the county from a bird’s eye view. By way of a change, we asked Captain Ian Payne and his wife, Suzie, to take a stroll around Totnes – at ground level…

H

aving lived here with a young family some years ago we have an affinity with Totnes, head of the navigable River Dart and nestled into rolling Devon hills, and we rediscovered familiar parts of the town along with some new tucked away amongst the listed buildings - more per head than any other town in the UK! Music, theatre, natural health and the ‘Totnes Pound’; Totnes is undeniably a quirky and fascinating place in which to spend a couple of hours on a delightful spring morning.

From the Long Marsh Car Park by the Rowing Club, we take a gentle stroll along the river bank opposite the Baltic Wharf passing the café on Steamer Quay and river trips to Dartmouth.

Left at the end of Steamer Quay Road and left again opposite Seymour Terrace and we’re on Totnes Bridge admiring Vire Island and the familiar sight of Fore Street. A quick right turn into Coronation Road leads to the Town Mill, fascinating in its own right and resplendent in its role as Tourist Information Centre.

Back over the crossing, take Mill Lane behind the Seven Stars Hotel and right into Fore Street. A barely noticeable hill with such a variety of shops, look out for the Brutus Stone in the wall just above the Station Road junction and the Museum on the left.

Turn right into Ramparts Walk immediately prior to the imposing East Gate and up the steps before following

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the path around to the Guildhall. Billet for troops during the Civil War, once visited by Cromwell and latterly a magistrate’s court. Follow the path into North Street and discover the entrance to the castle ahead.

Turn right from the castle entrance and walk to the top of the High Street and entrance to The Narrows. A fascinating collection of shops and restaurants including a harp centre adjoining a good old fashioned hardware shop!

At the top of The Narrows a diagonal track across Rotherfold leads us to Leechwell Street where a narrow lane adjacent to the Kingsbridge Inn takes us to the tranquil surrounds of the Leechwell itself.

Retracing our steps, we follow Leechwell Street, turning right again at the Narrows and after 50 metres, right into South Street. The Civic Square, home of the famous Elizabethan Market is on the left, the famous Butterwalk opposite provides tempting food smells!

A gentle descent, the magnificent St. Mary’s Church, under the East Gate to the bottom of town pausing to admire the tea shop, fudge shop, and traditional butchers!

At the DAAT shop walk down Ticklemore Street and past the wonderful cheese shop. Turn left down St. Katherine’s Way, a short distance to The Plains.

While we could now retrace our steps across the bridge to the car, we need little persuading to return to town and a stunning choice of venues for a well-earned lunch! o

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All in a good cause…

We are endlessly impressed by the commitment and determination shown by our supporters in the name of fundraising - and few individuals have inspired us more than Chudleigh’s Ross Lovell. Here’s his story…

I

love being outdoors, not just on those clear, bright, cloudless warm days of mid summer, but in the depths of winter too.

With two rugged coasts, beaches, two moors, rivers, rocks, trails and miles of rolling countryside, Devon is close to perfection for anyone who likes spending time outside – running, kayaking, cycling, horse riding, climbing, walking, surfing and many other things. It’s such a deceptively vast county, characterized by great swathes of farmland, open expanses of wild moorland and hard-to-reach inlets and coves.

I’m often out on one of my bikes, and that could take me to the heart of Dartmoor or the labyrinth of lanes, which criss-cross mid-Devon; far from convenient should I need emergency help. In spite of being experienced and well equipped for my own safety, sometimes unfortunate things happen.

The Devon Air Ambulance is there should I need it but by no means is it something that we can take for granted. For years my grandparents have supported the charity with a coffee and cake morning at their house in Longdown, raising thousands of pounds. Their efforts have been phenomenal but my strengths lie more in eating cake than baking it so, when I decided to support the charity as well, I went down a different track. One that took me 1000 miles across the Alps in the saddle, 110 miles across Devon on foot and to the height of Everest (sort of, I’ll explain later).

Growing up, Dartmoor was my proving ground and, like many youngsters in Devon, it was Ten Tors that got the ball rolling. My first marathon was over a mountain in Switzerland.

I was 18 and had cycled to the race from Portsmouth, via Spain. Shortly after, I raced my first Ironman; the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon in Norway. I’ve raced mountain bikes in Africa and Europe, run Ultra Marathons in Australia, cycled and ran 2000 miles through 9 countries from London to Corsica and spent 26 hours in a kayak. But always it’s Devon which brings me the most enjoyment, where I put in the hardest miles of training; the terrain that dishes out the

suffering, which I endure through the winter months in order to perform when a race or challenge comes around in summer.

A few years ago, when poring over a map of Dartmoor, I saw an opportunity to take on something which I hadn’t seen done before – a complete coast to coast, non-stop, on foot. Starting at Foreland Lighthouse on the north Devon coast I would run 110 miles, across Exmoor, mid-Devon, Dartmoor at night, through Ivybridge and down to the beaches on the south coast. To set out to achieve something so big, to plan, to learn the route, to prepare in every way – the whole thing consumed me for months.

On completion, in September last year, the sense of accomplishment was great! It took me 32 hours and I stopped only to eat and occasionally put on dry socks. But what mattered to me more was the involvement of friends and family, some running with me, some helping with food and supplies or just coming out to see me run through. It was a team effort. And then there were the people who I didn’t know but who were no less encouraging; spontaneous donations, following my tracking device and waiting outside their house with bowls of jelly babies.

2014 was always going to be an ambitious year. That’s the problem when you keep pushing yourself, the incentive is to keep nudging a little further; and, whilst I’m lucky enough to have legs which function pretty well why not use them to try and support a great local cause? I’ve ridden in the Alps many times, just not quite with such intensity. Last summer, over eight days we rode 22 mountain passes across Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland, finished the toughest single day mountain bike race in Europe and finished the 330km Tour du Mont Blanc.

These are legendary roads which have played host to some of the most famous battles in cycling history.

And to finish? In January, when the mercury was bottoming out at -5 and snow was whipping across the Moor, I rode from Bovey Tracey to the top car park on Haytor 24 times non-stop.

Why 24? Because riding the 370 metres of altitude gain on that one hill, that many times, was equal to the height of Everest! o

Starting at Foreland Lighthouse on the north Devon coast I would run 110 miles, across Exmoor, midDevon, Dartmoor at night, through Ivybridge and down to the beaches on the south coast.

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Devon People

Freshfaced and raring to go!

Amy helps with navigation along the way

Reaching the end at Thurlestone

Gran provides a cuddle

Last summer, over eight days we rode 22 mountain passes across Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland, finished the toughest single day mountain bike race in Europe and finished the 330km Tour du Mont Blanc.

Yayyy! I did it!

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Patient Story

Roller coaster road to recovery Lez James, 55, from Tavistock is a keen Archer. As a member of Tavistock Archery Club, he was happy to help set the course for a competition over Easter weekend in April last year. It was while he was trying to move a loose, dead tree stump that things took an unexpected turn.

W

hilst Lez has no memory of anything from that morning, he has been told that the movement of the dead tree caused another to fall, landing cleanly on Lez’s head. Fellow archers rushed to his aid and, seeing Lez had suffered a severe head injury and was unconscious, they called the emergency services.

Devon Air Ambulance paramedics Adrian Parker and Richard Walker, with pilot Ian Payne, flew to the course to assist. As Adrian and Richard assessed the patient, they knew that the priority was to get Lez to Derriford Hospital as swiftly as possible and they prepared him for the flight. Fellow archer, Mike, called Lez’s wife, Sue, suggesting that she should head straight for Derriford Hospital.

Lez was in a coma for two weeks and remained in hospital for over nine weeks.

The left side of his skull had been crushed and the frontal lobe was swollen. Lez had also suffered a traumatic brain injury and facial fractures and, while he was still in a coma, Lez had a stroke and a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Despite the horrific injuries, which have left Lez with blurred vision, ongoing pain and no sense of smell or taste, Lez considers himself ‘lucky’. “If the tree had landed just

3cm further over, and if it hadn’t been for the Air Ambulance getting me to hospital so swiftly, I might not be here at all.”

Several months down the line, Lez is still coming to terms with what happened. During his craniotomy (brain surgery), seven metal plates were inserted and whilst the scars are now fading and there is little visual evidence of the trauma, Lez still has help every day from Headway, a charity that helps brain injured patients.

Lez explains, “It’s difficult for others to understand because I look ok again now.

But I know I’ve still got a long way to go.

I was warned that the swelling of the brain may take over two years to go down; meanwhile I still have numbness, paralysis and memory loss.”

It’s been a long road for the whole family. At a visit to our airbase, where Lez and Sue saw the helicopter and met the aircrew, Sue confided “The last few months have been a real roller coaster. Some days are better than others for Lez. We’ve all had to accept that there’s no ‘quick fix’ following a head injury and we have to let things run their course. We may still have a long way to go but the good news is that Lez has just discovered he can actually still pull a bow and shoot some arrows. Archery is his passion so it will be great if he can compete again one day soon.”o

“It’s difficult for others to understand because I look ok again now. But I know I’ve still got a long way to go. I was warned that the swelling of the brain may take over two years to go down; meanwhile I still have numbness, paralysis and memory loss.”

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“Whether caused by a traumatic injury, as was the case for Lez, or an illness or long-term neurological condition such as meningitis, brain tumour, Huntington’s disease or stroke, an acquired brain injury can turn a person’s life upside down, leaving them facing complex disabilities and a very different future.

“Headway Devon is here to support anyone affected by acquired brain injury and their families. We provide a range of services that are individually tailored to meet each person’s needs, help them to achieve their goals and enable them to get the most out of their new lives.

“These services might include supporting people to live as independently as possible, helping them to re-engage with their community or helping them to return to work or education.

“If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with life after brain injury – Headway Devon is here to help. We have an open referral system, which means you can speak to us directly without having to be referred by a GP or social worker.”

Like many other survivors of brain injury, Lez now faces a long and difficult journey to overcome the challenges of his recovery.

Local brain injury charity, Headway Devon, supports people like Lez who have survived life-changing illnesses and accidents as they try to rebuild their lives.

Anne Mattock, the charity’s Chief Executive, tells us more.

£20 entry

For more information - Tel: 01392 211822 email: info@headwaydevon.org.uk web: headwaydevon.org.uk

Devon Air Ambulance Trust

One Mile Sea Swim

Sunday 13 September 2015

Devon Air Ambulance Trust

Broadsands Paignton Pre-register online now www.daat.org or register on the day

This event is raising funds equally for Devon Air Ambulance Trust & Torbay Surf Life Saving Club #daatswim Registered Charity Nos: 1077998 & 101566 www.daat.org

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Coleman Insurance Brokers provide specialist Charity and �ot for �ro�t insurance services and are proud to support the Devon Air Ambulance Trust For more information of the full range of services that Coleman Insurance Brokers provide:

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Accident changes the course of Ian’s life

Patient Story

O

ne sunny day in May 2013, Ian Sargent and his wife Michelle were out on Ian’s motorbike, a Kawasaki ZZR 1100, en route to visit her parents, near their home in Tiverton.

Coming towards them was a 4x4 vehicle towing a trailer and Ian watched, almost in slow motion, as the trailer clipped a hedge. As the driver then turned in the 4x4 to see what his trailer had hit, his vehicle swerved and hit Ian’s motorbike head on. “I saw it coming,” explained Ian. “I’d slowed right down to about 15mph but couldn’t get out of the way. The right hand side of his vehicle impacted with my right knee which was shunted backwards through my pelvis. I flew off the bike and into the hedge, with my bike landing on top of me.”

Ian was trapped for an agonising hour as emergency services rushed to the scene. His wife, Michelle, had also been thrown from the motorbike and, suffering a dislocated knee, was attended by a land ambulance crew before being taken to Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. Devon’s Air Ambulance landed 100 yards away and paramedics Nigel Lang and Paul Robinson joined the land ambulance crew to help Ian. Once extricated from the scene, he was assessed before being flown to Derriford

LEFT Ian’s pinned and plated lower leg before and after reconstruction.

BELOW LEFT Ian’s pelvis and a large amount of metalwork.

BOTTOM Ian and Michelle at the Exeter airbase.

“The surgeon did a great job of putting me back together. He explained that my pelvis was so shattered, he had to ‘hoover it out’!” for surgery. He had sustained significant injuries from the impact, including a shattered pelvis, breaks to his arm and both upper and lower leg, and needing bone grafts to his right leg and metal plates into his right knee. “The surgeon did a great job of putting me back together. He explained that my pelvis was so shattered, he had to ‘hoover it out’!”

After many operations, a month in Derriford Hospital and two further weeks in Exeter, Ian eventually returned home and spent the following 14 months in a wheelchair undergoing intense hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and counselling. “There’s no doubt that the accident has changed the course of my life,” continued Ian. “I couldn’t go out of the house on my own for over a year and suffered all manner of anxieties. I was finally diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and, I’m pleased to say, the EMDR (a form of psychotherapy) treatment worked brilliantly.”

Far from feeling downheartened by the accident, Ian and his wife Michelle decided to raise money for Devon Air Ambulance by organising a musical evening. Tickets for the event at Heathcoat Hall were fully sold out on the first day and guests raised over £2,000 whilst enjoying music from two local bands and a disco. “Everyone had a great time,” Ian said. “It was such a great evening; everyone was so supportive - we’re already thinking of planning another event later this summer!

We’re so grateful to everyone at Devon Air Ambulance Trust for everything they did when I had my accident; this is just a small way that we thought we could pay a little back.”o www.daat.org

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Legends

The Devil’s Pub Crawl

by David Phillips I

love Dartmoor; when I moved to Torbay in 1987 all I wanted to do was drive on it, walk on it and letterbox on it! I soon learnt about the many myths and legends that litter the spooky and atmospheric landscape. It was one of the less well known stories that inspired my Devil’s Pub Crawl.

Our tale starts on an area overlooking Widecombe in the Moor known as Foales Arrishes, where landowner Jan Reynolds made a pact with the Devil: in return for his soul, Jan was to receive seven years good luck with his favourite pastime, playing cards.

Jan amassed a considerable fortune in the seven years.

One of his regular gambling venues was the rear pews of Widecombe-in-the-Moor church, the Cathedral of the moor, so it was ironic that the Devil chose to claim Jan’s soul there. First he had to find it, which brings us to our first pub, The Tavistock Inn, where he tethered his horse and went in for directions. Hunting for souls is thirsty work so he ordered a pint and paid with a crisp new note. Downing the drink in one, he turned to leave but noticed the whole pub staring open-mouthed.

Realising the sound of the ale hissing and bubbling as it slid down his throat was a giveaway; he made a dramatic exit, swishing his cloak to reveal a tail and cloven hooves. The note had turned into a shrivelled leaf.

Leaving the inn, the Devil flew his horse towards the church, where he tethered it to one of the corner spires of the tower. He swooped down to enter the church at the back of the pews where Jan was dealing another hand. Seizing the unsuspecting landowner by the scruff of the neck, he dragged him out. Terrified, Jan still had the presence of mind to grab his precious cards. Once outside with his victim, the Devil flew up to his horse and took off. Unfortunately, in his haste, he failed to untie the reins properly; the spire was pulled loose and sent crashing down through the roof, killing and maiming many of the congregation.

Visit the church today and you will find a plaque commemorating this, although this version suggests it was a thunderbolt that struck the spire! Whilst there you can visit our second pub, the haunted Old Inn. As you look out from our final pub, The Warren House Inn, where Jan was last seen, you can make out four stone enclosures shaped like the suits of cards. These are known as the Ace Fields, a lasting memorial to Jan, who finally lost his grip on his cards, whilst clinging on to the Devil for dear life. Where they fell to earth on the moor, the four enclosures sprouted...

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So poor Jan Reynolds lost his soul to the Devil but, before you dismiss this as pure folklore, consider this: an entry in William Crossing’s Guide to Dartmoor tells how the tenants of Foales Arrishes reported their landlord missing, never to be seen again!

If you fancy following my Devil’s Pubcrawl, keep an eye out for the hooded stranger in the corner and raise a glass to the memory of poor Jan! ¨ You can follow David Phillips on his Facebook page; TIPFILES & TIP-X Files www.daat.org

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Interests

Lend Us A Tenor!

T

here is something joyous about the sound of a male voice choir singing in close harmony. Tenor, bass and baritone stand in be-blazered ranks, eyes fixed on the conductor, delivering songs with practiced cadence; at times unbelievably sweet in tone, at times a penetrating wall of sound belted out like a defiant war chant.

Male voice choirs have a long history and were originally associated with groups of men working in the same, often very tough, environment – miners, quarrymen, fishermen – and were symbolic of a social identity and cohesion as well as a recreational past time.

Today, many male voice choirs are the preserve of the retired who have the time to rehearse and to sing at events with pretty unsocial hours. Younger members come and go as they find other interests and, according to Phil Pester, Musical Director of the Torridge Male Voice Choir, there is always an ongoing effort to attract new members especially tenors who seem to be in chronic short supply.

But the fabric of a male voice choir comprises much more than singing and entertaining. There is a deep social side to it that involves the choristers’ wives as well as the communities and charities for whom they raise funds.

There is also humour, fun and endless banter, if talking to Phil Pester and his associates Derek Gale and Bob Ridout,

respectively Chairman and ‘Mr. Fixit’ of Torridge MVC, are anything to go by. The three 70-somethings are clearly proud of their medium and are passionate about what it represents, describing the choir as “a happy bunch of guys with a real community spirit.”

Torridge MVC was formed in 2003 following the amalgamation of Bideford and Hartland Male Voice Choirs and currently has 32 singing members supported by pianist Philip Price, flautist Shirley Ann Andrews and devoted mascot, Harmony the Bear.

Most of the choir’s concerts are within the Torridge area but they have sung in Falmouth, Bude and even in York Minster. The repertoire is light and varied ranging from Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Dam Busters to Unchained Melody and Nessun Dorma.

Torridge MVC supports a wide range of good causes but Devon Air Ambulance remains special to them as some of the members have benefitted from the service. The choir will be singing with Swansea Ladies choir at Bideford Methodist Church on 26th September raising funds for Devon Air Ambulance while other concerts include linking up with the Military Wives.

More information is available by visiting their website at www.torridgemvc.co.uk where you can also order a copy of the choir’s own CD (cost £6) and express an interest in joining them – especially if you’re a tenor! ¨

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The repertoire is light and varied ranging from Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Dam Busters to Unchained Melody and Nessun Dorma.

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Starting young...

Izzy Martin Eight year old Izzy Martin, from Marlborough near Kingsbridge, was inspired to raise funds for the Air Ambulance after seeing our helicopter land at her local playing fields and our pilot allowed Izzy to have a look inside. Izzy decided to bake and sell cakes and also saved her pocket money, raising a total of £55.00.

Thanks Izzy…q

Jordan Tillyer West

Harry makes a speedy recovery Young Harry EdwardsBrady lives on a farm in Hatherleigh and has always loved the rough and tumble outdoor life. As a child who was never still, his mum, Emma, knew her son was very under the weather when, one day in May 2013, he was particularly quiet and sleepy.

Knowing he had an upset tummy, Emma kept Harry away from pre-school and their day was unusually quiet.

It was a complete shock, however, when later that day Emma watched as her young son started fitting. Her mum and brother, who were there at the time, immediately called the emergency services.

Emma explained, “It was so frightening to see. I thought Harry was just sleeping on the sofa but then he started fitting and his eyes rolled to the back of his head; it was horrible. Even when the fit stopped, Harry just went limp in my arms and was unconscious; he didn’t respond to anything.”

The fire brigade first responders were the first to arrive, just ahead of the paramedics from Devon Air Ambulance. Emma continued, “I was so reassured knowing that help was on its way – and I think

everyone, even the first responders (who were brilliant), breathed a massive sign of relief when the aircrew arrived. I was still so worried about Harry, but at least I was able to go in the helicopter with him to hospital and the paramedics explained everything all the way to Exeter. He had all sorts of tests and was kept in overnight. Thankfully, even just the next day, Harry was pretty much back to his old self. But I’ll never forget how grateful we were that the Air Ambulance came to our rescue.”

Just two weeks later, Harry proved just how well he had recovered as he rode two ponies in the annual Devon County Show and, just five months later, became the youngest rider ever to take part in the Horse of the Year Show, still only 3 years old!

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Devon teenager Jordan has raised almost £4,400 in memory of her Uncle, Simon Higgins, who sadly died in April 2013.

In the following months, Jordan took part in a 5 mile run, Commando Challenge and a 14 mile cycle ride from Tavistock to Plymouth. Well done Jordan – fantastic effort!

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Junior Crew

A very special Christmas For schoolgirl Natalie Cude from Kingskerwell, Christmas 2014 was very different to the previous year.

O

n December 17th 2013, with the Christmas school holidays fast approaching, Natalie Cude tripped and fell and ended up spending over two weeks in hospital. The young Newton Abbot College schoolgirl had tripped on the pavement and fallen into the road where, unfortunatley, she was then hit by a car.

As the Air Ambulance paramedics, Adrian Parker and Richard Walker were assessing and treating an unconscious Natalie, her mum Hayley had a call from the school suggesting she should rush straight to the Derriford hospital in Plymouth.

When her parents arrived, x-rays had revealed that, as well as cracked ribs, a torn spleen and a badly broken elbow, 12-year old Natalie had also suffered fractures to her skull and she urgently needed transferring from Derriford to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. As it was now evening and the Devon Air Ambulance had gone off duty, a Royal Navy helicopter was called so that Natalie could be conveyed along with a Doctor, a Nurse and her mum. Treatment at Frenchay

included a shunt being fitted and, still in an induced coma, Natalie was transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Nine days later, on Boxing Day, Natalie gradually came out of her coma and at that point doctors were still unable to say exactly what damage had been caused to her brain.

There were risks of memory loss, cognitive issues and even a complete change of personality.

Despite the worries, Natalie returned to school at the end of February and an Occupational Therapist joined her in class to help with certain tasks. One year on, whilst there are still some things that Natalie has difficulty with, such a tying shoelaces, telling the time and riding her bicycle, on the whole she is almost completely recovered. “It was such a worrying time,” explained mum Hayley.

“Christmas was pretty much cancelled that year. I’ve got two other children at home, Chloe and Ryan, both younger than Natalie, but we were all so worried about Natalie, and with all the visits to the Bristol Hospitals, every day just merged into another. Fortunately we made up for it this year and all had a super time!”

If Natalie’s accident had occurred in the summer months, when the evenings are light for longer, Devon’s Air Ambulance would have been able to convey Natalie and her mum from to Frenchay Hospital, rather than using a Royal Navy helicopter.

It is the aim of Devon Air Ambulance to extend their service into the hours of darkness so that, from 2016, incidents like Natalie’s can be attended all year round. o

As it was now evening and the Devon Air Ambulance had gone off duty, a Royal Navy helicopter was called so that Natalie could be conveyed along with a Doctor, a Nurse and her mum.

If you would like to find out more details about how you could support Devon Air Ambulance, please call 01392 466666 or email info@daat.org

Get in touch!

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Devon People

Real people saving real lives - what could you do to save a life?

Our thanks go to all the amazing fundraisers throughout the county who help keep our service going... here are just a few.

Last September, family and friends joined Martyn Stevens (second right, with son, Sam) in a 20-mile fundraising cycle ride from Watchet to Williton via Washford and Monksilver. They followed the mineral line, cycle paths and country lanes, ensuring that the route was suitable for all ages, with frequent refreshment stops along the way. The Railway Inn at Williton was the final destination for a celebration barbecue.q

Check out this creative book folding by Barnstaple shop volunteer, Dayna Wilkes – how cool is that! Dayna’s mum, Lesley (pictured) is Assistant Manager of our Barnstaple shop.u The ladies of Glenholt Park in Plymouth meet regularly and organise a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year including coffee mornings, table top sale and barbecues. Their events have raised over £1,500 for DAAT – thank you ladies.q

Supporter Johnnie Lloyd (pictured in the bowler hat) took part in a charity horse race prior to last year’s Devon & Somerset Staghounds Point to Point. London-based Johnnie, who lost over four stone in weight in order to qualify for his place, cajoled sponsorship and support for DAAT from colleagues, friends and family. The result was an amazing day and an outstanding £17,599 donated to the Trust. Fundraising Director, Caroline Creer, went up to meet the gang to collect their cheque.q

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Fundraisers Every week the Friday Walkers meet in different locations throughout East Devon and walk for 5 miles through the beautiful countryside enjoying the surroundings and good company. Each week a different walker plans the route ensuring that there is always somewhere different to go from the previous week. They have been meeting weekly for nearly 18 years since 1997 and during that time have raised over £25,000 for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.

Tiverton’s Tina Cockram and local friends enjoyed the thrill of Europe’s longest zip wire and raised £900 for DAAT. q

A few members of the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (DATA) held a recent meeting at Pennywell Farm. DATA represents over 40 of the county’s top attractions and is proud to help promote two very worthwhile charities, Devon Air Ambulance Trust and the RNLI.q

t A popular stopping point for truckers and motorists is Jem’s Snack Wagon at Heathfield.

As well as customers donating loose change in his DAAT collection box, proprietor Richard Potter also donates a percentage of his takings to the charity. This totals over £800 at the time of going to print!

Okehampton Rotary Club raised £2,000 for DAAT and North Dartmoor Search & Rescue with a choice of 2 circular walking routes, of 13 or 18 miles. Thank you to all who took part. q

If you would like to find out more details about how you could support Devon Air Ambulance, please call 01392 466666 or email fundraising@daat.org www.daat.org

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Business support We enjoy very positive working relationships with many businesses, large and small, throughout the county. Support from companies offers a vital income stream to the Trust but it’s not just financial support that can be of benefit.

There are many ways that businesses can get involved; here are just a few…

Burts Potato Chips

Chosen charity for 2015. Taking part in the Plymouth Half Marathon and have raised over £1000 so far.

We look forward to them taking part in our Dragon Boat Festival in September.

South West Highways

- continue their support, having already raised £5,887.59. Their latest “near miss” campaign has raised a further £537.84

Linden Homes Support in 2015

Linden Homes, who have sites in Devon & Cornwall have chosen to support both Devon Air Ambulance & Cornwall Air Ambulance throughout 2015. They’ve already started their fundraising by holding a coffee morning & raffle at their head office in Newton Abbot, raising £728.

We are proud to be supporting Devon Air Ambulance Trust & Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust as our 2015 Charities of the Year 46

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Anglers Paradise

Staff and guests at Anglers Paradise, a luxury course fishing complex based at Halwill Junction near Holsworthy, have been supporting DAAT for a number of years. From donations in their collection boxes to organised fundraising events, we have now received over £7,500!

And you should see the one that got away…! www.daat.org

Business Support

Perrigo, Braunton

DAAT received a donation of £18,000 from their Charitable Foundation in January, having been chosen by the staff to receive this generous donation.

Mears Group, Exeter

Have been supporting since 2012 and through various events have raised £2,232.11

Teamwork pays off! q

Parritor joined forces with Crisp Professional Development in 2014 to win the Dragon Boat Festival. They have carried on their support by entering a team in the Rock Solid event – a real team effort on both accounts!

Continuing Support in 2015

This year sees a number of our existing Charity of the Years, continuing support. These include, Tozers, East Devon Law, HSBC Teignmouth & HSBC Tiverton, Beviss and Beckingsale - Thank you! www.daat.org

If your business is interested in supporting DAAT call Ambrose thanks Masons Kings Caroline Creer on 01392 466666 Ext.*133 for their support. or by email on c.creer@daat.org

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Meet Our Clinical Team It’s a rare opportunity to have all our paramedics in the same place at the same time but a recent training day gave us the perfect moment. So, meet the crew…

From left to right Darren Goodwin, Adrian Parker, Glenn Birtwisle, Kate Adlam, Chris Saunders, Nigel Lang, Dave Dungay, Mark Langley, Richard Walker, Dave Huyton, Nigel Hare, John Shaddick, Mark Hawley, Darren Hall, Paul Robinson

How did 2014 stack up? Operations Director Nigel Hare brings us up to date.

2014 saw Devon Air Ambulance respond to 1065 incidents and treating 843 patients, 11% of which were children.

We categorise the incidents we respond to into 3 groups.

Trauma – where injuries are sustained as a result of an accident or incident.

Medical – where the patient is suffering from a life threatening condition such as a stroke, heart attack or difficulty in breathing.

Inter Hospital Transfer (IHT) – where we transfer a patient from one hospital to another because the destination has more specialist capabilities needed to treat the patient.

As you can see from the pie chart almost half the patients we responded to last year were suffering from life threatening medical conditions which often occur within the patient’s 48

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own home. This coupled with the fact that people also have accidents at home accounts for why 40% of the incidents we responded to were at a place of residence.

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Operations

RTC - Road Traffic Collision DSH - Deliberate Self Harm

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Back Chat

On Tour With Simon

Well-known broadcaster and DAAT Patron, David FitzGerald, joins Falklands Veteran Simon Weston OBE to present a theatre tour: ‘Simon Weston - My Life, My Story’.

By David’s own admission, no two shows are ever the same!

M

y old friend, Simon Weston OBE, has been in Devon, firstly to catch up with me on a nationwide stage tour we are undertaking and, secondly, to sample the delights of Devon’s hospitality. I met up with Simon at The Glazebrook House Hotel and introduced him to Churchill and Her Majesty. In fact, there was no need to make any formal introductions, as you can see, and besides he has already met the Queen on several occasions as, indeed, nearly all of the Royal family.

At the moment we are in the middle of a theatre tour with a show called ‘Simon Weston - My Life, My Story’. Backed with the images of Simon’s life taken from the documentaries on his recovery and achievements, Simon tells the story of his background in Wales, through to joining the army, the Falklands War and beyond to his family life, fatherhood and becoming a grandfather.

I act as a guide and at times a prompter as Simon has crammed in an awful lot into his life and struggles trying to remember some of the details. Thankfully, I have known the man for nearly twenty five years and, despite a few drinks on the way, can recall a lot of what he has forgotten. Every show is different as we tend to wander off as both of us find different stories each time we sit down on stage.

For those who don’t know the facts behind Simon’s life, the presentation is all the more fascinating. He tells us of the amazing escape from the burning and buckled ship, The Sir Galahad, but only after suffering 46% burns to his body. The audience are stunned to be told that he spent a staggering five years in hospital and that he has undergone 95 operations to

Fitz

date, the last of which took place some twelve months ago to repair a few problems still related to the 1982 attack.

Last month we found ourselves in Melton Mowbray with over 170 people in the audience.

The atmosphere was electric as he unwound his tale of survival and conquering adversity. The film footage of when he was in hospital I still find disturbing and some of the people in the front rows will notice that I turn away from the scenes. At the end, he was given a standing ovation…. I got a pork pie…..Oh and some Stilton. Melton Mowbray is known for both and it was here that I learnt that Stilton can be made in three counties only and one of the six licensed dairies to make the cheese was a short walk from the theatre…there, you see, I have wandered off again.

Simon will be in Devon on two occasions this year, at the Theatre Royal Drum stage in Plymouth, which is already a sell out, and The Flavel in Dartmouth on Saturday June 20th. Much to our surprise those tickets are going quickly as well but we hope that we can bring the show to Exeter and maybe get a second date for Plymouth, plus a venue in North Devon.

Although he lives in Cardiff, Simon makes every effort to visit Devon as often as possible.

He loves the county and my wine rack. Keep an eye out for more venue dates for the show. He may well be coming to a wine rack near you.

Speaking of The Glazebrook House Hotel, Pieter Hamman the owner has decided to hold An Alice in Wonderland Party on July 4th this year and raise funds for The Devon Air Ambulance.

Click onto www.glazebrookhouse.com for more details. o

Simon tells the story of his background in Wales, through to joining the army, the Falklands War and beyond to his family life, fatherhood and becoming a grandfather.

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Devon Air Ambulance Trust

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• 45,000 copies per issue • Over 35,000 mailed directly to homes of our supporters • Broad reader demographic • More than 50% of our readers are in the 35-65 age group • Distributed to doctors, dentists, hospitals, solicitors and other reception areas throughout the county • Distributed via our charity shops and the shows and events we attend • As well as profiling the work of the Air Ambulance our articles also celebrate all that’s great about Devon, with a great line-up of fresh content every issue • Our readers choose to support the Charity so our publication is anticipated, well read and retained • Helipad is available online at www.daat.org. We attract an average of 7,500 visitors per month and it is shared via social media channels including Facebook and Twitter. We have over 5,000 Facebook fans and over 12,300 Twitter followers

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