In Memoriam

Helen Mathias

During January 2023 we were notified of the death of one of our much-loved volunteers, Helen Mathias who began her journey with Devon Air Ambulance as the Assistant Manager at our Cowick Street shop and through her amazing 18 years’ service, continued to support us as a volunteer.

Helen was a familiar face at our Cowick Street shop, known to so many customers, chatting to them and making sure that they found something they definitely needed!

Helen’s funeral was attended by our CEO Helena Holt, friend and former Operations Manager Chrissie Peel, and several of our Shop Managers. She was a friend to many, known for her amazing sense of humour, playing skittles and her love for holidays.

Jenny Buckle

Remembered by Nigel Hare, DAA Operations Director

Mike Saffin

Just prior to Christmas 2022 we lost one of our valued volunteers Mike Saffin. Mike and his wife Vera began their journey with Devon Air Ambulance firstly as supporters through their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in 2004 when they kindly asked their friends and loved ones to make a donation to us in lieu of anniversary gifts.

The couple then became volunteer speakers for us and continued to do so for 15 years, sharing their passion for our charity with hundreds of people in their local community and further afield. Mike, through his connections with Vintage Machinery Clubs and the Masons, ensured frequent donations found their way to us.

Mike was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing. His funeral was widely attended and our Operations Director, Nigel Hare and Former Fundraising Director, Caroline Creer attended. Even in his passing, Mike requested no flowers, only donations to DAA. A true gentleman to all who knew him and a dedicated advocate of our charity.

Jenny was a fantastic supporter of Devon Air Ambulance and was passionate about sharing the benefit of our service through learning and education. I have very fond memories of Jenny supporting our Junior Crew Club. Over many years, Jenny helped hundreds of children learn about Devon Air Ambulance. For young children, this might have been about the noise it made and why the helicopter didn’t have blue lights like an ambulance. While for those a bit older, it was about how treating people promptly and being able to fly them to the hospital when they were seriously ill or injured helped save their lives. Oh, and I also remember many occasions where we had to disappoint many a young person by letting them know that the tubes of the front of the aircraft were for measuring our airspeed and not, as most of them thought, or perhaps even hoped, machine guns!

Jenny always brought a smile to everyone’s face, as well as often a homemade cake to the airbase made with honey from her own bees. As I was a fellow beekeeper, and Jenny’s appetite for learning more about Devon Air Ambulance was insatiable as mine was for her cake, there was always something to talk about in the gaps between the morning and afternoon airbase visits that we held for the Junior Crew Club members. Jenny was a great ambassador and friend of Devon Air Ambulance and I have nothing but very fond memories of spending time with her.