Helipad Spring 2021

Prize Crossword Win Devon Cider Gifts!

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LOTTERY

Wildlife

Red Kite Spotting

the official magazine of

DEVON AIR AMBULANCE

spring 2021 | www.daat.org

Devon History &Heritage > 18TH CENTURY GENIUSES > TOP TEN DEVON FACTS > RNAS TORQUAY

CRITICAL

CARE CARS

more than 550 incidents attended

Discover more...

@ DAAT.ORG

Fitz

chats to...

Beer Coastguards

Inspiring Patient Stories

A BIG THANK YOU!

for your continuing support

A garden for everyone RHS Garden Rosemoor, located between Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, is stunning through every season.

With plenty of events including summer holiday activities, craft fairs, flower shows and Glow winter illuminations, there is something for everyone.

Book online at rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH Your visit supports our work as a charity

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

RHS members go free

spring 2021 | WELCOME

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WELCOME Heléna Holt Chief Executive Officer We can say without doubt that the last 12 months have been some of the most difficult and turbulent that any of us have had to face personally, and this is equally true of Devon Air Ambulance. We have always tried to be open, honest and transparent about the challenges we have faced, and we hope you have found the updates in the last three issues of Helipad useful.

It goes without saying that we will continue to feel the knock-on effects of the pandemic for some time to come, particularly in building back our finances given the severe impact that lockdowns and restrictions have had on traditional fundraising.

However, despite knowing that difficulties still lie ahead, we are excited and optimistic for 2021 and beyond. While we were already in the process of reviewing our longer-term

Ali Simpson Helipad Editor It is always nice to leave the cold and windy weather of winter behind us, and the onset of this spring is probably more welcome than ever after the year we have all experienced!

As usual, we hope you enjoy reading about the amazing work that Devon Air Ambulance does every day, including how – one year on - our Critical Care Cars have really enhanced our service, how some of our determined fundraisers have continue to support our service in new and innovative ways, and we also get a personal view from three of our retail staff on how they embraced online selling while our shops were closed. You can also read the truly inspirational stories told by our patients about how Devon Air Ambulance came to their aid in their time of great need.

strategic direction in early 2020, the pandemic accelerated this process and we have now implemented a more dynamic and flexible strategy. We hope it is a long time before we experience another year like 2020, but this new approach will ensure we are more agile in being able to deal with any future problems that arise, so we are able to embrace new ways of working and explore exciting new digital opportunities in fundraising and supporter engagement.

If you would like to read more about how our operations dealt with the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, Operations Director Nigel Hare takes a thoughtful retrospective on the year on page 48.

We also bring you a mix of interesting articles featuring local people, places, lifestyle and history including exploring Plymouth on the south side of the Sound, finding out how red kites have reappeared in the skies above our county and learning about Devon’s leading figures in the Enlightenment .

Our first ever crossword in the Winter issue of Helipad proved hugely popular, so we hope you will enjoy the opportunity to test your local and general knowledge once more, and have the chance of winning another great prize from two of our business supporters (see page 14).

GET IN TOUCH! Devon Air Ambulance Unit 5 Sandpiper Court Harrington Lane Exeter EX4 8NS

Fundraising & Events

fundraising@daat.org

Lottery

lottery@daat.org

Volunteering

Cara Jones

c.jones@daat.org

 01392 466666  info@daat.org  www.daat.org

PR

Ginette Gisborne

g.gisborne@daat.org

Registered Charity No 1077998 Registered Company No 3855746

Community Landing Sites Toby Russell

t.russell@daat.org

Operations

Nigel Hare

n.hare@daat.org

Advertising Sales

Square7 Media

0203 283 4055

© 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.

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helipad | www.daat.org

CONTENTS | spring 2021 OUR WORK

42 Junior Crew

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Stop Press A round-up of news from Devon Air Ambulance.

36

A year like no other The last twelve months have been really challenging for our retail shops and staff. Three of our shop managers tell us candidly about the highs and lows, and why every sale is now more rewarding than ever.

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Discover our website You can find all sorts of interesting information on our website, from operational statistics and patient stories to fundraising support and events updates.

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Devon People & Junior Crew Despite the impact that restrictions have had on our community fundraisers, no matter how old or young our supporters are, they still find innovative and creative ways in which to raise money for Devon Air Ambulance.

44

Our Critical Care Cars celebrate an anniversary Before the full impact of a global pandemic became apparent and we went into the first lockdown, Devon Air Ambulance’s two Critical Care Cars went ‘live’ and this timely introduction has meant we never lost a day’s service.

Publisher Heléna Holt h.holt@daat.org Editor Alison Simpson helipad@daat.org Advertising Sales Gaynor Garton

46

Business on board We say a big ‘thank you’ to the local businesses that have continued to support Devon Air Ambulance this year.

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Community Landing Sites Take a tour of the county with us to learn about the latest community landing sites to go ‘live’.

020 3283 4055 Design & Print Management Silver Foxes Publishing 07455 206470 Distribution & Mailing Silver Foxes Publishing 07455 206470 ISSN (Print) 2055-2343 ISSN (Online) 2055-2351

48

One year on Operations Director Nigel Hare reflects on an unprecedented year full of challenges and opportunities for our clinical and aviation teams.

The Offical Magazine of Devon Air Ambulance Celebrating the best in Devon 40,000 copies covering the whole county. 35,000+ delivered direct to our supporters Also available online at www.daat.org

Contributors David FitzGerald Debbie Gregory Richard Wilson Neil Devons

Photographers RHS Rosemoor

Some photographs in this issue of Helipad may have been taken before COVID restrictions.

Next issue Summer 2021

is published by DEVON AIR AMBULANCE TRUST

On The Cover Issue No.28 Spring 2021 Spring Sunrise

44 CCCs one year on

spring 2021 | CONTENTS

GET INVOLVED 8

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Volunteering The last year has been one of challenges and new beginnings for our volunteers and we can’t wait to welcome them back to Devon Air Ambulance!

Lottery Why not use our new online Direct Debit form to become one of our valued lottery members – its quick and easy

PEOPLE, PLACES & LIFESTYLE 12

A Cradle of Enlightenment How the foremost thinkers, philosophers, inventers, entrepreneurs and playwrights of Devon contributed to the remarkable Age of Reason.

14

Prize crossword Test your general and local knowledge in our new crossword and have the chance to win a great prize.

16

“Well, fancy that!”

Think you know Devon? Find out how the county lays claim to some amazing records, whether it is the oldest, newest, narrowest, longest or just plain quirkiest!

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An assault on the senses RHS Rosemoor horticulturist, Richard Wilson, describes how your garden – whether big or small – can be transformed into a multi-sensory experience, combining sight, sound, touch and, of course, fragrance.

26

Two Alexanders, a Lawrence, a Winston and a fascinating history Across the Sound from the famous Plymouth Hoe and Barbican, we explore the fascinating history and people of Mount Batten, Oreston and Turnchapel.

30

Soup-a!

Why having a versatile, adaptable and super-easy recipe for homemade soup is a sure-fire winner if you want to avoid food waste and eat healthily.

32

Flying high like a kite Having been relentlessly persecuted and almost driven to extinction in the UK, it is a welcome and thrilling sight to see Red Kites soaring above the fields of Devon once more.

34

Chocks away!

Former DAA Pilot and current aviation Safety Manager Rob Mackie has a passion for aviation in the First World War and takes a look back at the history of military flight in Torquay.

50

BackChat Fitz chats to Beer Coastguard Station Officer Terry Hoare about the amazing voluntary work their service undertakes to help those in peril on the sea – and inland.

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Crash Landing

PATIENTS 10

20

23

25

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Crash landing When a mountain bike jump went wrong and left teenager Harry Adam with three broken limbs that needed treating by Devon Air Ambulance paramedics, one of his first thoughts was about the excitement of a free helicopter ride!

“I had a fight with a chainsaw” Plucky octogenarian Margaret Paramore didn’t think anything of chopping up trees in her garden for firewood, until her chainsaw had a ‘wobble’ and struck her in the face. Devon Air Ambulance paramedics were quickly on scene to help with her profuse blood loss.

What3Words made a real difference When a strong gust of wind picked up Jeanette Bishop, and her bike, and dumped them unceremoniously down in the middle of Dartmoor, the What3Words app came into its own in helping Devon Air Ambulance pinpoint her remote location.

Across the county line to offer support Alec Luckin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed in a local shop in Wadebridge. The Cornwall Air Ambulance was already attending to another patient so Devon Air Ambulance flew to the scene to offer support in our neighbouring county.

It’s never too late It was twenty years ago that father and son, Jon and Joe Wyatt, were involved in a road traffic collision and were both airlifted by Devon Air Ambulance to the brand new, three day old, Accident & Emergency department at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

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The latest news from Air Ambulance HQ

Hello & Goodbye...

We are delighted to have recently welcomed three new trustees to Devon Air Ambulance.

Chair of Trustees, Margaret Davies says “Between them, the ten members that now make up our dynamic and fresh Board are a talented bunch with a diverse mixture of skills, experience and approaches, perfect to support and guide Devon Air Ambulance in 2021 and beyond”.

Dr Ross Hemingway Ross is currently employed by the MOD as a Sports Medicine GP at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines where he is the clinical lead for Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine. Ross previously worked as a Royal Naval Medical Officer, is an examiner on several pre-hospital courses and is a rugby union doctor for the Men and Women’s Premiership and RFU elite national teams. Ross lives in East Devon with Sarah and his family and enjoys the occasional triathlon, holidays in the camper van and attempting to coach U6 rugby.

Ann Holman Ann is Executive Director of Our Plymouth CIC, a digital platform that enables community and collective action. Before that she worked for several years as a management consultant with PwC and Accenture. Her expertise lies in strategy, digital and innovation. In her spare time Ann can be found cycling, climbing up a mountain or walking the coastal path. Ann has closely watched the progress of DAAT since moving to the SW in 2003. She is both honoured and proud to be part of DAAT and is looking forward to working with the team in the future.”

Dominic Hazell Dominic is a Physiotherapist at the RD&E, working within the Trust for over ten years.

Growing up in Exeter he watched the initial flights of the Devon Air Ambulance from his bedroom window, and now is very proud to now be involved with DAAT. Dominic lives in East Devon with his wife and two sons, where he’ll often be found near a cricket pitch or local farm shop.

And one farewell...

Dr Anthony Hudson Dr Hudson has recently left DAA after just under four years’ service as both a trustee and director of the trading company. Tony is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the RD&E, with a special interest in caring for patients who have suffered traumatic injuries, so the knowledge and insight he was able to bring to Devon Air Ambulance was invaluable. As with all our NHS heroes, Tony has had a very busy and challenging 12 months so we all wish him well as he continues his amazing lifesaving work!

spring 2021 | NEWS

Tribute to Captain Richard Metson

7

themselves a target of £1,000 but we are so pleased that they have now raised well over £3,000. This shows how loved and respected Dick was by all those who knew him, both socially and professionally. We all send our condolences and very best wishes to Dick’s wife Carol and family and thank them for thinking of Devon Air Ambulance at this sad time.

Their generous gesture will help ensure Dick’s beloved red helicopters keep flying into the future.

We were very saddened to learn of the recent death of Captain Richard (Dick) Metson. Dick played an integral part in getting Devon’s Air Ambulance off the ground, working as Senior Pilot covering Devon and Cornwall for Bond Air Services who leased our aircraft to us at that time. He was seconded to Devon to carry out the training of our pilot and paramedic team.

Although he stopped flying in early 2000, Dick continued with his role as Senior Training Pilot until his retirement. He was a true gentleman and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the honour of knowing him.

Dick’s son Jeremy said “Dad was so proud to be part of the evolution of Devon Air Ambulance Trust in the early 1990s, and we are all equally proud of what he achieved”.

Dick’s family have very kindly set up a Just Giving page in his memory to raise funds for Devon Air Ambulance at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richardmetson. They set

We value your thoughts

And finally...

– a message from our Head of Fundraising, Sally Hilton

Helipad Sub-Editor Debbie Gregory has recently left Devon Air Ambulance to explore new pastures and embrace exciting new challenges. We all wish Debbie well for the future and thank her for the amazing contribution she has made to Helipad over the last ten years.

Without you, our supporters, Devon Air Ambulance can’t keep attending or saving people’s lives on the worst day of their lives. The Charity’s income has been hard hit by COVID-19 and now is the time for us to look at ways to change and enhance our fundraising approach to secure the future of our service. Our Fundraising team has therefore been undertaking a broad range of market research including focus groups, phone interviews and online surveys, all of which is helping us to get a clearer understanding of the supporter experience you would like to have.

You may therefore find a copy of a survey enclosed with your copy of Helipad (please note, not all copies will contain a survey). However, if you have received a survey, and have a few minutes to spare, we would really appreciate it if you could complete it and return it to us.

The Devon Air Ambulance Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2020

We value your thoughts and thank you in advance for completing our survey.

is now available Strategic Overview - Fit for the Future



&T

EC H N O LO G I C A L M

P

LTURE &

VI

EN

OWTH

BI

USTA INA BILITY &

The Strategic Review was still work in progress at the end of 2020, with an anticipated completion and publication date likely to be Spring 2021.

As at the end of 2020, DAA also submitted changes to its Articles of Association to the Charities Commission to bring them inline with the reality of remote Board meetings and decision making and the closed nature of the Charity.

• Develop and implement a coherent income generation strategy to deliver our vision • Achieve best value for money through efficiency • Ensure our investments remain consistent with our objectives and our values • Horizon scanning to ensure we pre-empt societal shifts in attitudes • Provide robust oversight of all financial performance and matters • Provide guidance and support to leadership Team in delivering financial objectives • Regularly review the risk register for Financial Growth & Sustainability

L

• Develop and implement a digital culture to fit the way we work • Expand income opportunities through digital • Promote innovation in digital and technology • Create efficiency gains through digital technologies • Ensure DAA has robust Cyber-Security and data systems and processes • Develop a data-driven strategy dashboard to support Board & Leadership Team • Monitor emerging technologies that hold potential to transform our operations • Regularly review the risk register for Digital and Technology

IT

TAL S

TA &S

IP

EN

NM

L GR

• Environment, Sustainability & Stewardship • Digital & Technological Mastery

Each focus area and the supportive activities have been ranked into tactical (1-2 years), strategic (2-5 years), visionary (5-10 years) and ‘over the horizon’ (10+ years).

• Develop and implement a coherent talent management strategy • Support the Leadership Team in developing a high-performing and supportive organisational culture • Promote policy and practices to encourage and support a diverse workforce • Oversight of HR-related policies and procedures and associated risk including health, safety and welfare • Creating and reviewing the Pay Policy including Senior Leadership Team remuneration • Regularly review the risk register for People, Talent & Culture

SH

N

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CIA

• Financial Growth & Sustainability Financial • •People, Talent &Growth Culture & Sustainability • •Environment, & Stewardship: People, Sustainability Talent & Culture • Digital & Technological Mastery:

• To end preventable death, disability or suffering from critical illness or injury • To provide exemplary time-critical care to patients • To support patients during their rehabilitation and recovery • To ensure operational capability through effective management of infrastructure, equipment and vehicles • To use our expertise to support education and prevention initiatives in collaboration with other agencies • To regularly review the risk register for delivery of service patients

TE

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VISION

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It was agreed that there should be four key focus areas to the new strategy, material issues which would enable the Charity to focus on being fit for the future in terms of delivering against our overarching purpose, while helping it address key risks and opportunities:

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DI

L TA

The resulting framework will support a strategy that can be continually recalibrated in light of emerging new data, new technology and unexpected global events, while enabling the Charity to work tactically and iteratively now, in preparation for what could be possible years in the future.

In 2020, to address the weaknesses in the existing strategic model, a major piece of work was undertaken to review the strategy

In 2020, to address the weaknesses in the existing strategic model, a major piece of work was undertaken to review the strategy, involving the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team, Trustee board and a working group made up of senior and junior staff from across the range of Devon Air Ambulance’s broad functions, such as Communications, Fundraising, Finance, Retail and I.T.

GI

Having assessed the options, it was agreed that a blended approach would be the most suitable solution for Devon Air Ambulance, providing the clarity and direction of travel of the current linear model but with a greater degree of responsiveness and agility, closely aligned to the overarching purpose of the Charity. Taking the strengths from both approaches would create a strategy of innovation, creativity and engagement, balanced alongside stability, clarity and reassurance.

The aim of the Strategic Review was to consider the current strategy and alternative models to determine which would best support Devon Air Ambulance now and make it fit for the future.

Like many charities and organisations, Devon Air Ambulance has previously worked within the confines of a traditional linear-style strategic model, considering our key objectives in terms of tangible outcomes, ranging from the need for a new helicopter, whether we should operate for longer hours, how we could grow our income or how we can control our costs. Each objective, in turn, helped us identify a number of activities which needed to take place in order for us to measure our success. While this had some benefits in terms of clearly defining ‘the road ahead’, it was also tactical in nature and inflexible, it stifled creativity and was based on presumptions about the predictability of the future.

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EW

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• Develop and implement a climate change emergency commitment • Sustainable management of resource including fuel, buildings and transport • Scrutiny of investments policy and impact on the environment • Support an organisational 'green' ethos and philosophy • Promote greater environmental awareness • Regularly review the risk register for Environmental Sustainability

Operational Statistics 2020 The Official Magazine

daat.org Devon Air Ambulance Trust

Financial Position at the Year End Income

£3,227,000

£8,326,000

3,773

LOTTERY

GENERAL DONATION & LEGACIES

387 16

LOTTERY

761 461

123

RETAIL

80

EVENTS

40

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS

74

COMMUNITY EVENTS INVESTMENT INCOME AND GROUPS <1% INTEREST

5%

EXPENDITURE £000s

Expenditure

825

COMMUNITY GROUPS EVENTS

INCOME FROM FUNDRAISING (INCLUDING RETAIL AND LOTTERY)

2,066

RETAIL

OTHER INCOME

OTHER INCOME

1%

1%

GOVERNMENT COVID SUPPORT

1,965

OPERATIONS

6,579

6%

GENERAL DONATIONS & LEGACIES

8%

GENERAL DONATIONS

RETAIL

9%

10%

LOTTERY

24%

7

COST OF FUNDRAISING, RETAIL AND LOTTERY

732 527

LEGACIES

INVESTMENT INCOME & INTEREST

Annual Report 2020

Cost of Income

INCOME £000s GENERAL DONATIONS

GOVERNMENT COVID SUPPORT

cdfi

LOTTERY

5%

The Official Magazine

daat.org

LEGACIES

44%

Devon Air Ambulance Trust

Total Expenditure

£9,880,000

RETAIL

20%

EVENTS

cdfi

Annual Report 2020

11

Our Annual Report & Accounts for 2020 is ‘hot off the press’.

To keep our costs down, we no longer print this document so, if you would like to take a more in-depth look at some of the challenges we faced, and overcame, in 2020, how the pandemic affected many aspects of the Charity as well as all the finance facts and figures, you can find the full report on our website:

<1% OPERATIONS

67%

daat.org Trust

cdfi

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS

1%

Annual Report 2020

35

www.daat.org/about-the-charity

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helipad | www.daat.org

COVID

Challenges NEW Beginnings

&

Devon Air Ambulance relies on over 650 loyal volunteers to support our fundraising efforts, but they have all been stood-down this past year due to the pandemic. Events have been cancelled, shops which were once vibrantly open, now closed and community talks postponed. Volunteer Manager Cara Jones tells us what our volunteers have been up to in the last year, and former DAA patient and long-standing volunteer, Richard Lappas, reflects on his lockdown journey.

I

returned to my role as Volunteer Manager in February 2021, having spent last year on maternity leave, with the desire to call each and every volunteer to check on their wellbeing. I was touched to hear so many willing volunteers just waiting for the day they will be called to action in support of Devon Air Ambulance once more. But faced with these challenging times and three separate lockdowns, our volunteers found new ways to occupy their time while they waited to be called forward once more.

Some have learnt a new language or brushed up on

languages they once spoke. Our creatives took up their paintbrushes, pencils and clay and produced beautiful paintings, drawings and intricate models. Photographers captured the stunning Devon landscapes, while the avid walkers hiked.

Finding jobs around the house meant lists to complete and gardens to tend too. When bubbles were introduced, families reunited, and grandchildren filled the houses with delight once more. Companions and household pets comforted people in times of isolation, neighbours helped each other and people clapped for the NHS on a Thursday night.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers for their continued support through these unprecedented times. We may not be able to be side by side at the moment, but together we can still achieve great things!



spring 2021 | VOLUNTEERING

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Richard’s personal lockdown journey A year ago, a quick glance at the diary showed days fairly full with various meetings, appointments and a healthy smattering of DAA dates covering talks at a village WI, a cheque to collect at the local tea ladies’ association and a windy day out at a local show, stopping the gazebo panels from flapping up and away into the bright blue sky.

But a year later, how things have changed and how they are continuing to change.

Everybody is on the phone or talking in front of a screen, typing and perhaps eating one too many biscuits with their tea! The DAA red volunteer shirts seem to have disappeared from sight and our shops are empty. No meetings, no talks, no WI flower competitions to judge, no cheques to pick up and certainly no days out to meet and greet our ever supportive general public.

So a new word finds its way into the newspapers and onto TV and Radio as ‘lockdown’ becomes the next buzzword to sit alongside COVID, Coronavirus and Zoom!

A regular call to the DAA head office (only it isn’t because everyone is working from home!) to say “Hello I’m available, anything going on” is met with a quiet “I wish there was but everything is cancelled”

It took a few weeks to really sink in that everything that was once normal is now no longer normal.

But, despite so much of normal society being closed or changed over the last twelve months, the good news was that our helicopters kept flying and continued to provide lifesaving emergency care across the county. Three national lockdowns later and, as we approach the summer this year, hopes are raised with the vaccine roll-out and as national lockdown restrictions look to ease (but probably with masks, gloves and social distancing still in the mix). I am sure we are all pleased that life, albeit slowly, seems to edging back to something that looks like ‘normal’.

We are all thinking there are money boxes to collect, lottery tickets to be sold and shops to open once more. All of us who love volunteering for Devon Air Ambulance can’t wait to get back into the swing of things when we are able to and, once again, pull on our red shirts with pride and get back out into the community, supporting the service as we have always done.

… and finally, a big thank you to Ginette Gisborne, who very ably looked after my Volunteer Manager role while I was away. It was in very safe hands and she did a great job in very difficult circumstances. With our volunteers stood down she also lent her expertise to our Communications team and we are delighted to congratulate her on her recent promotion to the position of Communications Manager.

Volunteering Profile: Cara Jones - Volunteer Manager Email: c.jones@daat.org Cara is responsible for coordinating volunteering across Devon Air Ambulance, including the recruitment, induction, training and support of our volunteers working in our shops and in the community.

Thinking of volunteering?

GET IN TOUCH see page 3 We have lots of different roles for volunteers at Devon Air Ambulance – if you would like to become a part of our incredible volunteer team, please contact Cara on c.jones@daat.org.



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helipad | www.daat.org

“Oh good – a free helicopter ride!”

Harry strapped in tightly ready for the flight to Bristol

Imagine the exhilaration of approaching a jump on your mountain bike, taking off, flying through the air and landing cleanly and smoothly, as your friends watch and prepare to follow on behind. Then, as you leave the ground to do the jump again, imagine the realisation as you fly through the air that the landing is not going to go well this time, and you crash into the ground with a nasty bang!

H

arry Adam, aged 13, from Sidmouth, had both experiences in June 2020.

Harry was out with some friends and their dads for an afternoon of mountain biking in a popular area on Woodbury Common when things went horribly wrong.

As Harry crash-landed, it was immediately evident that he had suffered some serious injuries to three of his four limbs.

“Surprisingly, I wasn’t in too much pain to start with,” Harry said. “I guess it was the adrenalin that helped.

And I knew I could move my chest and my head, which was a real relief.”

As his fellow mountainbikers rallied to call the emergency services and to reassure Harry that help was

on its way, no-one realised just how many people would attend. By the time Harry’s parents Emma and Gary arrived, just a short while later, the scene was crowded with medics, including a Critical Care Car crew from Devon Air Ambulance, along with a land ambulance crew and personnel from HART (Hazardous Area Response Team).

Harry’s accident had happened in a densely wooded area of Woodbury Common. Devon Air Ambulance Critical Care paramedic, Liam Kilbride, explained, “It was clear straight away that Harry had broken both his arms and wrists and his left leg and, although the land ambulance crew

had already given Harry ‘Entonox’ to manage his pain, we needed to administer further pain relief as quickly as possible. But, for various reasons, it wasn’t possible to canulate by an intravenous line and we had to use an intra-osseous injection, straight into Harry’s shin, through which we could then administer the drug, Ketamine. While Harry was sedated, we were then able to splint his limbs and prepare him for the flight to hospital. The whole time, however, Harry was the bravest patient I’ve met.

He was such a trooper and never once complained about anything!”

With Harry having had such major trauma, back up was called for from Devon’s

Air Ambulance, to convey him to Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Gary and Emma were at the scene and were grateful for the expertise and skills of the medics to ensure Harry was as comfortable as possible. It was all hands-on deck to help extricate Harry from where he’d fallen and take him by stretcher to the helicopter in a nearby clearing.

Mum Emma explained, “When we arrived, I could see that Harry’s limbs were really deformed but I was so reassured that he was absolutely in the best possible hands. He was talking to us so, even though it was really hard not to be able to go in the helicopter with him to Bristol, we knew he’d be ok.”

When asked what he’d

spring 2021 | PATIENTS

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“ Seeing my broken helmet was a real reminder that, if I hadn’t been wearing it, it might have been my head that was smashed!. ” thought when he knew that the Devon Air Ambulance was on its way, Harry said, “Oh good, I get a free helicopter ride! I remember I had a great view of the sky, but I think I was still a bit sedated from the Ketamine.”

Harry was well looked after in the helicopter, with Devon Air Ambulance Critical Care paramedic Mark Hawley saying, “He was such a hero. He’d obviously done quite a lot of damage but was so brave!”

The following day, young Harry had surgery lasting

eight hours, to wire, pin and plate both arms and his left leg. The COVID restrictions still in place at the time meant that, while Emma was allowed to stay and his dad was allowed to visit, Harry didn’t see his 11-year-old brother George for nearly a week, something that both boys found tough. After eight days in Bristol and a further four days in Royal Devon & Exeter, Harry was discharged and moved in with his grandparents – who

live just around the corner from his home - for two weeks. With two broken arms and a broken leg, not surprisingly, Harry’s mobility was severely restricted.

Harry was still using crutches when he returned to school at Sidmouth College in September but is now back doing almost all the things he loves. “I rode my bike last weekend for the first time since the accident,” he explained. “It wasn’t even damaged! But my helmet

has been replaced as that was completely shattered.

Seeing my broken helmet was a real reminder that, if I hadn’t been wearing it, it might have been my head that was smashed!”

Since his recovery, Harry is now planning a challenge to raise funds for Devon Air Ambulance. “I’m not sure how, where or when yet,” Harry explained, “but I really want to pay back some of the cost of everything they did for me last June.” 

Paramedic Laura and pilot Jesse at work on the scene

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helipad | www.daat.org

Devon

Sir Joshua Reynolds

a cradle of enlightenment Amid giants of the Enlightenment from Hobbes, Hume and Handel to Rousseau, Franklin and Voltaire, we look at four Devon-born characters who made a significant contribution to a wonderful age of innovation and change.

William Bickford

William Cookworthy

spring 2021 | INSPIRATION

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longer necessary to import porcelain from China and welcomed and held touch screen technology, 3D printers, driverless in a new age of ceramic design and production to England. vehicles, the internet of things - all mind-boggling Born into a Quaker family in Kingsbridge, South Devon, achievements but today’s inventors and entrepreneurs are Cookworthy had a hard start to life. His father died when he was supported by pretty full toolboxes with untold accumulated just 13 and the family were financially ruined by the South Sea knowledge and skillsets, big data analysis and artificial Bubble affair. Young William had no choice but to walk the 200 intelligence to help them. We are no longer that surprised with miles to London to take up a pharmacy apprenticeship offered every new technological advance. to him by fellow Quakers.

By contrast, the Age of Reason, that remarkable chapter Many years later he returned to Devon, becoming a partner in history from the late 17th to the early 19th century, in a pharmacy business in Notte Street, Plymouth and a fundamentally changed the way people thought, changed respected elder of the Society of Friends. He was also a friend custom and tradition, challenged religious orthodoxy and political authority, ushering in the industrial revolution and of lighthouse builder John Smeaton (his Eddystone Lighthouse now adorns Plymouth Hoe) what we now think of as the and hosted visits by Captain modern world.

James Cook.

The Age of Enlightenment Hannah Cowley As well as scientists had its own society-changing and artists, the Age of scientific discoveries and Enlightenment is also full of inventions, new attitudes great literary figures, but few to commerce and would realise just how many entrepreneurship, fresh scores of female playwrights philosophical ways of thinking were working at the time. that suggested everything Among the foremost was is capable of rational Tiverton-born Hannah Cowley explanation, an explosion in (1743-1809). She was inspired the arts and literature and a to write after attending a play quest for freedom that led to and realising she could do more self-determination and better, writing the first act revolutionary fervour. From overnight to prove to her today’s perspective it all may husband she could do it. seem slow in its development Cowley enjoyed early but then, it must have been success with a play entitled breath-taking.

‘The Runaway’ which was One beneficiary of the produced by David Garrick in reawakened interest in art 1776. It showed early promise prompted by the fashion of of sharp and witty dialogue ‘the Grand Tour’ was Plymouth in romantic comedies with born Sir Joshua Reynolds “ As well as scientists and artists, the an underlying feminist (1723-1792). Educated at Plympton Grammar School, Age of Enlightenment is also full of great message that women are the equal of men and should the young Joshua was literary figures, but few would realise just be treated as such both on apprenticed to portraitist Thomas Hudson in London. how many scores of female playwrights and off the stage. She was, indeed a visionary for her He frequently returned to were working at the time ” time. In her plays, women Devon including a spell as a took centre stage. No better portrait-painter in Plymouth is this illustrated than when Dock gradually refining his skill before he took his own grand tour of Europe. Taking in Florence, one of her characters in the 1780 play, ‘The Belle’s Stratagem’ proclaims: “All I know is whatever we do - it must be twice Venice and Rome, he was greatly influenced by studying the as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily that’s not great masterpieces of Italian sculpture and painting. difficult.” Written over 240 years ago – that’s some vision!.

In 1753, Reynolds moved permanently to London where his Many, many lives of miners, especially Cornish tin miners, were reputation as a portraitist grew. He was also popular in society and saved by a simple invention of an Ashburton born man. William mixed with some of the great figures of the day such as James Bickford (1774-1834) invented a fuse that could safely ignite Boswell, Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burke and Oliver Goldsmith. gunpowder underground with a reliability that gave those that In 1768, Reynolds was one of the founders of the Royal set the charges time to get clear.

Academy becoming its first president and receiving a Having moved to Tuckingmill near Camborne to pursue knighthood. Among many self-portraits and enchanting studies his business as a leather merchant, Bickford is said to of children, his subjects comprised some of the great figures have observed a friend making a rope and realised that, in society including Horace Walpole, Samuel Johnson and by winding rope around a central core of gunpowder, Laurence Sterne. Reynolds died in 1792 and was buried in St. waterproofing it and cutting it to the required length, it Paul‘s Cathedral. became possible to control the delay on the fuse. It would The world of ceramics was to change forever when William normally take just a couple of feet of the safety fuse to Cookworthy (1705-1780) discovered how to make hard-paste ignite a gunpowder charge, but in its first year of production porcelain using the only English source of China clay to be Bickford manufactured 45 miles of it!  found near St. Austell. Obtaining a patent in 1768, it was no

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helipad | www.daat.org

Prize Crossword

WIN DEVON CIDER GIFTS! Thank you to everyone who entered our first ever Helipad Prize Crossword in Winter 2020 issue. We had a great response and it is clear our Helipad readers have particularly impressive general and local knowledge.

We are delighted to announce that Jessica Moore from Bishopsteignton was the winner of a fantastic Darts Farm Hamper.

We hope you all enjoy this new crossword which once again tests your local and general knowledge.

Clues Across 1. Relating to a topic (8) 6. Devon river near Crediton (6) 9. Stretch of water overlooked by the historic Hoe (8,5) 10. Cormoran _ _ _ _ _ _ , Private Investigator in books by Robert Galbraith (6) 11. Consider again (8) 13. The world of sleep; Australian Gold Coast Theme Park (10) 15. 1880 novel by Émile Zola (4) 16. Saint _ _ _ _ Creamy Blue Cheese from the Auvergne region of France (4) 18. Those who charge a holder of a public office with misconduct (10) 21. Mount Edgcumbe near Plymouth is the home to the National Collection of this flower (8) 22. A cue; without delay (6) 23. Devon Air Ambulance cannot fly without a certificate for this (13) 25. George Frideric _____, German born composer buried in Westminster Abbey (6) 26. Devon Village northwest of Okehampton where legend has it the Devil died of the cold (8) Clues Down 2. A follower of the latest trends and fashions often associated with big, bushy beards (7) How to enter (and terms and conditions) 3. I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it Complete the crossword to reveal the letters in the blue shaded boxes - simply solve the anagram to identify a word relating to Devon Air Ambulance.

- version of a quote written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall which she attributed to Voltaire (3,8) Enter online at www.daat.org/spring-21-crossword or by writing your name, 4. Store of valuable things; treasure (5) contact details and the answer on a postcard and posting to: Helipad Crossword 5. Food provider (7) Competition Spring 2021, Devon Air Ambulance, 5 Sandpiper Court, Harrington 6. Trojan seer whose accurate prophecies were Lane, Exeter, EX4 8NS. never believed; wife of Rodney (9) The competition is free to enter, one entry per person.

7. Flightless Australian bird (3) The closing date for entries to be received is midnight on 8. Real surname of the author of Alice’s Adventures FRIDAY 4th JUNE 2021 in Wonderland (7) after which the successful winning entry will be selected at random.

12. Vehicle transmission system providing smooth Full Terms & Conditions can be found at gear changes (11) www.daat.org/crossword-sp2021-terms or by writing to The Editor at the above address.

14. Maelstrom; Eddy (9) 17. Andalusian City (7) Winter 2020 Solution 19 Four-wheeled open horse drawn carriage (7) ACROSS: 9 Every, 10 Tributary, 11 Murnaghan, 12 Otter, 13 Captain, 15 Mourner, 17 Nancy, 18 Sag, 20 Nasal, 22 20. A quick, clever reply; a thrust in fencing (7) Nairobi, 25 Raleigh, 26 Teign, 27 Stratagem, 30 Paleozoic, 31 Meavy DOWN: 1 Team. 2 Terrapin, 3 Lyra, 4 Etchings, 5 Lignum, 6 Eurotunnel, 7 Martin, 8 Dyer, 13 Canon, 14 Amy Johnson, 16 22 Shaugh _ _ _ _ _ Dartmoor village near Ralph, 19 Garrarock, 21 Stingray, 23 Icicle, 24 Instow, 26 Tope, 28 Time, 29 Mayo Plymouth (5) And the answer to the anagram was …. HELIPAD 24. Devon Ruby _ _ _ , cattle breed (3)

© Proteus

Enter for a chance to win a prize from two of our great local cider producers – a 6-pack of our very own ‘Thirst Responders’ cider from Ventons Devon Cyder in Cullompton and two cider glasses from Sandford Orchards in Crediton - perfect for the first long hot day of summer!

Your generous support keeps Devon’s Air Ambulances flying – to make a regular donation, please complete the attached Direct Debit form or follow instructions on the main menu of our website home page

Keeping in Touch Þ½¾ There are many ways to contact the team at Devon Air Ambulance: www.daat.org – You’ll find lots of information about the Charity and our service on our website. If you’ve been airlifted, go to our Who We Help page and tell us your patient story. For all sorts of fundraising advice and information, go to our Get Involved pages

c Message us, like our page, share

our events, post photos if you see our helicopter and post a review if you’ve witnessed our service first-hand

d For news from the aircrew and our Charity staff, follow DevonAirAmb to see what we’re up to

f Find us at devonairambulance on Instagram

Email us at info@daat.org 01392 466666 Write to us at 5 Sandpiper Court, Harrington Lane, Exeter EX4 8NS



Making a Regular Donation

Service User Number

1

7

7

2

7

4

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

Devon Air Ambulance Trust, 5 Sandpiper Court, Harrington Lane, Exeter EX4 8NS

Instruction to your bank or building society Please pay Devon Air Ambulance Regular 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 Devon Air Ambulance Regular 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 from some types of account

Please now complete your details below Name

Address

Telephone

Postcode

Email

I wish to give Devon Air Ambulance Trust a donation of £ I wish to give Devon Air Ambulance Trust a donation of £ (delete as appropriate) per month/quarter/year

per month/quarter/year as appropriate) Please take Direct Debits (delete on 6th/20th of the month (delete as appropriate) Please take Direct Debits on 6th/20th of the month (delete as appropriate) We take your personal data seriously and do not sell on or share with any We take your personal seriously do not sell on or share third party.

If you would data like to receive and our Helipad magazine or with any third party. If you would like to receive our Helipad magazine or occasional information occasional information about the Charity please tick: Post  Email  about the Charity please tick: Post  Email  Telephone  SMS Message  to Gift Aid my donation of £ ___________ to Devon Air Ambulance  II want  want to Gift Aid my donation of £ ___________ to Devon Air Ambulance  I want to Gift Aid my donation of £ ___________ and any donations I make in the  I want to Gift Aid my donation of £ ___________ and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Devon Air Ambulance future or have made in the past 4 years to Devon Air Ambulance Please notify the charity if you: Please notify thethe charity if you: • Want to cancel declaration Want to your cancel the or declaration •• Change name home address Change or home address •• No longeryour payname sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains • No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains I confirm I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or I confirm I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference.  is my responsibility to pay any difference. 

The Direct Debit Guarantee 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 Devon Air Ambulance Regular will notify you five (5) working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Devon Air Ambulance Regular 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 Devon Air Ambulance Regular 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 Devon Air Ambulance Regular 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.

• This

This guarantee should be detached and retained by the payee

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helipad | www.daat.org

“Well, fancy that!”

Think you know Devon? Whether it’s the oldest, newest, narrowest, longest or just plain quirkiest, the county can lay claim to some interesting world and country records. Here are our favourite ‘Top 10’ amazing facts about our amazing county.

Devon...has the only place in the country with an exclamation in its name!

The seaside village of Westward Ho! was named after the 1855 Charles Kingsley novel of the same name, set in nearby Bideford. Canny local tourism entrepreneurs spotted the marketing potential of naming the village after a bestselling novel, evoking the spirit of the wild, beautiful and rugged north Devon coastline. It is also thought to be the only place in the country named after a work of fiction.

Devon...has the country’s only 16-sided house In 1784, Jane Parminter, intrepid daughter of a wealthy Devon wine merchant, set off on a grand tour of Europe accompanied by her sister Elizabeth, cousin Mary and their friend Miss Colville. On their return, and supposedly inspired by a 6th century Byzantine basilica in Ravenna, spinsters Mary and Jane commissioned A La Ronde near Exmouth, the only 16-sided house in the country. With a passion for design and collecting, the interior is as unique and eclectic as the building itself, complete with a frieze made from real birds’ feathers and, perhaps most famously, a shell-encrusted gallery containing nearly 25,000 shells.

Devon...is home to the UK’s oldest human Kents Cavern in Torquay can be rightly proud of the Kents Cavern Jawbone, found in the Vestibule Chamber in 1927 as it is the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens or modern man found in the whole of Britain and north-west Europe, and is thought to date to around 42,000 years ago.

Not only does this make it one of the most important prehistoric caves in Europe, but it also holds the accolade for being the only known site in the world that has evidence of three different human species - Homo Heidelbergensis, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens - occupying it throughout time, giving it a connection to humankind dating back over half a million years.

Devon...Is the home of the last castle ever built in England Showing appearances can be deceptive, despite looking every inch the archetypal medieval castle, Castle Drogo actually dates from the 1930s and is the last castle ever to be built in England. In 1910, businessman Julius Drewe bought about 450 acres south and west of the village of Drewsteignton and asked Edwin Lutyens to build him a castle. The castle’s traditional ‘defensives’ are purely decorative and it had all the mod cons available at the time, with electricity supplied by two turbines from the river below, and even lifts!

Devon...has more roads than anywhere else in the whole country – and probably the slowest!

Perhaps not a surprise to anyone who drives around the county,

spring 2021 | HISTORY & HERITAGE

but apparently Devon County Council has responsibility for 8,000 miles of road, which makes it the longest network in the country. Devon’s roads range from tiny trackways, rural lanes, major dual carriageways (like the A38 and A30) and the mighty M5. As well as the length of our road system, international travel experts who provide live traffic data to broadcasters, have also previously reported that ‘pre-lockdown’ Exeter had slower rushhour traffic than London!

Devon...has the narrowest ‘proper’ street in the world (or perhaps just the UK!) Despite the ‘official’ world record belonging to a street in Germany – which looks more like a passageway between two houses - Parliament Street in Exeter is certainly the narrowest proper street in the United Kingdom and it is obviously so sure of its global credentials that it bears a plaque proclaiming it to be the narrowest in the world! It measures from 1.22 metres (4 feet) at its widest point, slimming down to about 0.64 metres (just over 2 feet) at its narrowest.

History tells us that it used to be called Small Lane but was renamed Parliament Street as a not very subtle joke against the Government when they passed the 1932 Reform Bill.

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continent. Opening in March 1914, the cinema could seat 383 customers and featured a 21-piece orchestra, with each member paid a guinea to perform.

The cinema sadly fell into decline and shut its doors to paying cinema-goers in 1999. Since then, the Paignton Picture House Trust has been awarded a grant by Historic England towards its restoration, covering the full cost of essential repairs to the intricate stone work and unique stained glass windows. It is hoped the project can bring the old cinema back to its former glory in the years ahead.

Devon...was the last place in the country to execute witches Despite the barbaric practice of executing witches falling largely out of favour at the end of the 17th century, the last English executions for witchcraft saw Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards and Mary Trembles hanged in Exeter in 1682. Three years later, Alice Molland was put to death in Heavitree. They were accused of ‘having a discourse or familiarity with the devil’ as well as using magical arts, sorcery and witchcraft, and their shocking end is now recognised with a dediction plaque at Rougemount Castle.

Devon...has the country’s oldest working commercial bakery Jacka Bakery on Plymouth’s Barbican can lay claim to being the oldest working bakery in the country. With at least 400 years of trade under its belt, the original bakers are known to have made biscuits that went on The Mayflower to feed the Pilgrim Fathers as they set sail for the New World in 1620. Devon also used to be home to the country’s oldest hotel, the Royal Clarence in Exeter, until its unfortunate demise in a catastrophic fire in 2016.

Devon...has the oldest cinema in Europe The Torbay Picture House, situated in Paignton, is believed to the be the oldest surviving purpose-built cinema on the entire

Devon...‘invented’ the first Jack Russell Terrier There may be some dispute about this ‘fact’ in terms of authenticity, but it makes a great yarn – when the Reverend John Russell (who was born in Dartmouth, went to school in Plympton and was rector at Black Torrington) allegedly bought a dog from a passing milkman.

If the only painting of it is anything to go by, the dog – called Trump – was a bit ugly, with a squirrelly tail, stumpy legs and huge ears, but also had a predilection for digging up foxes that had gone to ground which perfectly suited the clergyman and his love of hunting. The tenacious and gutsy little breed was thereafter known by the name of its owner. 

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An assault on the senses

helipad | www.daat.org

t

ul a s s An a he t n o

... s e s sen

As a professional gardener, I often get engrossed in the busy daily schedules, routine work and the many distractions that occur as I beaver away. It is easy to forget to take a moment or two every now and then to stop, look, listen and feel your surroundings.

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garden, regardless of its size and complexity is a Feeling the soft, velvety leaves of a Stachys byzantina ‘Silver wonderful assault on the senses and for me, to smell the Carpet’ or simply walking barefoot across a grassy area rarely daphne, listen to the song thrush, see the first spring bulbs fails to add to the glory and feel of a garden. emerge and have a sneaky tree hug is a valuable and hugely Fragrance in a garden is arguably top of most gardening beneficial “golden” moment. wish lists and if I were asked for four plants which have the Multi-sensory designed gardens are becoming more popular ability to provide a year-round supply of heady scent, it would and will often be found at schools, hospitals and residential be the following great performers: Sarcococca hookeriana homes, providing a stimulating and beneficial environment var. digyna for the winter, Viburnum × burkwoodii taking you inviting users to sit safely and through spring, Abelia × grandiflora serenely or actively interact with supplying waves of summer scent “ There is little doubt of the particular features to generate a and Elaeagnus × submacrophylla impact that the sight of a well sensory response.

‘Compacta’ as a sound choice for Additions to your garden need not assembled garden can have at autumn. be expensive or complicated and There is little doubt of the impact any time of year. ” can create a personal sensory idyll that the sight of a well assembled for you to lose yourself in. garden can have at any time of The breeze passing through grasses such as the compact year. It is a very personal thing how your garden is put together, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Starlight’ or Molinia caerulea subsp. but combining colour, texture, shape and height to form a green arundinacea ‘Karl Foerster’, rattling bamboo stems together or space for yourself is hugely satisfying and a feast for the eyes. the sound of bees and birds attracted by nectar rich plants are a It is often the smallest things that give the greatest pleasure, treat for your ears. such as the sun casting across the bark of a tree highlighting

spring 2021 | GARDENS Cut back Cornus (Dogwood) and Salix (Willow) grown for colourful winter stems. ©RHS/Tim Sandall

Here are a few key jobs to keep mind and body fulfilled:

the texture or the patchwork effect of stones together forming a wall.

Tasting and eating the bounty from a fruit and vegetable garden is also undoubtedly hugely satisfying and nourishing. If, like me, you have limited space and a purely ornamental garden it is still possible to tickle your taste buds by ‘growing your own’. Alpine Strawberries Fragaria vesca (F) can be grown in a container, need little maintenance and taste absolutely amazing! They are extremely sweet with a hint of vanilla and can be eaten straight from the plant or sprinkled over a cheeky bowl of ice-cream.

So, this spring, why don’t you treat yourself to your very own sensory hideaway to rest up, rejuvenate and consider your next horticultural masterplan as the garden begins to wake from what for some has been a very long winter. 

Abelia Grandiflora ©RHS/Wendy Wesley

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• Protect new spring shoots from slugs, Nematodes are worth a try.

• Plant summer-flowering bulbs.

• Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials.

• Top dress containers with fresh compost.

• Mow the lawn on dry days (if needed).

• Cut back Cornus (Dogwood) and Salix (Willow) grown for colourful winter stems.

• Hoe and mulch weeds to keep them under control early.

• Prune bush and climbing roses.

• Tie in climbing and rambling roses.

• Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seed outdoors.

• Increase the water given to houseplants.

• Feed hungry shrubs and roses.

• Sow new lawns or repair bare patches.

• Watch out for late frosts. Protect tender plants.

• Earth up potatoes, and promptly plant any still remaining.

• Plant out summer bedding plants at the end of April (except in cold areas).

• Water early and late to get the most out of your water, recycle water when possible.

• Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days.

• Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs.

Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ ©RHS/Graham Titchmarsh

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ©RHS/Sheila Dearing

Gardens

Richard Wilson - RHS Rosemoor Horticulturist

I have been with the RHS as a member of the Formal Gardens team here at Rosemoor since May 2015 and am currently responsible for the maintenance of our colour themed gardens, the Hot and Cool gardens. In addition to this, areas of shrubbery along the stream side fall within my remit. I live near Barnstaple and enjoy helping with volunteer garden projects. I run competitively, row with Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club and enjoy long distance cycling. In my spare time, I tend to sleep!

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helipad | www.daat.org

“I had a fight with a chainsaw – and the chainsaw nearly won!”

with aircrew paramedic, Chris Saunders, Margaret left by road to head for the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

John followed by car and, on arrival, he waited anxiously for three hours in A&E before being advised that Margaret would be in surgery most of the night and that he would be better off coming back the next day. “It was absolutely horrible,” John said.

“It had been such a terrible shock. I could see that the chainsaw had gone right down to the bone of Margaret’s nose, and it was only her glasses that had saved the blades from taking out her eyes. I still get flashbacks now.”

During a six-hour operation, surgeons rebuilt Margaret’s nose.

Her first memory after the journey to hospital was waking up in Intensive Care the following day, and her first thought was for her husband of 63 years. “I really felt sorry for poor John – who saw the whole thing happen. It was ‘just one of those things’ but because I’m on blood thinners, the blood loss was terrible.”

Since the accident, Margaret’s injuries have largely healed, with just a slight hare lip to contend with. “It makes eating awkward,” explained Margaret, “but I’ve been advised that I will be able to have it repaired when the COVID-19 virus is behind us. Without the expert help I had at the scene and in hospital, things could have been a whole lot worse.”

Since coming out of hospital nine days later, just ahead of lockdown, Margaret and John have spent the last few months at their home, with food and supplies being delivered by family members. They are now chomping at the bit, however, to get back out on their bicycles. Both are former top-amateur road racing champions and have missed the freedom of the open road since Margaret’s accident and the pandemic began. Despite both being octogenarians, they still have plenty more miles to do before they hang up their bikes and, from everyone at Devon Air Ambulance, we wish them both well. 

Margaret and John get ‘ready to ride’

This was how Margaret Paramore from Woodgate near Culmstock described her accident in March last year.

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ast March, 82-year-old Margaret and her 87-year-old husband John were in their garden cutting trees for firewood when, in Margaret’s words, “the chainsaw went into a massive wobble and flew up, catching my face in its path.”

The incident caused such severe facial injuries that it was clear Margaret needed emergency help.

With Margaret bleeding profusely, John had to leave her at the scene to seek help before getting as many clean towels as possible to stem the flow of blood. The couple’s relief at the arrival of the first responder and land ambulance crew was swiftly followed by further relief at the sound of the Air Ambulance landing in a neighbouring field.

“I was conscious throughout,” explained Margaret. “I even remember saying to the paramedics that I needed to spend a penny before I could go anywhere!” All the medics on scene worked together to assist Margaret and, aware of how much blood she was losing, the Air Ambulance team decided it would be safer to transfer her to hospital by land ambulance so she could remain seated, instead of her laying on a stretcher in the helicopter. Along

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spring 2021 | LOTTERY

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THANK K YOU YOU YO OU

Owen, Lottery & Business Supporter Engagement Officer, says a big ‘thank 10esTracy you’ of to all our existing and new Lottery members who have continuedFtoirsupport

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Although our lovely team of canvassers has not been able to get out and about for three months, we can start to see light at the end of the tunnel and so we hope you see them soon at a venue near you from the middle of April.

Despite not being able to have their support in signing up new members to play our Lottery, we have been really pleased with the success of our online Direct Debit form... AND without much publicity either!

Since we launched this new way of joining back in December 2020, we have had over 150 new “lucky” numbers start with us.

Over one year, that equates to just under £8,000 of additional revenue for the Charity to keep our crew in the air with your life saving service for the people of Devon.

So, a very BIG thank you to everyone who has joined, whether it was your first time or you’ve added an additional number to your existing membership or have been encouraged by a family member or friend to join, THANK YOU!

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Devon Air Ambulance throughout the last year and why some of them generously donated their winnings back to us!

Tracy also explains how getting your lucky number is easier than ever with our new online Direct Debit form.

We are also very fortunate to have some amazing supporters who support us by playing our weekly Lottery.

One of the best parts of the Lottery draw on a Friday is phoning all our winners to let them know they have won. We love our Lottery members to enjoy their winnings, whether that is thinking of how to spend the £1,350 first prize on something special, or £50 on a small treat. However, we’ve also been extremely fortunate that some of our winners have been kind enough to donate back all or some of their winnings.

One of our recent winners had actually forgotten he even played our weekly lottery so when he won first prize, he kindly donated back back most of his first prize winnings as a thank you saying:

I had recently won first “I was very pleased to hear that Lottery. As I joined prize on the Devon Air Ambulance bulance, I am going to the Lottery to help Devon Air Am to the Trust and have donate part of my winnings back enclosed a cheque for £1,000” Mrs Margaret Whitcombe – 3rd prize winner December 2020, was another Lottery member who kindly donated back her winnings of £135. Margaret explains – “In 2017 DAA came to the rescue of my husband, Tom, who had suffered a heartattack. The Air Ambulance were so swift in arriving and assisting him, I am totally convinced that without DAA’s help, Tom wouldn’t be here today. We wanted to give something back so joined DAA’s weekly Lottery. When I received a call to say I had won a prize, donating back was a perfect way of saying thank you to the whole team.”

So far in 2021, £3,135 has been given back to the charity by our lovely winners so a massive thank you for your kind donations and support!



Meet: Tracy Owen - Lottery and Business Supporter Engagement Officer Email: t.owen@daat.org

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Tracy has been with DAA for over 14 years and oversees all aspects of fundraising, including working with those who have nominated us as their Charity of the Year, business supporters and our own inhouse lottery.

5

Lottery Membership Application Lottery Membership Application

Thesum sum of of (tick only) The (tickone onebox box only) 1 Number 1 Chance

£4.34 Monthly Monthly £4.34

DAATLottery Lottery Offi Office, SandpiperCourt, Court,Harrington HarringtonLane, Lane,Exeter ExeterEX4 EX48NS 4NS DAAT ce, 55 Sandpiper Tel: email lottery@daat.org The01392 above469886 postaloraddress is all you need when contacting us by post.

Staff I/D Number

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spring 2021 | PATIENTS

23

pinpoints the location J

eanette Bishop from Millbrook near Torpoint has been a keen cyclist all her adult life and regularly clocks up thousands of miles a year through her passion for road cycling and mountain biking. Given her experience, therefore, no one was more surprised than Jeanette herself when a cycling accident on Dartmoor left her needing the services of Devon Air Ambulance.

Jeanette was riding with her friend Peter on a particularly bleak stretch of the moors near Princetown one morning last September when she was caught by an unexpectedly strong gust of wind which picked her and her bike up before dropping them unceremoniously onto the ground. Unfortunately, Jeanette landed on a crop of rocks alongside the track, hitting her head, shoulder and wrist as she fell.

Peter immediately called the emergency services, using the What3Words app to pin-point their location.

Devon’s Air Ambulance was soon on its way with the helicopter dispatcher able to offer the vital information from What3Words to help the aircrew find the incident.

Another couple of cyclists stopped to assist and, learning of Jeanette’s misfortune, one explained that they had also had a

similar incident further up the track, but were saved by landing on grass – the weather certainly had a lot to answer for that day.

“I was in so much pain,” Jeanette explained. “I knew I’d smashed my shoulder really badly and my wrist. I remember drifting in and out because of the excruciating pain and whilst I could hear everything going on around me, I was unable to respond.”

Landing nearby, aircrew

Five days later, Jeanette had surgery to repair damage to her shoulder and wrist and spent two weeks in hospital. Speaking to Helipad’s Debbie Gregory twelve weeks after the incident, Jeanette was frustrated about her recovery, saying, “It’s all

in September and the support from my husband Rob, along with fellow cycling friends, since I’ve been home. Hopefully, I’ll be back out with my friends at the YOGI Cycling Club in Plymouth when the current lockdown is over and also going mountain biking with my grandson Herb. When circumstances allow, I am also looking forward to meeting Andy and Paul to thank them for their help and kindness”.

Editor’s Note Download the

What3Words app paramedics Andy Dunne and Paul White were able to offer Jeanette some much needed pain relief at the scene before preparing her for a helicopter flight to Derriford Hospital. Jeanette’s memory of that time is very clear. She explained, “my overwhelming memory is that I was in a tunnel, but couldn’t get out. I could hear voices, but couldn’t tell them that I was alive. I thought I was dying.

I could see a light in the distance, but felt sure that if I got to the end, I’d be dead.”

taking so much longer than I expected! I’ve always been so fit and active; I really had expected to be back on my bike by now.”

Jeanette can’t wait to be fully recovered and is keeping her fitness up with regular training on a turbotrainer at her home as well as rehab exercises. And, along with the turbo she is now walking at least 10,000 steps a day to increase her fitness. “I’m really grateful for the help I had from Devon Air Ambulance back

today to ensure emergency crews can find you in the event of an accident or incident, even in remote rural locations.

DOWNLOAD THE APP HERE

24

helipad | www.daat.org

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25

Always a golfer at heart...

A

lec Luckin from Camelford in north Cornwall is a keen golfer and has been secretary of the Seniors at Bowood Park Golf Club for over ten years.

So it was mightily frustrating to him when, while doing some DIY at home in the autumn of 2020, he pulled the intercostal muscles in his chest which prevented him from playing his beloved golf.

A few weeks later, the pains in his chest were easing and Alec was looking forward to getting back out on the course. But all that was to change when, on the 29th December, Alec suffered a cardiac arrest.

Alec and his wife, Barbara, had popped into Wadebridge to visit their favourite health food shop for some advice when, just as they were about to pay for their goods, Barbara noticed that Alec had gone quiet and he suddenly collapsed, knocking into a display as he fell.

Barbara explained, “It was all such a shock! One minute he was chatting to the shop assistant, Nicky.

The next he went quiet and just collapsed back into the display. I was so grateful for the shop staff; they were absolutely brilliant

and just took over. I was in complete shock and just didn’t know what to do, but the staff all rallied around, first putting Alec in the recovery position and then moving him onto his back to start CPR. One was holding his head and another doing the compressions, while a third sat me down in a room at the back of the shop; I just couldn’t watch. It was exhausting for all of them

With Cornwall’s Air Ambulance already attending a patient in the west of the county, it was Devon’s Air Ambulance crew from Eaglescott who were despatched to attend to Alec and critical care paramedics Adrian Parker and Grant Thompson were soon in Wadebridge. With the helicopter unable to land close to the shop, the aircrew were whisked to the scene

“ The very good news is that Alec is now recovering well and back doing short walks to help in his rehabilitation.

He is still looking forward to getting back out on the golf course! ” and they were taking turns as often as they needed to. I was also aware that a customer, Sarah, had tried to enter the shop and, as she realised the seriousness of the situation inside, also offered her services to help. We later learned that Sarah was a chef of her own catering business and, only the week before, had been on a first-aid course. The timing was perfect, and her assistance was also very much appreciated.”

by a land ambulance crew.

Quickly assessing the severity of the case, and with complex issues of conveying Alec by air, the decision was made to take him by road, assisted and monitored by DAA paramedic Adrian for the journey to Treliske Hospital in Truro.

As Alec was being prepared to be conveyed, Barbara was being looked after by the shop staff and was grateful for their support. Barbara continued, “I could have gone in the ambulance with Alec,

but I was dreading anything happening to him on the way to hospital. So I waited for my sister to collect me and we travelled together to Truro. Alec had been taken straight through to surgery for a stent to be fitted but was then taken to Intensive Care as it was realised that he had developed pneumonia so, sadly, I was unable to see him at all that day. I learned that once the stent had been fitted, his heart was going to be ok, but Alec was put into a coma for the damage to his lungs to repair. He stayed in hospital for two weeks.”

The very good news is that Alec is now recovering well and back doing short walks to help in his rehabilitation.

He is still looking forward to getting back out on the golf course! Such is his popularity at Bowood Park, the owners and management of the popular golf club have invited the staff and owners of the health food shop, along with chef Sarah, to join Alec and Barbara for a meal in their restaurant (when lockdown eases) as a gesture of their massive appreciation to everyone who helped him on that day. 

helipad | www.daat.org

26

plymouth

Two Alexanders, a Lawrence, a Winston and a fascinating history

Plymouth is renowned for its historic Hoe, the Elizabethan Barbican and the Sound, one of the world’s greatest natural harbours.

Yet a visit to a largely under-explored part of Plymouth can reveal hidden history, fine buildings and a very strong sense of community. Helipad’s Neil Devons takes us on a tour of Mount Batten, Oreston and Turnchapel

T

o the south-east of the city across the Cattewater where the river Plym flows into Plymouth Sound lies Mount Batten - known for years as an RAF Flying Boat Station and now home to a water sports and activities centre.

You can get to Mount Batten either by water taxi from Phoenix Wharf on the Barbican or by passing though the communities of Hooe and nearby Turnchapel. Along with Oreston on the southern bank of the Cattewater, these delightful locations have retained the feel of waterside villages although, in reality, they are now suburbs of Plymouth.

Flying boats, Churchill and Aircraftman Shaw Mount Batten is a landmark in every sense. Surrounded by water, this small peninsula is an 80 foot high rocky outcrop with a 17th century artillery tower and a pier that acts as a breakwater, Mount Batten was home to flying boats and other air-sea activities for 73 years until it finally closed in 1986. Its association with aviation began in 1913 with trial flights before it became a Royal Naval Air Station in 1917. A year later this service merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the RAF and the installation was renamed RAF Cattewater and renamed again in 1928 to RAF Mount Batten.

The first ever airborne crossing of the Atlantic took place in 1919 and culminated in one of the three United States Curtis Flying boats that had flown from New York landing at Mount Batten after several stops on the way. In 1986, a flight of two PBY Catalinas re-enacted that crossing and the crowds on Plymouth Hoe witnessed the sight of one of them hitting a buoy as it ‘landed’ in front of them and nearly sank. Fortunately no one was badly injured and the flying boat was taken to the Sunderland hangars at Mount Batten to be repaired.

Many different classes of flying boat were stationed at RAF Mount Batten but none more famous than the Short Sunderland built for long range reconnaissance. Just days after the start of World War II, on September 9th 1939 a Sunderland piloted by Flight-Lieutenant Barrett dropped bombs on a German U-Boat and recued the entire crew of the stricken SS Kensington Court which had been hit by a torpedo. Barrett was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) at the very first wartime investiture.

Another notable flight landed at Mount Batten in January 1942 when a Boeing Berwick flying boat arrived from the USA carrying Winston Churchill. It is said he took over the 

spring 2021 | UNDISCOVERED PLYMOUTH

flight controls for part of the journey which was not related to the scrambling of six Hurricanes from Fighter Command who were ordered to shoot the flying boat down when it appeared from an unexpected direction and was deemed to be an approaching enemy.

One of the most famous people in the world served at RAF Mount Batten as an ordinary aircraftsman. T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, became sick of his celebrity after his military exploits in the First World War and, in 1922, enlisted in the RAF as Aircraftsman Ross and enlisted again in 1923 under the pseudonym Shaw. In 1925 he served at Mount Batten in the Marine Branch where he was involved in the development of air-sea rescue launches. He left Mount Batten in 1933 and was killed two years later in a motor bike accident. There are two roads – Shaw Way and Lawrence Road – named after him in Mount Batten.

Today Mount Batten is a place for visitors to enjoy the water sports, boat trips, sea air and, above all, the stunning views.

27

T.E. Lawrence, an accomplished motorcyclist in his time

Turnchapel – a hidden gem While many of the traditional communities of Plymouth have faded into city suburbs, Turnchapel, located on the waterside beneath Mount Batten, holds on to a strong identity and sense of community that ensures it remains an identifiable village.

Its strategic location means it has a rich maritime heritage and history of ship-building particularly when Napoleon threatened our shores and Lord Boringdon built a dry dock there. The name Boringdon recurs a lot in the history of Turnchapel. John Parker, the 1st Earl of Morley was also known as Baron Boringdon and his legacy lives on in the guise of the elegant Georgian Boringdon Terrace and the legendary Boringdon Arms public house, once the quarry master’s house.

It was from Turnchapel that sea pilots would race their cutters to be the first to intercept incoming vessels and it was from the waters off the village that many cable laying ships would commence their voyages. One such, the CS Macky Bennet became famous as a ’funeral ship’ for the role it played in recovering bodies from the Titanic disaster. It was retired in 1922 and left as a storage hulk just off Turnchapel and was bombed in World War II before being scrapped in 1965.

The old shipyard became a naval oil tank depot which was a victim of another German bomb, the conflagration killing several firemen. The slipway was used to embark US troops for the D-Day landing with the site eventually becoming a Royal Marine base. Later, the village was to take on a full role in the 1995 50th anniversary celebrating VE day. Locals put shatter-proof sticky tape on their windows, one house converted into a 1940s style ice cream

parlour, the party atmosphere meant a lot of bunting, sing-songs and dressing up - and the pubs only sold Spam and chips.

Covid-19 has sadly put an end to many anticipated events including what Turnchapel and the City of Plymouth had planned for Mayflower 400 but, as soon as it’s possible, there is no doubt this vibrant little community will resume its programme of summer street music and Christmas festivals.

Turnchapel with the Cable Ship Mackay moored in the foreground

28

helipad | UNDISCOVERED PLYMOUTH

A distinguished resident Alexander Burns Usborne (1809-1885) was a famous maritime figure of his day. Having joined the navy at 16, he rose through the ranks to become Surveyor and then Master of HMS Beagle accompanying Charles Darwin on his historic voyage in 1831. He retired a Captain in 1867 and made his home in Whitestock Villa in Turnchapel.

Hooe’s there On you way to Mount Batten and Turnchapel, you’ll pass through another pleasant community at Hooe.

Once dominated by its former quarries Hooe is noted for its two lakes, the tidal Hooe Lake and the freshwater Radford Lake, both rich in wildlife and both designated by Natural England as Country Wildlife Sites (CWS). The adjacent Radford Park is situated in the grounds of the former Radford House, a grand Tudor building now long gone, and can boast an arboretum and some historic ruins Including the deteriorating Radford Castle. The Erme-Plym Way passes through the park and the South West Coast Path passes over the causeway between Radford and Hooe Lakes.

Eventful Oreston Like its near neighbours at Hooe and Turnchapel, Oreston once had quarries that supplied the limestone to build Plymouth’s breakwater. It has a very pleasant waterside location on the South West Coast Path. There is a strong tradition of events in Oreston with regattas and competitions organised by the Plym Yacht Club in the water or, on the quayside, such as concerts and its spectacular carnival.

Although Oreston now only has one pub, there had been several more before the first world war. In 1720, the Old Inn was kept by the widow Francis Candish who it is said married Alexander Selkirk an itinerant and wayward sailor. Selkirk was quite the celebrity having been marooned alone on an island, surviving for over four years. He became even more of a legend when Daniel Defoe based the character of Robinson Crusoe on his exploits. The marriage didn’t last long.

Selkirk went back to sea and was dead within a year from yellow fever – or was it something in the beer? 

Hooe Lake

spring 2021 | PATIENTS

29

Twenty years on...

It’s never too late to contact Devon Air Ambulance if you’ve benefited from the service and a message from Joe Wyatt early this year is testament to this.

J

oe’s email started with: “The 19th April 2021 will mark 20 years since my Dad and I were involved in a car accident and suffered severe injuries. I owe my life to the Devon Air Ambulance crew, so I thought it was about time I got in touch to thank the team!”

Joe explained, “I was 15 years old and my Dad and I were heading from Bridport to Exeter on a day out together when a car suddenly appeared on the wrong side of the road heading towards us, after it had swerved to avoid another vehicle. I shouted “look out” but it was too late - we were hit headon, with the passenger side where I was seated taking the full force of the impact.”

Joe’s dad Jon continues, “There was an incredible noise and a terrific impact that swung our car round.

Then it all seemed strangely still and quiet, except for the moans of pain from Joe. The windscreen was shattered and liquid was spilling from the car into the road. I knew I had to get Joe out but, as soon as I put my foot to the ground, it was obvious I’d broken my ankle, so I hopped round to his side. Realising his door was compacted and wouldn’t open, I hopped back and pulled him across the driver’s seat to the grass

verge, thankfully his legs weren’t trapped.”

Joe remembers, “By now a lot of cars had stopped and people were pacing up and down. Amidst all the chaos, several of them kicked my injured ankle by accident - I can still vividly remember the excruciating pain! I also pulled down my sleeve to see my wrist bone was badly broken and almost protruding through the skin.”

The most vivid memory of the Devon Air Ambulance helicopter landing close by was that of a great sense of relief. Jon was aware that his son had suffered multiple injuries and was grateful that the aircrew were there to assume responsibility for Joe’s care. Joe, meanwhile, recalls their professionalism and said, “The DAA crew were incredibly efficient and thorough in tending to my injuries and quickly identified that blood wasn’t flowing to my left hand due to the severity of the break in my wrist.”

Joe and Jon were both airlifted to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, attended initially in the brand-new Accident & Emergency department, which had opened just three days earlier.

They were reassured to be in beds alongside each other before being separated for

Joe, left and Dad Jon. right.

Joe’s surgery to repair breaks to his hip, leg and wrist. Jon remembers it being a very long night as Joe was in Intensive Care before facing further surgery the following day.

After a week in RD&E, Joe was transferred to Dorchester Hospital for a further two weeks. He remembers, “With injuries to both legs and a broken wrist I wasn’t initially able to use crutches, so I was in a wheelchair. With intensive physio I started the long recovery process just to get walking again. I missed a whole term off school but my family, friends and home tutor

were amazing throughout and kept my spirits high. I was able to get back to playing football, albeit very badly!”

Joe concludes, “I am so incredibly grateful to the Devon Air Ambulance and the amazing crew who rescued us that day and reassured my Dad that everything would be ok. The metalwork in my arm and leg had to be removed six months later but one of the three screws is still in my ankle to this day as it couldn’t be found during surgery! And thankfully, that screw doesn’t set off the metal detector at airports!”  Joe and mun Hannah in hospital

Soup- a!

Many of us think of soup as a cold weather dish, but having this flexible and adaptable recipe in your back pocket is a year-round winner and perfect for those cooler spring days

Classic Creamy Vegetable Soup As you will see, the ingredients for this recipe are completely dependent on what you have available at the time. This recipe makes 6-8 generous bowlfuls, so upscale or downscale in proportion depending on what you have – but remember it keeps happily in the fridge for up to 3 days and also freezes well.

Helipad Editor and aspiring cookery writer Ali Simpson goes back to the kitchen to show how simple it is to make classic cream of vegetable soup from scratch, and shares a few of the many variations you can make depending on what you have in your fridge and store cupboard

I admit I love making soup! It is perfect for using up every scrap of vegetables we have lurking in our fridge or larder. If you have celery that is too limp or carrots that are too wonky to grace a dinner plate, they are ideal for making soup and it is satisfying to know that you are minimising your food waste at the same time.

Once you have tasted home-made soup, you will never go back to tins or packets and, if you have a child who professes to ‘hate’ vegetables, this super tasty recipe is a sure-fire way of getting bags of veggie goodness into them without them even noticing!

The following recipe for classic creamy vegetable soup is my starting-point, but it is infinitely variable depending on what you have available, so I have also shared some of my favourite adaptations for you - but anything goes with soup, so be creative!

Ingredients You will need approximately 1.2 – 1.4kg (about 2 ½ to 3 lbs) of mixed vegetables – I would suggest a rough ratio of two-thirds of ‘starchy’ root vegetables - which will provide thickness to your soup - and one-third of whatever other vegetables you have available. So, for this recipe, 800g (just over 1 ½ lbs) of root vegetables and 400g (about ¾ lb) of other vegetables is about right. Some examples of suitable vegetables are shown below, but I’ve also been known to add sprouts, broccoli, cucumber and even a bag of rocket!

wedes • Carrots • Celeriac • s: Potatoes • S Vegetable t o o R Starchy nions • Celery • Peppers • Leeks urgettes O o C : s e l b Vegeta Other

Fenne l • Turnips • Beetroot • Par snips • Cauli flower • S quash • Pumpk in

spring 2021 | FOOD & DRINK Method • Dice all your raw vegetables into cubes or pieces roughly 2cm / ½ inch.

• Add a generous glug of olive oil to a large saucepan and gently sweat down the vegetables on the hob for about 5-10 minutes until just softened but not browned.

• Add 1 pint / ½ litre of vegetable or chicken stock (fresh is great, but cube/stock pots are just as good!). Top Tip – it is really important not to add too much liquid at this point. It is much easier to add more later to get the required thickness you like during the blending process, rather than add it now and find your soup is too thin or watery!

• Cover the pan and bring to a gentle simmer for 20-25 minutes until all the vegetables are tender.

• Take off the heat and, using a hand-held food blender, blitz the mixture in short bursts until smooth. Top Tip – a hand held food blender is a handy and relatively inexpensive kitchen gadget (prices start at £10). They are definitely worth the investment for making soup as you can blend it direct in the saucepan – which saves on washing up! Alternatively, put the cooked vegetables into a food processor or liquidizer to blend.

• Continue to blend and add in more liquid a little at a time until the soup reaches your preferred consistency – about another 1 pint /½ litre of water, stock or milk is about right for this amount of vegetables. I also like to add a generous glug of double cream at this point!

• If you would like some extra texture to your soup, once blended you can add a cup of peas or sweetcorn (straight from the freezer) or perhaps a tin of cannelloni beans. Season to taste and gently reheat on the hob for 5 minutes before serving.

• And that’s all there is to it!! I usually serve my creamy vegetable soup garnished with a splash of lemon juice and a swirl of good quality olive oil. Needless to say, hot buttery toast is also an absolute must!

Once you have mastered this simple creamy vegetable soup recipe, the variations are endless and totally up to you depending on the flavours you like and what you have available. Here are three of my personal favourites for inspiration...

Curried Parsnip

Make using a higher proportion of parsnips than the other root vegetables. Once blended, stir in a tablespoon of mild (or hot!) curry powder to taste.

Thai Chicken and Noodle

Add a teaspoon of grated ginger, a clove of garlic, a sliced stick of lemongrass and a deseeded chilli to the diced vegetable mixture. Once blended, add in 2 teaspoons (to taste) of Thai Spice powder, diced cooked chicken and a packet of ‘straight to wok’ noodles.

Christmas Turkey & Stilton

Christmas is long gone but this is a winner for cooler Spring days, adaptable all year round and particularly Lamb and Apricot Tagine good for using left-overs – once blended, stir in diced cooked turkey (and perhaps sliced pigs in blankets or ham!) and about 100g Stilton cheese. This may sound like an odd combination but the cheese melts away and gives a fantastic piquant flavour to your soup – to finish, how about adding a garnish of pan-fried sliced Brussels sprouts!

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helipad | www.daat.org

Red Kite Revival Helipad’s Armchair Twitcher gets off the sofa and turns his binoculars to the skies in the hope of spotting one of the UK’s greatest bird of prey success stories – the red kite

spring 2021 | WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION

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s a lover of garden birds, it may seem a strange paradox called a ‘City of Kites and Crows’. He also wrote “When the to also relish seeing raptors – birds of prey – in and kite builds, look to lesser linen”, a reference to the kite’s habit around the bird feeders and in the skies high above the of stealing clothes and bedding from washing lines to make garden. But there is something very primeval and thrilling in its nest (the kite’s nest is a messy affair, an untidy mixture of seeing any bird of prey in its natural environment. sticks, twigs and mud, sometimes lined with sheep’s wool Very occasionally, you may be lucky enough to observe and decorated with all manner of bits of cloth, paper and one of our most agile bird hunters – the sparrowhawk – in even plastic!). your garden. Targetting smaller birds around feeders is an Despite King James II of Scotland’s proclamation that kites important part of its hunting strategy and seeing this agile should be ‘killed wherever possible’, the birds did a valuable predator flying fast and straight like a bullet across the job in keeping the city streets clean of rotting food and carrion lawn, scattering the birds from the feeders, is a genuinely and received protection for upwards of 100 years. exhilarating experience for any avid bird watcher.

However, the fortunes of the red kite swiftly declined in the Although most hunts end in failure, I also had the privilege 18th century as it was relentlessly persecuted by landowners last summer to see one of these beautiful birds sitting on and gamekeepers who wrongly believed it was a threat to the lawn, an unfortunate dead pigeon grasped in its talons. their game birds and livestock. In fact, red kites are much Although distressing, prey is always dispatched quickly, and more likely to feast on carrion, beetles and earthworms, than this rare experience gives the bird watcher the chance to they are on lambs! As the bird became rarer, it also fell prey observe this magnificent to Victorian egg collectors, hunter close up. “ If you are very, very lucky, the holy grail who it is estimated robbed However, seeing most to a quarter of all nests of bird of prey spotting in the South West up birds of prey in Devon is a every year. is the wonderful red kite. It is a real natural At the beginning of the more elusive experience.

Large raptors are nearly world success story, triumph over adversity 20th century, only a small always spotted soaring handful of red kites could against a backdrop of persecution which be found in rural mid-Wales. high in the sky, and the avid garden bird watcher is Given its status at that almost drove it to extinction ” usually only alerted to their time as one of only three presence by the squawking of seagulls and crows, who for globally threatened species in the UK, it was a high priority for once join forces to mob the predator away from their nests conservation. Between 1989 and 1994, 93 red kites, originating and territories. You may also hear their pleasant high pitched from Sweden and Spain, were released across England, Wales mewing call “wee-oo wee-oo”! and Scotland and their population and spread across the whole If you are very, very lucky, the holy grail of bird of prey of the United Kingdom has increased ever since. spotting in the South West is the wonderful red kite. It is a real While it is hard to give an accurate estimation of the number natural world success story, triumph over adversity against a of birds now in our skies, the RSPB believes there are about backdrop of persecution which almost drove it to extinction 4,600 breeding pairs across the UK. When compared to the in the UK. Thanks to reintroduction programmes and legal 60,000-80,000 pairs of the more ubiquitous buzzard, it isn’t protection, the red kite is now re-establishing itself as one of hard to see why spotting one of these elusive creatures is such the country’s top avian predators, and sightings around the a treat for South West bird watchers.

South West have steadily increased.

So, the next time you spot a bird of prey, soaring high in The red kite has always had a long association with humans, the sky above your garden, take a moment to see if it is the dating back to Medieval times and references can be found magnificent red kite. Despite persecution driving it to the sprinkled throughout historical records and literature. The bird brink of extinction, it is truly a majestic raptor and a true UK was a common site in Medieval London, which Shakespeare conservation success story. 

It’s all in the tail

– why telling the red kite from the buzzard is a matter of shape Although quite distinctive on closer inspection, telling a red kite from a more common buzzard can be tricky, particularly at a long distance where their relative size and shape, reddish-brown body and flashes of white on the underside of their wings may not be visible.

However, there is one very distinctive feature that makes it easy to tell these two large raptors apart, even at distance - the shape of the tail! Buzzards have a short rounded fan-shaped tail, and red kites have a distinctive, deeply forked tail.

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helipad | www.daat.org

An early aerial view of RNAS Torquay.

Note – Aircraft and derrick on Haldon Pier in the foreground

Despite his army background, Paignton-born Rob Mackie has a passion for aviation in the First World War and takes a look back at the Royal Navy Air Service Unit (239 Squadron RAF) based in Torquay

A

s I approach my half-century of working in aviation in one form or another, I find it strange looking back that this ‘love affair’, for that’s what it is; started at the age of 11 when I discovered Airfix kits, followed fairly quickly by Frog and Revelle models; remember them?

Also, although my career has been almost exclusively with helicopters, my real passion (not necessarily expertise) is aviation in the First World War 1914 – 1918. Stranger still that an ex-Army aviator should do a piece about a Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) unit! But as it was based in Torquay, I hope you’ll bear with me.

Unlike World War II, the First World War had little direct effect on the South West except, of course, for the families of the brave men that went and never came back. At the outbreak of war aviation was, relatively, still in its infancy.

Long range missions were simply not realistic due to the small amount of fuel the early aircraft could carry. War though has an unfortunate habit of accelerating technology and during the next four years aircraft design and capability improved dramatically.

The British High Command had, at an early stage, recognised the strategic importance of Dartmouth and

spring 2021 | LOCAL HISTORY Plymouth to the war, and had deployed numerous balloon units to guard against aerial attack; Zeppelins could travel huge distances, and to act as spotters for shipping. But as the war progressed the perceived threat, as far as the South West was concerned, changed and submarines became the enemy with the South Western approaches being most at risk.

With its relatively calm waters, Torbay was already recognised as a shelter for shipping. So it was that in early 1918 the RNAS formed a flight of seaplanes based in Torquay. The flight originally consisted of six Short 184 seaplanes with the unit being under the command of RNAS Cattewater (Plymouth).

The unit was tasked with carrying out coastal patrols and anti-submarine work.

Located on Beacon Quay between the South Pier and Haldon Pier, RNAS Torquay was a very cramped site. There were no slipways at the station, these came later during World War II and the D-Day landings, so the derrick on Haldon Pier was utilised to lift the aircraft in and out of the water. On the 1st April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps

“ Located on Beacon Quay between the South Pier and Haldon Pier, RNAS Torquay was a very cramped site. There were no slipways at the station, these came later during World War II and the D-Day landings, so the derrick on Haldon Pier was utilised to lift the aircraft in and out of the water. ”

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and the RNAS amalgamated to form the world’s first independent Air Force, the Royal Air Force. In June of that year, RNAS Torquay became part of 239 Squadron RAF and was allocated the designation of 418 (Special Duties) Flight.

Construction of the site continued throughout the unit’s existence in Torquay, with works completed at the end of October 1918. A quarterly review by the RAF in the Autumn of 1918 describes the establishment as “190 personnel and 12 floatplanes on establishment and included four small balloons”.

It is not recorded that the units based in Torquay actually saw any ‘action’ during the war although they were kept busy with many patrols. Hostilities ended in November 1918 and the unit was eventually disbanded in May 1919 and the site closed.

Both Haldon Pier and South Pier are still in use today.

In a strange case of ‘history repeating’, Shorts aircraft were again operating out of Torquay during the Second World War with the mighty ‘Sunderland’ flying boats. 

Profile Name: Rob Mackie Position: Aviatio n Safety Manager Rob Mackie spen t 4 years flying military he licopters in the army before joining Devon Air Ambulance, via the North Se a, as a pilot in 1993. In his 28 years with the Ch arity, he flew an impressive 7,8 90 operations, he lping people across Devon. Ro b eventually hu ng up his ‘wings’ in 2015 and now undertakes the vital role of DAA’s Aviation Sa fety Manager.

Shorts 184 seaplane of the type based in Torquay

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helipad | www.daat.org

A year like no other...

SorrEy WE’R CLOSED

DEVON

AIR AM

BULANC

E

...but we’ll be back soon!

Three national lockdowns in twelve months have been hard for all of the staff at Devon Air Ambulance, but probably the most impact has been felt by our retail staff. They are a gregarious, outgoing bunch of people, who love interacting with customers and our volunteers and the variety ‘non-stop’ world of charity retail. With our shops closed, many of our retail staff have been furloughed and others have been asked to step outside their ‘comfort zone’ to support our new online shopping operations Retail Operations Manager Chrissie Peel talks to three of our shop managers to get their candid views on what work has been like since the pandemic started, about the steep learning curve they have all been on and some of the highs – and lows – of a year in retail like no other.

Nick Rous

I started work for Devon Air Ambulance six years ago, as the manager of the newly opened South Molton shop.

I have always had an interest in technology, so I am now leading on the online website using the skills and knowledge I have learned over my years of work. However, even though I was pretty hot on IT before this happened, it doesn’t mean the last year hasn’t been without its challenges!

Working online has been a really big eye-opener for me, and I’ve had to really enhance my multi-tasking and ‘juggling’ skills, particularly around how the back office and stock is managed.

Putting our retail operations online during the pandemic has two major benefits, not only can we reach a much wider audience – particularly for our high quality items – but it has also helped secure our retail income that would otherwise have been lost.

On a really positive note, I feel I am even more confident now and I’ve also developed new skills, like how to take

professional photos of stock and how to ‘sell’ a product without any of the usual customer interaction and feedback. I’ve even become one of the Charity’s ‘Digital Champions’, a group of staff members who look to encourage others and give them the confidence to explore new ways of working with IT, so I hope I have been able to help my fellow retail managers over the last year.

Maintaining the high quality feel of our website has been really challenging, but I think we have all done a great job and we are very proud of how professional it now looks. I now spend a lot more time staring at a screen, which is very different from my previous experience in DAA retail when you never stopped moving and every day was full of variety.

When you spend so much time making the website look professional, it is amazing how rewarding and satisfying it can be when you make a sale, however small. It makes all the hours of sorting, photographing, researching and uploading worthwhile!

And your favourite item ? I’m a sucker for a checked shirt, and there’s a particularly nice orange and blue one by Sonoma for sale now.

Retail Meet: Chrissie Peel - Retail Operations Manager Email: c.peel@daat.org

Thank you very much for your ongoing support of Devon Air Ambulance and your understanding as we embark on the next phase of our journey. Your contribution is making a real difference to our patients and their families.

spring 2021 | RETAIL

Julie O’Sullivan I was lucky enough to be taken on by DAA as Assistant Manager at Topsham about 3 months ago, having worked for twenty four years for an importing business. I think it has been great how DAA has embraced e-commerce and working in the digital world, I particularly like the homewares we have for sale in our online shop. I enjoy researching each item, although I have found taking professional quality photographs of items is much harder than you

37

might think! It is particularly challenging when you have to photograph glassware or anything with glass in it, like a framed print, because of the reflections from the shop ceiling lights.

As Homewares was the most recent ‘department’ to go live, it has been great to see how the whole online shop has developed. Like Nick, I love it when we get an order for an item I have researched and photographed – I think ‘I did that’! which is really rewarding.

And your favourite item ? As a fan of Great British Bake Off, I really liked a hand-made cake dome we had for sale recently.

Sarah Woolfenden I started working part-time at our new Heavitree shop fourteen years ago but, after moving to Topsham, I’ve never looked back.

Our traditional shops are great, but I love working in our Vintage format as we get some fantastic items for sale.

When we first went ‘digital’, as someone who hadn’t previously engaged a lot with IT, I found it quite daunting and a bit challenging.

However, I’ve learned so much since we started that my confidence has really grown and grown, and much of what I’ve learned at work has also helped me with tech at home.

One thing I have missed this year is the interaction with people, our customers and volunteers. That has been hard to deal with, but I agree with Nick and Julie, you get a real buzz of pride when you sell something because you have had to invest such a lot of time and effort into getting it online.

And your favourite item ? I love quirky collectables! We recently had a hand-held whisk broom used for sweeping crumbs off a table, which we thought was probably about 100 years old – I like to think it was used by a servant in a grand house!

Spotlight son... great find

We now have a retail blog, so catch up with all our latest news at shopdaat.org/blogs/blog

Don’t forget to use #FoundAtDAAT to tell us and your friends about your shopping bargains!

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helipad | www.daat.org

Discover more... on our WEB WEBSITE SITE Devon Air Ambulance

Did you know you can discover all sorts of interesting information on our website? From statistics to patient stories, and operational and fundraising news, here are some of our favourite online features.

Stop by the OPS PAGE Here you can find out more about our helicopters, community landing sites, mission facts and stats and more.

Use our interactive maps to review the incidents in and around Devon for specific periods. Due to patient confidentiality we limit the amount of information we share, but the maps nevertheless offer an insight into our busiest times and the locations we attend, night and day, every day of the year.

Here you can also find out more about our community landing sites activity and how to go about getting one set up in your local area.

We also feature some of our headline statistics for last year as well as some interesting information about our helicopters.

Visit >> www.daat.org/operations

Discover more PATIENT STORIES We feel very privileged when our patients choose to share their stories with us. Not only are we keen to hear how our patients are feeling following our assistance, but their stories help to inspire supporters to help keep us attending through participating in fundraising events, remembering us in their will, shopping with us, or volunteering.

Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. We know from their stories that their experience impacts many people in their lives too, from family members and friends, to colleagues and people within their communities, sometimes even strangers who were there when their incident happened. We continue to be grateful for the stories our patients so generously share.

Visit >> www.daat.org/patient-stories

spring 2021 | ONLINE

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Take a tour of our EVENTS GALLERIES In no small part due to the events of the past year, how we fundraise is changing and we’ve drawn a great deal more on the efforts of supporters who have embarked on fundraising events from home.

We’ve felt so inspired by those who have supported us through a range of activities they have undertaken within their local communities, from last year’s Base-to-Base Challenge and our Virtual Bike Show, to this spring’s March March event.

Take a look at some of the photos our supporters have kindly shared of their participation.

Visit >> www.daat.org/galleries

TOP OF THE SHOPS Helipad readers, followers of our social channels and web visitors who came to our charity website to find out the latest shop news, locations and donations processes, will have noticed that last year we launched our new online shop.

This planned project was brought forward when our high street shops were closed for the periods of lockdown and we’ve been delighted to see it take off. Our team has been busy populating the site with an exciting and size inclusive range of quality items from women’s and men’s fashion, to vintage items, books, films and more.

Visit >> shopdaat.org

OUR BLOG & NEWS PAGES We know that not everyone can wait for Helipad to land on their doorsteps to read all our charity news, which is why our regularlyupdated News and Blog pages feature all the latest updates, plus a deeper dive into some of the changes and developments in operations and across the charity.

Visit >> www.daat.org/news www.daat.org/blog

Sign up to our regular DIGITAL NEWSLETTER! Our Helipad magazine is delivered three times a year, but did you know you can receive regular news and stories to your inbox every three weeks?

Sign up @ >> www.daat.org/#newsletter – you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking ‘unsubscribe’ at the foot of your newsletter.

If you’ve enjoyed engaging with our work, we’d welcome your support. You can make a regular gift by visiting daat.org/Appeal/donate-now or perhaps sign up to become a member of our lottery for just £1 a week and a top cash prize of £1,350. For every £1 played, 76p goes straight back into our service.

Sign up at daat.org/play-our-lottery

t por

Our fantastic supporters, young and old, mean more to us than ever at this difficult time

DEVON

Devon People & Junior Crew

o Sup t d u ro

AI

LA

helipad | www.daat.org

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R AMBU

 Diane Holland (left) and Barbara Girdlestone of the Bampton Quilters, along with other members of the group, made this lovely quilt, which was raffled off and raised an amazing £1,000 for DAAT!

Shelley Handford

Jean Douglas from Plymouth has been busy making masks with donations to DAAT. To date Jean has raised a fantastic £510.

Part of the donations were raised

by Jean’s daughter who sold the masks at the primary school where she works, and also with kind support by the Devonport Pavilions Café. 

Sarah Palk

Shelley Handford, Sarah Palk and Bridget Hardy all participated in the 2020 London Virtual Marathon and raised over £1,700 between them for DAAT – thank you ladies!

Bridget Hardy

spring 2021 | DEVON PEOPLE & JUNIOR CREW

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NCE

 Minehead Vet Simon White and Mark Townsend organised a Kayak Trip down the River Exe in October 2020 and raised £1,157.50! Here they are pictured in Exmouth at the end of their trip.

This is Karen Barclay with the Bradworthy Memory Christmas Tree. The Bradworthy Community came together and made a donation to place a ‘memory bauble’ on the tree and together raised £366.00 for DAAT.

Thank you to Stafford Moor Fisheries in Dolton who raised £910 from the sale of older baits and tackle equipment, plus donations from the fishermen for having their mobile phones charged. The Fishereries have supported DAAT since 2003 and to date have raised just over £5,000!

 Harbertonford C of E Primary School held a Christmas Jumper Day and raised a brilliant £85.oo.

This is Izzy Martin who raised £1,446 from a sponsored walk through Marlborough, Thurlestone, Hope Cove and Salcome as well as making greetings cards and bracelets for extra donations. Izzy is a regular supporter having now completed four sponsored walks for DAA and has raised a grand total of nearly £4,000!

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helipad | www.daat.org

SIONS S I M 0 5 1 Y EA R 5 One year on – we celebrate the first anniversary of our Critical Care Cars

B

ack in February 2020 – just before the country went into the first national lockdown – Devon Air year on – we celebrate first Ambulance introducedOne two rapid response Critical Carethe Cars anniversary of ourour Critical Care Cars by (CCCs) to our fleet and we attended first ‘live’ operation car on the 3rd March 2020.

Our CCCs are primarily located at each of our airbases in Exeter and Eaglescott in North Devon. This means our crews can use the vehicles should our helicopters be offline for any reason, such as adverse weather, mechanical fault or during periods of planned maintenance.

Devon is predominantly a rural county with hundreds of remote villages and hamlets, winding country lanes and expansive moors, and our two helicopters are often best suited to deliver our critical care teams quickly to these locations. However, on some occasions, it can actually be quicker for the team to reach a patient by road when

an incident is close to one of our airbases or is in a particularly heavily built-up urban area where finding a suitable open space to land may be more challenging.

Our two Volvo XC90 cars have high-performance hybrid engines which ensure stable handling at speed over rough road surfaces and, as a 4-wheel drive vehicle, they are ideal for going off-road into the Devon countryside if needed.

The cars are also huge inside, with lots of ample seating to accommodate our medical teams, a large boot for all their kit and medical equipment and extra space which is proving particularly useful at the moment to store the necessary PPE supplies that our clinicians require.

Each vehicle carries the same advanced medical equipment that you would find onboard the helicopter, such as ventilators, advanced patient monitoring and LypPlas (freeze dried plasma to treat severe blood loss) so our highly trained and experienced clinical team can

“ On some occasions, it can actually be quicker for the team to reach a patient by road when an incident is close to one of our airbases or is in a particularly heavily built-up urban area ”

spring 2021 | OPERATIONS

45

YEAR

“ During the early stages of the pandemic we temporarily suspended responding by helicopter while we made them ‘COVID safe’. Our newly introduced Critical Care Cars proved to be invaluable when we couldn’t get airborne and ensured we were still able to respond to patients without losing a day’s service ” Darren Goodwin, Operations Manager for Devon Air Ambulance

deliver exactly the same treatments to their patients at the scene, regardless of whether they arrive by helicopter or car.

All Devon Air Ambulance paramedics who drive the CCCs have also undertaken Emergency Ambulance Response Driver training, sometimes known as ‘blue light’ training which has provided them with the skills they need to drive our CCCs quickly and safely to reach their patients as soon as possible.

Darren Goodwin, Operations Manager for Devon Air Ambulance, reflects on how the introduction of our Critical Care Cars enabled us to build resilience into our service during an unprecedented year.

“During the early stages of the pandemic we temporarily suspended responding by helicopter while we made them ‘COVID safe’. Our newly introduced Critical Care Cars proved

to be invaluable when we couldn’t get airborne and ensured we were still able to respond to patients without losing a day’s service”.

Our initial estimate was that we might respond to about 200 incidents in our first year by CCC but, since that first mission in March 2020, we have actually been tasked over 550 times!”.

Darren added “I am convinced that introducing these cars to our service when we did has enabled us to help hundreds of extra patients over the last year.”

Jeanette Griggs, Special Vehicles Manager at Volvo UK agreed “We are so proud to support Devon Air Ambulance.

The fact that their cars have clocked up over 550 missions in their first year is a testament to the importance of the service the Charity provides”.

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BUSINESS ON BOARD | www.daat.org

BUSINESS on Board

Despite the challenges that all local businesses have faced recently, we are so grateful to every one of them that has selflessly continued to keep supporting Devon Air Ambulance with fundraising, donations and discounted services.

In January, we received an amazing donation of just over £2,000 from Tam Asset Management from their “You Give, We Give” charitable giving campaign.

Despite an incredibly challenging year, TAM achieved profits for their clients’ investment portfolios and, in 2021, were able to kindly donate to DAA once again.

As a thank you for our amazing lifesaving work, South West Highways are paying for the traffic management staff DAA needed while replacing a window at our Topsham Vintage & Variety shop, an amazing £880 saving for us! We’ve had a fantastic working relationship with SWH for many years and this is just another example of how they continue to support us.

Over the Christmas period, Steve Hoskin Construction traditionally offer their construction clients a Christmas gift. This year, especially with COVID restrictions in place, SHC advised their clients that, instead of a gift, they would like to donate to 10 local charities instead. We are so very grateful for their generous offer that resulted in DAA receiving an amazing donation of £1,000!

Despite 2020 being a challenging year for all of us, Hoburne Devon Bay Holiday Park in Paignton decided to donate £1 to us from every booking fee they received, managing to raise £4,420!! We would like to thank the generosity of their holiday homeowners and holidaymakers for playing their part in this wonderful endeavour.

The great news is that the Park has extended its charitable fundraising efforts for DAA throughout 2021 too! General manager Gary Cook said: “We have a wonderful community of owners and holidaymakers that supported us with our fundraising efforts, and we’re delighted with how much we managed to raise.”

'03 **/7&45.&/5 1 130'&44*0/"-4 0 0/-:

We are always sad to see an end to any business partnership, one being our two-year partnership with RGB Building Supplies.

Through a difficult second year of fundraising in 2020, they still managed two successful incentives raising just over £2,800. This was from the sale of the charity dumpy bags with 25p from each bag donated to DAA plus their successful campaign “Love where you live”. Thank you to everyone at RGB for a great effort and for raising in the past two years, a brilliant overall total of £5,300 plus!

We are always grateful when local businesses step in to support us in our time of need! Tool Care Hire were able to offer us a scissor lift to help fix a lighting issue at our warehouse in Exeter, not only on the day we needed it but they also offered us the cheapest quote AND a charity discount. Thanks to everyone at Tool Care, our warehouse is no longer in darkness!

It’s really great that businesses across the county recognise our need for their help and continue to give generously. A lovely donation of £2,500 was recently received from Harpers Feed who wanted to support two local charities close to their heart. With COVID-19 damaging fundraising across the county, they wanted to give something back to help future patients in 2021.

spring 2021 | OPERATIONS

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Community Landing Sites:

A look around the County at the latest sites to become operational Sutcombe Bridgerule

Bridgerule Parish Council has recently installed new lighting at Vinnicombe Park, home to Bridgerule Football Club, to enable Devon Air Ambulance to land in the village during the ‘hours of darkness.’

In early March, on farmland kindly made available by the Furse family, Sutcombe Parish Council was able to install new lighting and establish a night landing site in this rural parish.

Halberton

Located at ‘The Mead’ playing field, the community landing site, which involved bringing a new power supply into the site and installing remotely controlled lighting was delivered by Halberton Parish Council.

Drewsteignton

A partnership between the Parish Council and Drewsteignton Playing Field has helped install a new power supply and lighting at the playing field in this Dartmoor village.

Wembury

Located at Wembury Recreation Ground, the recently operational community landing site project was spearheaded by the Wembury Parish Council and involved work to install a new power supply and lighting column.

Woodleigh

Established on land kindly provided by the Hine family, Woodleigh Parish Meeting successfully raised their funding for the new lighting through a direct appeal to parishioners.

Members of the community team at Woodleigh

Devon Air Ambulance would like to thank all those people who have helped establish these Community Landing Sites. The hard work and commitment of Councillors (County, District & Parish), Council staff, Sports Clubs, farmers/landowners, and individual supporters has meant the network of night landing sites continues to grow and we are able to reach more and more communities during the ‘hours of darkness’. ur support!

Thank you for yo

If you would like to get involved with a community landing sites project, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please contact CLS Development Officer Toby Russell on: 07943 207673 or t.russell@daat.org.

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48

helipad | www.daat.org

One Year On

Operations Director Nigel Hare takes a look back on an unprecedented year full of challenges for our operational teams

A

s I write the content for this edition of Helipad, it is the first anniversary of the start of the first COVID-19 lockdown. Exactly a year later, we all find ourselves in the current lockdown, but with a much brighter outlook ahead of us.

Although certainly not an anniversary to celebrate, the significant additional work that the team at Devon Air Ambulance has undertaken to overcome the challenges throughout the pandemic, as well as the continuing support from you, our supporters, is testament to the commitment we all have to keep our lifesaving service operational.

At the end of March, we took the difficult decision to temporarily cease responding using our two helicopters as we could not ensure the safety of our patients and crew due to the confined space inside the helicopters. With pilots not permitted to wear PPE for flight safety reasons, and patients on our aircraft stretcher being less than one metre away from the pilot, we couldn’t adequately protect either. Although it was difficult having to consider suspending our helicopter service, the safety of our patients and staff had to be our first priority. We switched to responding to patients using just our

recently introduced Critical Car Cars to ensure we were still able to respond to patients in their time of need.

Being open in communicating our decision, and the reasons why we made it, meant we received offers of help that would otherwise not have been forthcoming. One such offer came from Babcock Marine at Devonport Dockyard and, in discussing with them the challenges we faced in keeping our patients and staff safe in the helicopter, this led to the development of a separation screen, something Babcock usually produced for nuclear submarines. Sadly, we are all too familiar now with separation screens, however, at the start of the pandemic, the idea of designing and fitting one inside a helicopter to provide protection against an airborne virus, was groundbreaking.

Our Helicopter Services team were not put off by the challenge and alongside the Civil Aviation Authority and a different division within Babcock, ‘Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore’ who operate Air Ambulances elsewhere in the UK, our helicopters were examined and measured, prototypes were designed, and within weeks a fully approved separation screen was fitted to both our helicopters and we

spring 2021 | PATIENT SUPPORT

49

transfer patients. Volvo UK kindly loaned us a vehicle during started to respond by air again. the COVID-19 surges, which enabled us to provide an Collaborating in innovation like this has enabled many additional Critical Care Car team at the time when demand other air ambulance services to also benefit through the for medical help in the community was at its highest. fitting of a separation screen within their helicopters. Both Summer is always a busy time for Devon Air Ambulance; Babcock and Devon Air Ambulance received recognition for however, 2020 was particularly so as we helped an increasing this collaboration by winning a special ‘COVID-19 Response award’, at the Institute of Collaborative Working (ICW) Awards. number of patients who sustained serious injuries or were suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. This higher However, this hasn’t been the only collaboration or than normal level of call-outs coincided with the recordinnovation that has taken place to help keep our service breaking high temperatures the country experienced. responding to patients safely. We were truly humbled by Treating patients in high temperatures and operating the support of many businesses, volunteers and supporters in a helicopter, which due to the number of windows, is who, between them, designed and 3D printed face shields, effectively like flying in a greenhouse, is demanding at the donated PPE, switched from producing gin to hand sanitiser best of times. However, 2020 was even more demanding or helped deliver these essential items to us. for our clinical team as they also had to wear full PPE when It is clear now that just like every other healthcare provider, not just in this country but across the world, we did not realise doing so. Delivering care, lifting and carrying patients and equipment and undertaking procedures such as CPR in fluid this time last year the extent and duration that the COVID-19 repellent suits, respirator masks, goggles and two layers of pandemic would impact our service. vinyl gloves, was often exhausting for the team. It was also Throughout February and March 2020, as the devastating impact of the virus became known, we started developing and very uncomfortable as the inevitable sweat was not able to evaporate and could not be wiped away from the forehead introducing additional safety processes and sought to secure due to the need to enough PPE to keep prevent the risk of everyone safe. We “ I would like to take the opportunity to say cross-infection, and managed to procure additional PPE sufficient thank you to you, our supporters, and everyone so would run into and around the eyes. to last us around five at Devon Air Ambulance who have worked Working tirelessly years at our normal rate tirelessly to keep our service operational and behind the scenes, of use. Sadly, the scale often unnoticed, our of the pandemic and enabled us to continue to treat our patients support staff have also the safety processes we safely and with dignity and respect, despite the faced and overcome needed to put in place many challenges. meant that we used challenging circumstances and the wearing of Developing new all that PPE is just two often intrusive face masks and PPE ” processes, ensuring weeks. our equipment is As the pandemic maintained and delivering training all required new ways of hit its first peak during 2020, the number of patients we working. One particular challenge has been the constant focus responded to increased. As Devon’s hospitals and the on ensuring we have enough PPE for our clinical team to keep South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust them and our patients safe. This has at times been a daily/ faced unprecedented pressures, we were able to provide additional support to patients by assisting these vital services. weekly challenge and, although we have never run out, there have been a few occasions where we were very anxious as to The closure of universities and the shut down of training whether we would have enough to keep everyone safe. facilities, alongside other changes we made to free up In amongst all this, we brought into service our new H145 members of our team, meant that we created the capacity to helicopter. No small task at the best of times, but very provide additional support to even more patients, as well as challenging during the pandemic. The new helicopter has continuing to provide our normal Air Ambulance provision.

We released some of our doctors back to the NHS hospitals already made a significant difference to our ability to help patients and will continue to do so for many years to come. where they also worked, while other doctors supported the I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to you, ambulance service within their COVID emergency command our supporters, and everyone at Devon Air Ambulance who centre. Some of our paramedics helped to develop the have worked tirelessly to keep our service operational and critical care transfer service to support Exeter’s Nightingale enabled us to continue to treat our patients safely and with hospital, which would enable anaesthetised patients to be dignity and respect, despite the challenging circumstances safely transferred between it and other hospitals within and the wearing of often intrusive face masks and PPE. To the South West. As this provision developed our support you all, with a special mention to my team within Patient staff maintained ready to use the medical equipment and Services - Thank you for enabling us to continue to save lives! electronic medical devices that would be used to safely

Operations Meet: Nigel Hare - Operations Director Email: n.hare@daat.org Nigel is accountable for overseeing the care we provide to our patients, including liaisng with the Care Quality Commission, NHS and emergency services, as well as leading our team of paramedics, doctors and support staff. Nigel joined Devon Air Ambulance in 1997 as an Aircrew Paramedic

50

helipad | www.daat.org Main picture: The MSC Napoli wrecked on the East Devon coast in 2007Below: Members of the Beer Coastguard team receiving their accolade

For those in peril at sea and on the coast T

he Coastguard has always been there, a dedicated group of people who carry on a vital role throughout the year without too much recognition. I had an image of them in mind from years ago backed up by those television adverts with ‘Joe and Petunia’ encouraging people to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard. That film advert came out in 1968 and yes I am old enough to remember it!

Things have obviously changed since then - equipment, techniques, technology and communications but not the total commitment to saving life and watching our coastline. With that in mind I spoke to the Beer Coastguard team who have recently been awarded a trophy by their community. Station officer Terry Hoare told me about the history and service of his ‘watch’.

Tell me more about Beer Coastguard and the changes you’ve seen?

The station at Beer was built in 1946, the building is at the top of the village along with the garage for the emergency vehicle.

We respond to any members of the public dialling 999, 24/7.

We liaise and support the RNLI, the police and in fact any of the emergency services. We are all volunteers with a range of ages. My brother and I are the two oldest and the youngest is 32 but, regardless of age, we all have a lot of experience.

How far do you cover and are there major calls that spring to mind?

We can go to assist in any incident from Lyme Regis and as far down to Teignmouth! It depends on the seriousness of the situation and what’s happening. Obviously we are known for helping out at sea and on the shoreline but what we do is now quite varied, such as perhaps helping out inland at road traffic accidents.

In terms of specific shouts, the MSC Napoli springs to mind, an incident which went on for two and a half years really! When it first started, I spent the best part of a week on Branscombe Beach dealing with the containers being washed up.

Recently we had to deal with a woman who fell from the cliffs

while walking between Beer and Seaton. She had apparently stepped off the path to look back to where she had come from and slipped. We estimate she fell something like a hundred feet. Somehow she stopped on a small ledge with a sheer drop to the rocks at least eighty feet below. Holding on to a bush with one hand she managed to get the phone out of her pocket and called 999. We had to set up a rope rescue and send someone down the cliff. We had HART (Hazardous Area Response Team), Devon Air Ambulance and the Coastguard helicopter at the scene. We sent our technician down the cliff, secured her and brought her back up with thankfully very minor injuries. At the top we simply handed her over to the ambulance service and all was well. It wasn’t until the lady was safely back on firm ground that you suddenly realise what you’ve done and how you’ve helped save a life.

How often do you get called?

Last year we had seventy nine incidents. This year so far we’ve done eleven. This is our quieter period but we know summer will be busy.

You must be delighted that your work has been recognised?

Yes, of course. The Beer branch of the Royal British Legion have given us a community award from the village of Beer which was presented to us for our community work during the last year during COVID lockdown.

Things must have changed for the service and for you over the years?

Yes, things certainly have changed! In the past, the Coastguard used to do physical lookouts to sea but, with modern communications, we no longer have to do this. When I first joined in 1986, we were also still using the rocket line apparatus, that used to fire a line out to a stricken vessel but, again, with new technology and better equipment, we no longer need to do this.

But, whether it was years ago or just last week, when a job comes in we all just do our best on the day. 

Backchat

Meet: David Fitzgerald - BBC Broadcaster and DAA Patron David first began broadcasting on commercial radio in the early 1980s, before moving to television. As well as a busy broadcasting career David still finds time for writing as well as enjoying a regular round of golf.

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