Helipad Summer 2016 web

The Official Magazine of

Devon Air Ambulance Trust

Summer 2015

NORTH WEST DEVON

Coast & Country

Yarn Bombing in

Clovelly

Have you got what it takes?

find out inside...

Night Flying Update!

Community Landing Sites & New Crew

Join Our

Meeting

www.daat.org

Rob Baxter

Weekly Lottery

see inside!

LOTTERY

Registered Charity No.1077998 Company No.3855746

Patient Stories - Real People Saving Real Lives

LEGAL EXPERTISE FOR EVERYONE

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Welcome

Heléna Holt, Chief Executive Officer

Celebrating the best in Devon

50,000 copies covering the whole county 35,000+ delivered direct to our supporters Also available online at www.daat.org Contributors David FitzGerald Neil Devons Sarah Chesters Richard Hunt Photographers Chris Square (John Scrivens story) 360 Photography (John Scrivens story) Neil Devons David Gregory Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency www.photo-fit.net Debbie Gregory Publisher Heléna Holt h.holt@daat.org 01392 466666 Editor Debbie Gregory 01392 466666 ext 135 d.gregory@daat.org Advertising Sales Julie Hutchins j.hutchins@daat.org 07843 621463 Advertisement Copy copy@daat.org Design & Print Management Silver Foxes Publishing 07455 206470 Distribution & Mailing Silver Foxes Publishing 07455 206470 ISSN (Print) 2055-2343 ISSN (Online) 2055-2351 Next Issue 25 November 2016

We are receiving more and more calls from our supporters asking questions about our will writing service but we don’t have one!

Some callers have made donations thinking they were supporting Devon Air Ambulance when in fact it was for County Air Ambulance Trust. These sales teams have been attending supermarkets and large retail stores for many months promoting a scheme that offers a free will writing service in return for a donation. Some supporters contacted us asking why we had not acknowledged their donation. The one thing all callers have in common is that they thought this scheme was run by or supporting Devon Air Ambulance.

County Air Ambulance Trust is a fundraising organisation and a registered charity raising funds specifically to benefit Midlands Air Ambulance and Great Western Air Ambulance or to go into general funds. These general funds are used to support provision of hospital helipad facilities across the UK or any other charitable purpose in line with their objects. They part-funded Derriford Hospital’s new helipad but do not support Devon Air Ambulance in any way and are not involved in our work with local communities to establish landing sites for night operations.

In other news, our plans for Night Flying are gathering apace with training for paramedics, pilots and our helicopter dispatch team well underway. It is reassuring to know that, from autumn this year, our service will be of benefit to even more people. Read more on page 48.

We are also looking forward to summer 2017, when our service will celebrate its 25th birthday! We would love to hear from other Devon businesses also celebrating 25 years next year and from anyone who is celebrating their own quarter century with a birthday or silver wedding anniversary. Do let us know and we’ll make plans to celebrate together!

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

Editor’s news A very big thank you to all the patients who have been in contact with us over the last few months and, in particular, to those who have not only allowed us to include their story in this issue but have written the account themselves.

Hot on the heels of Devon’s very own Exeter Chiefs reaching rugby’s Premiership final, we catch up with their manager,

facebook.com/devonairambulancetrust @DevonAirAmb © 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.

www.daat.org

Rob Baxter.

We also feature some of the most beautiful parts of north Devon in our centre pages and celebrate Clovelly’s annual Yarn Bomb event…

Happy reading!

Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

3

In this issue...

On The Cover Issue No.14 Summer 2016 Clovelly © Debbie Gregory Next Issue: Out on 28 November

46 Businesses on board 7

Star Prizes

9

Ways to Help & Volunteering

Meet the winners of our Star Prizes, Evie, Mary and Bob, and grateful thanks go to Golden Hind, Brixham, Kit Heath Jewellery and Pebblebed Vineyard for their generous donations olunteering is such a great way to give some time to a good cause and raise money to keep our helicopters ying. We always need volunteers to help in our shops and events. For more information have a look at our website or contact our Volunteer Manager Rosey Oakes

10 Water sports are popular all around our coasts and hen windsur ng went wrong

usually the day passes without incident Not so, however, for John Scrivens

On 13 What’s Take a look at where we will be out and about this year

14 One of our biggest events of the year! Meet the Commando Challenge

Challenge and have fun with your friends in the mud

i Aid e uals free money 20 you areVisits a UK tax payer, you can gi 8 IfRoyal

aid all your donations!

This will enable us to claim an additional 25 on the money we make from selling your donations.

Shop Opening 21 Plymouth We are back in Plymouth with our new shop in Armada Way, right in the city centre! Come and meet Eloise, Emma and the team and see all the bargains on offer

in time for Christmas 23 Home Alan considered himself to be fit and healthy he certainly hadn’t expected to suffer a cardiac arrest or 12!

& the North Devon Coast 25 Hartland North Devon is well-known for its pretty villages,

numerous beautiful beaches and rugged coastlines.

Take a trip along the Atlantic Highway and discover some of the gems along the way

Chesters’ Gardens 29 Sarah With a little forward thinking, your garden can have

colour all year round. Sarah advises on what to choose

& Cra s 17 Arts Arts and cra s hold an important place in Devon’s

Heath Q&A 30 Kit This family-run ewellery company from North Devon

gets Yarn Bombed 18 Clovelly Discover the unique and historic village of Clovelly

o ery winner buys new motorbi e 31 Kevin bought a new motorbike with his winnings from

history and culture. Find out how artists and creators are supported throughout the county

artistically, creatively and colourfully yarn bombed’ for an event that involved the entire local community and the world beyond!

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

designs and creates amazingly elegant collections and pieces of ewellery

our ottery only to find himself in need of the Air Ambulance!

www.daat.org

39

Contents

Ca etastic undraising

30

Meet it Heath

10

18

et and wild

arn bombing

o ery orm People 32 Our 42 Devon Our thanks go to all our wonderful supporters around the ottery has reached the fantastic number of 37,000 members this year! Become a member and help us to raise money – you may even win one of our weekly cash prizes

33 Bradley Olde suffered a cardiac arrest while out

Mother Champions Lifesaving Techniques jogging when he was just 20 years old. Brad’s mother subsequently organised a Life Saving Day to raise funds and awareness

tempting treats from ichard Hunt 34 More It’s time for icecreams on the beach and the aromatic

family barbecue! And why not follow Richard’s recipe for a Strawberry, Pimms and Popping Candy Roulade

36

Rob Baxter

Hot on the heels of Devon’s very own Exeter Chiefs reaching rugby’s Premiership final, Helipad caught up with manager, Rob Baxter

38 Operations Director, Nigel Hare, brings us up to date lying at Night

with our plans for ying at night from this autumn and introduces six new members of the aircrew team

alls ams 39 Old Barbara has raised over

13,500 for Devon Air Ambulance selling her homemade marmalade, cakes and ams as a hobby from her front door. What a lovely, tasty, way to support our Charity

county. There is never enough space to mention you all but we are grateful to everyone!

unior Crew 45 There is no minimum age to support your favourite charity; here you can meet some of our youngest supporters

of the ear usiness Support 46 Charity Thanks to businesses large and small for all your support. Here we celebrate some who have nominated us as their Charity of the Year

anding Sites 48 Toby Russell, our Helipad Development Manager,

explains how having a community landing site in towns and villages around the county will ensure that our helicopters can land safely in the dark

Chat 50 Back Patron, David Fitz

erald, tells us about his lengthy road trip to Norfolk and how glad he was to be back in Devon

We Love To Talk!

We’re active on many social networks and media channels so you can keep up with everything we’re doing between issues. Follow us on aceboo and Instagram, oin the Twi er conversation and watch our ouTube films.

day that changed my life 40 ANigel Holmes tells the story of being trapped in his car a er he was involved in a tragic car accident

www.daat.org

Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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We’re not number one, you are

Star Pri e

inners

Ways To Help

This summer’s pri e winners have all raised funds for us in very di erent ways Mary Tractor’ Phillips has travelled the length of the from ohn O’ roats to ands End on her 1 5 ield Marshall tractor, nic named ran a er a former Devon Air Ambulance colleague Not content with going one way, the following year Mary did the entire ourney the other way round orever willing to promote the wor of Devon Air Ambulance, Mary has raised an impressive 26,000 e were delighted to learn that Mary has been recognised for her fundraising achievements and has been awarded the ME ritish Empire Medal e are pleased to present Mary with a beautiful cra ed bracelet, generously donated by it Heath ewellery

Six year old Evie ernyhough from Totnes was determined to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance when the service saved her dad a er a nasty road accident Evie organised a ca e sale and drew a poster to display at the event, explaining the Air Ambulance saved my dad Evie also displayed the poster in their front window so that passers by would now why she was so een to help Evie’s ca e sale raised 5

hen ob Catley discovered he had a place in this year’s ondon Marathon, a er 10 years of applying, he was een to maximise his fundraising opportunities so, along with on line sponsorship, ob had his van signwri en to encourage support for Devon Air Ambulance His e orts paid o and he raised 1, 50 ell done ob

ob receives a i oucher for 2 to en oy a tour of the vineyard and wine tasting at the Pebblebed ineyard, Clyst St eorge near Exeter

Evie and her parents and sister, Iris, will receive a family tic et for a day out at the old Hind, rixham www.daat.org

Than you to all the businesses for your ind donations

Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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How Can You Help?

Join Our Team!

By Rosey Oakes, Volunteer Manager

All our supporters are absolute stars, but I have a special so spot for the incredible volunteers that regularly give up so much of their time to help us e are always loo ing for people to oin our merry band, and there are many di erent ways you could help if you’d li e to play a part We are currently looking for people who are happy to put up a gazebo and chat to people at shows, or perhaps marshal at events like the Commando Challenge. This is such a rewarding role but can occasionally be quite challenging, as volunteer Pat Kingston says: “The hardest part is se ng up azebo’ is a modern day swearword!”

At the event itself, volunteer Karen Purrington helped distribute the t-shirts at our stand and said “I really enjoyed the morning, despite the very early start, because the DAAT staff are a very friendly bunch and they genuinely appreciate my help. Knowing I had played even a small part, alongside the very organised DAAT team is rewarding in itself, but the cup of tea and the bacon butty were also very appealing!”

Karen and Catheryn at the Ride Out

Pat Kingston (le ) with volunteer Bill White

It was all hands on deck to pack the t-shirts for this year’s Motorcycle Ride Out with volunteers of all ages coming in to the office to help us out.

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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Ways To Help As our retail team continues to grow and with shops from Kingsbridge to Barnstaple and Tavistock to Honiton, we need a whole army of retail helpers from all over Devon. Some volunteers are with us because they en oy the camaraderie and banter, but others, like Anne from South Molton, are ob seekers looking to have something really impressive on their C . Anne is undertaking an N in Customer Service and Retail which we offer through Derby College and says I’ve really en oyed the course and it does help I’ve already had a few interviews .

We currently don’t have any box collectors in Plymouth so would love to hear from anyone who could help us in and around our city by the sea’. Please do let me know if you could help.

inally, our more unusual volunteer role we need people to volunteer to dress up as Ambrose for school tal s or at events If you now of anyone who would love to dance around in character for us please get in touch ASAP Must have a fondness for high ves and not be afraid of small children

Anne, busy steaming in South Molton shop

Our wonderful box collectors are always out and about representing us in their local area. They collect and count the pennies donated in pubs and shops which last year amounted to over 180,000. This role is great for those wanting to help but who don’t want to be tied down to a specific time or day. Hazel and Barry Nichols have recently retired a er collecting boxes in Plymouth for 5 years and are sad to give up. Hazel said We have really en oyed our time with DAA, and we’ve built up wonderful relationships with the donors over the years. We would like to leave our boxes in safe hands so please help if you can!

If you would li e to nd out more, please call into your local DAAT shop or contact osey Oa es by phone on 01 2 66666 or email on r oa es daat org

ive it a go

www.daat.org

Helipad

oin our family

Get in touch!

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9

John doing what he loves!

When windsurfing went wrong…

by John Scrivens Water sports are popular all around our coasts and usually the day passes without incident… not so, however, for John Scrivens of Paignton.

John picks up the story

I

was windsurfing from Bantham beach close to high tide on Sunday 8th November when I had my accident. It happened really quickly and I’m not 100% sure what caused it. I had started to gybe on the Bigbury side of the river mouth and, pushing hard into a turn, my back foot came off the board and plunged my right leg down into the water below me; acting as an anchor it was wrenched sideways and backwards whilst at the same time the wind was still driving me forwards and my

10

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

left foot remained secured on the board. The effect was that of being pulled in half. I felt the ligaments tear and a gush of internal bleeding. (Although at the time I didn’t know that was what it was.)

I was now in breaking waves and very close to the rocks at the end of Bigbury beach. Unable to get back on the board and with my right leg now a dead weight in the water, my immediate concern was to get away from the rocks. This took www.daat.org

Patient Story

about 15 minutes of laborious swimming towing my kit. When I was eventually clear of the immediate danger of the rocks, I stopped to assess my situation in the calmer water. I was forced to abandon my initial plan to sail back to the shore on one leg, because it was too painful to bend my right leg to lift it onto the board. I decided instead to use the incoming tide to my advantage and continue to swim and drift back to the Bantham side of the estuary (keeping close enough to the edge of the channel so I could swim out of it if the tide changed).

A friend spotted I was in trouble and sailed over to check on me. At this point I didn’t appreciate the seriousness of my injuries and told him I would swim in with the current. He did the sensible thing and called the coastguards to make them aware of the situation.

After another 30 minutes of swimming and drifting with the river current towards Bantham, it became apparent that I hadn’t positioned myself close enough to the edge of the channel and I was about to be swept up the river. Two kite-surfers saw what was happening and swam out to help get both me and my kit to the shore.

Once on the beach, without the buoyancy of the water to support me, gravity kicked in and the pain intensified preventing me from getting up; all I could do was side shuffle. Luck was on my side again in the form of an ICU doctor called Andy having a day on the beach with his family. Andy was incredible; he examined me and immediately assessed my injuries as serious.

Andy organised a number of kite-surfers and windsurfers to form a human stretcher to carry me up over the rocks and onto the sand dunes. The coastguard had also called a paramedic who arrived with morphine and gas. Even with a drip and morphine I can remember the slightest movement was now agony and Andy requested the coastguard to arrange an airlift.

The Air Ambulance arrived with incredible speed and landed on a grassy patch on the dunes close by. At this point, the morphine and the cold were making things a bit fuzzy but I remember just how calm, friendly and professional the air

ambulance crew were. I was worrying about how they were going to fit me, lying on a stretcher, into the helicopter but they immediately put me at ease and I knew right away I could have absolute faith in the team to keep me safe.

Without the airlift, I would have had to endure a bumpy journey of around a quarter of a mile over the sand dunes in a 4x4 vehicle, followed by a transfer to hospital by ambulance of probably 45minutes. Instead I arrived smoothly at Derriford Hospital within minutes.

On arrival, I received priority treatment by the A+E team at Derriford (though I did have to negotiate with them not to cut my wetsuit off !). X-rays and a CT scan showed a Type 2 open book horizontal disruption pelvic fracture and large acute haematoma! After being stabilised I was transferred to a ward where I was closely monitored.

I am very grateful to everyone who helped and cared for me that day.

• The Air ambulance team.

• The doctor who abandoned his family day out to care for me at the scene and request the air ambulance.

• The paramedic who attended the scene and supplied the morphine.

• The coastguards for keeping a watch on me and calling the air ambulance.

• The staff at Bantham Estates for their assistance in keeping the beach open and looking after my car and kit until I was able to arrange for it to be collected.

• The kite surfers and windsurfers who helped me ashore, up over the rocks and packed up my kit.

• All the staff at Derriford hospital for putting me back together and getting me on the road to recovery.

Thanks to the care I received from everyone involved, just three months later I was walking normally, plus cycling, practicing yoga and looking forward to windsurfing again. o Editor’s note: Thanks to John for sharing his story and we wish him well for further water sport activities!

Without the airlift, I would have had to endure a bumpy journey of around a quarter of a mile over the sand dunes in a 4x4 vehicle, followed by a transfer to hospital by ambulance of probably 45minutes. Instead I arrived smoothly at Derriford Hospital within minutes.

John visits the team at the Exeter airbase www.daat.org

Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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What’s On

What’s on this Summer…

Every one of this year’s summer shows offers a great day out for all the family. From falconry displays to vintage tractors, champion cattle and pedigree sheep, horse and pony shows, daredevil mountain bike displays and traditional rural craft demonstrations – there really is ‘something for everyone’.

ts: Come and find us at the following shows and even

27 July – Yealmpton Show 31 July – Totnes Show

19-25 September – National Air Ambulance Week 25 September – DAA Dragon Boat Festival

A great fun day out for families and a great team-building day for businesses. Come down to Exeter Quay to watch all the action

3 August – North Devon Show 4 August – Honiton Show 10 August – Exford Show 11 August – Okehampton Show 13 August – Cornwood Show 18 August – Chagford Show 20 August – Christow Show 25 August – Holsworthy & Stratton Show

OCTOBER

8-9 October – Commando Challenge

Want to be a Royal Marine for a day? Fancy tramping through mud and obstacles? Prepare your team and push your boundaries! The unique Royal Marines training and obstacle course, Woodbury Common, nr Exeter

12 October – Tavistock Goose Fair

SEPTEMBER

3 September – Kingsbridge Show 3-4 September – Dart 10k Swim

From Steamer Quay in Totnes to Dittisham – and some even swim on to Dartmouth!

The traditional Tavistock Goose fair dates from 12th century.

Old and young alike will enjoy the atmosphere with traders, entertainment, fairground rides and music.

For further details on these and other events check our website at www.daat.org/our-events

13 September – Widecombe Fair If you are organising your own event to raise money for DAA, you can download our awesome fundraising pack at www.daat.org/fundraising-for-us It’s full of inspirational and motivational ideas to help you all the way!

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

Get Involved! www.daat.org

Attractions and places to visit in Devon We can’t wait to meet you...

We are home to hundreds of rescued donkeys.

Come and see us free of charge, open 365 days a year.

EST 1888

No family trip to the picturesque towns of Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon would be complete without a ride on the famous funicular cli li It’s the best and most exciting way to travel between these two historic towns and will be one of the highlights of the day - for Mums, Dads and all the family En oy stunning views of Exmoor and the North Devon coastline as you glide up and down the 62 foot length of trac from ynmouth nestling at the foot of the cli s to ynton perched 500 feet above The Cli ailway, The Esplanade, ynmouth, E 5 6E Opening times 10am-5pm 7 Days Per Week onger opening hours during high season

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Set in beautiful rolling countryside, visitors are welcome to ta e the family on a beautiful wal through ama ing scenery explore the ma e visit the barn and meet our friendly don eys, hi e down to our secret cove and en oy the beach or those who want to get up close with donkeys sign up for the Experience Days where you’ll groom, feed and ta e part in muc ing out There is a well stoc ed shop and isitors’ Centre and a restaurant o ering a range of delicious local and traditional meals and snac s The site also houses a video room, nature centre and family picnic areas In between exploring, warm up at the Haylo restaurant with their extensive menu with ids portions, specials, plus mouth watering ca es and biscuits et hands on with the don eys, open from am until dus every day, with plenty of holiday activities there’s something for ids of all ages even the grown up ones y supporting our events you will be supporting our wor around the world ou will also have the opportunity to meet some of our lovely don eys, to learn about our wor and to browse our uni ue range of don ey gi s and mementos in our dedicated donkey shop.

The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth EX10 0NU We are open from am every day ree par ing

heelchair accessible Donations welcome

Telephone 01 5 5 222 www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk Charity Number 26

1

A summer of magical events from 3July - 25 September

Illustrating Harry Potter Situated within Dartmoor National Par , in the heart of the Teign alley, the waterfalls tumble down ancient roc formations to the tran uil la es below, Home to England’s highest manmade waterfall, Canonteign alls is a magni cent example of a ictorian folly set in a magical natural paradise The waterfalls themselves descend for over 0m ma ing this one of the most breathta ing a ractions in Devon ith our la es, ictorian ern arden, 2 children’ play areas, café and gi shop, Canonteign alls is wonderful day out for all the family Adults 50 Children 16 5 5 Concessions 6 50 amily Tic et 2 00 Christow, Nr Exeter, E 6 H Open daily 10am 5 0pm www canonteignfalls co u www.daat.org

Pecorama is one of East Devon’s leading visitor a ractions, located on the hillside above the picturesque shing village of eer Within the grounds is the Beer Heights Light Railway, where miniature steam locomotives pull passenger trains on a mile-long journey. arden lovers will en oy the celestially themed Sun, Moon, Rainbow, Roof and Moat garden rooms which form the Millennium Celebration arden, whilst children can let o steam in both the indoor and outdoor safetysurfaced play areas.

Pecorama, Beer, Devon, EX12 3NA Telephone 01297 21542 Open daily 10am to 5pm Adult entry £9.35, Sen Cit £8.20, Child £7.50 www.pecorama.co.uk

Helipad

Showcasing original artwork, sketches, models and final prints to celebrate Jim Kay’s stunning full-colour illustrations for J.K.Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Hogwarts comes to Hannahs at Seale-Hayne An exhibition from Seven Stories, National Centre for Children’s Books Images © Jim Kay | A full programme of events will be available on our website from end May.

Telephone 01626 325 800 www.summerofmagic.com Howton Lane, Newton Abbot, TQ12 6NQ Dame Hannah Rogers Trust charity no. 1148882.

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

13

r o f y d a e r u o y e r A ? e g n e l l a h C e th 4k

ness Cheerfus lrunn ing but all

a great fun Challenge with les d the obstacles and just as much mu

10k

Courage

17k

n Determinatgeio r route

yourself embrace the Challenge and immerse Commandos in the world of the Royal Marines

lon find your inner Commando on this of Challenge and endurance

n! io at in rm te De d an e ag ur Co , ss ne ul rf ee Ch is All you need

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The OďŹƒcial Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

www.daat.org

Fundraisers

This year’s Challenge is on 8th & 9th October, raising funds for the Royal Marines Charity and Devon Air Ambulance.

t ac nt co or .uk .co ge en all ch do an mm co to go ce pla To book your us on 01392 466666 for an entry form Discounts available for corporate teams – go on, you know you want to, sign up today!

signed up already?

.uk Follow the training blog at commandochallenge.co dicated de n ow r ou th wi t fi t ge s ck ne ot bo al re e th w ho and learn go too. lin e th rn lea n ca u Yo r. to uc tr ins I PT es rin Ma l ya Ro

Get yomping and have a hoofing time!

STOP PRESS! www.daat.org

classified

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

START

British actor Henry Cavill has enlisted for this year’s Commando Challenge!

STOP Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

15

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The OďŹƒcial Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

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Devon Arts

Made in Devon an inspiring trail of local art & craft A

rtists find evon inspirational. No wonder with the incomparable raw material and natural resources they have to draw upon. evon artists and craftspeople provide a rich and rewarding trail of creativity to savour and en oy right across the county and throughout the year.

In ust about every town you’ll find a gallery of some sort and up many a country lane you’ll stumble upon a pottery or craft workshop. This veritable treasure trove of artwork range from the small privately owned galleries which often specialise in one or two local artists to the larger pro ect galleries which e ist not only to e hibit the work of local artists but to encourage more people to try their hand at something creative or learn more about contemporary craft.

Whether you are a connoisseur, buyer or ust an admirer the choice available is staggering both in terms of quantity and quality traditional and abstract paintings and prints, sculpture and carving, pottery and photography, ewellery design, iron work, ceramics, silk work, knitting and crocheting, sewing and quilting, glassware, cards and candles, spinning and driftwood art.

Arts crafts are very well supported in evon by a range of not for profit organi ations and charities. The evon uild of raftsmen in Bovey Tracey is one of the U ’s most acclaimed e hibition space for contemporary crafts and a charity for craft education. It offers e hibitions, workshops and events to people to buy, make and learn about art and craft.

evon Artist Network is a membership organisation set up to promote the visual arts and create opportunities, events, e hibitions and support for artists and makers in evon. ne of its ma or pro ects is the well established pen Studios event that runs annually in September offering a unique opportunity to meet artists in their studios often in some of the most beautiful, une plored parts of evon and to buy art direct from the creator. ne of the significant participants in the pen Studios event is cean Studios, a ommunity Interest ompany which provides affordable studios for over 100 artists within Plymouth’s oyal William ard.

Art in the region is also supported by the influential South West Academy of ine Applied Arts. Based in evon, the Academy is a registered charity dedicated to advancing the creation and appreciation of art in the region. Its academicians are outstanding practitioners of fine and applied arts with varied practices, backgrounds and styles.

The Academy holds an annual open e hibition which for 01 will take place at eter astle in September.

Art in evon, however, is not all about formal e hibitions and large scale pro ects. It’s also about that hive of local activity that is using an ama ing range of materials and techniques to continually create something new, something different and something that will be made in evon. o

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Yarn Bombing hits

Clovelly

The unique, privately-owned, picturesque village of Clovelly is well-renowned for its steeply cobbled streets, quirky old cottages and a quaint, historic harbour. The village enjoys a wealth of festivals throughout the year with the newest being that of the Yarn Bomb!

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Beautiful Devon

T

he Yarn Bomb event, which runs for the whole of July, is co-ordinated by Ellie Jarvis of Clovelly Silk, a textile designer who regularly works alongside local arts and crafts television celebrities, Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Kirstie Allsopp, with the Clovelly Community Gardening Group.

After a warm welcome and introduction by village owner, Honourable John Rous, the yarn ribbon for this year’s event was cut by 6 year old Jacob Egan, who came up with the theme of ‘Summer by the Sea’.

From the top of the village, right down to the harbour, there is much to see. Colourful artwork on doorways, railings, garden furniture, lamp-posts and window dressings – all creatively and lovingly made and installed. There are knitted donkeys,

crocheted cobbles and even a life-sized Queen, enjoying knitted fish and chips, to be spotted!

The village of Clovelly has a world-wide fan-base and, following promotion of the event on social media, donations of knitting, crochet and weaving soon arrived from as far afield as South Africa, Bulgaria, Ukraine and USA! Children from local schools were also involved, creating a Wishing Tree decorated by pom poms and another crocheted donation came from a local lady, 104 years young!

The whole event, part of Clovelly’s entry to Britain in Bloom, is colourful and vibrant; a hugely successful community project that can be enjoyed throughout July by visitors and locals alike.

Proceeds are in aid of Devon Air Ambulance.o

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You need to be a UK taxpayer in orde r to participate in the gift aid scheme

Retail

When is £1 not £1?

When you !

Having our shops on High Streets around the county is of vital importance to the Trust, they are our footprint in the community and a great way to help the environment – after all, reusing and recycling is far better than throwing away!

We are grateful to everyone who donates their quality pre-loved goods and many of you will have received gift aid letters recently about the funds raised from your donations to our shops.

Did you know that signing up to the gift aid programme enables us to claim an additional 25% on the money we make from selling

your donations?

One of the questions we are often asked is how do we generate that amount of money? Well, far be it for me to pinch any well-known superstore’s motto but in this case every little really does help!

When your donations have sold we will run a gift aid claim, typically every 6 months, and notify our donors that we are about to claim.

In order to generate a tax re-claim of £25, we would have already raised over £100 in sales from your donations. You signing up for gift aid increases the total raised to £125!

Our retail operation generated £98k in gift aid in 2015!

Here’s what happens when you make a donation...

Your donation could be out on sale for as long as 12 weeks, but not necessarily in the same shop. In some cases your donations are moved from shop to shop. This may be to support one of our specialist shops, or to help with a new shop launch, for example.

Or, if your donations are out of season stock, winter coats in the summer season for example, we will put them aside until we change our stock over. Some donations can be in storage for up to 6 months.

All of this is crucial to maximise your kind support and helps us to raise the funds we need to keep your service going.

Whether you are able to gift aid or not, your donations are vital to us.

We work hard to ensure that your support is converted into £ coins!

Step 1: It goes on sale in our shop for 4 weeks

Step 2: If it hasn’t sold it goes on display in another of our shops for 4 weeks

Step 3: It goes to our Discount Shop for another 4 weeks

Your Donation Thank You!

Seasonality Check

Winter Hub for up to 6 Months Then Step 1 Summer Hub for up to 6 Months Then Step 1

Step 4: If not sold after all this time we sell it as Rag

We have to notify our donors when we run a gift aid claim. Giving us your email address saves us time and money!

If you are a member of the scheme you can change from postal notification to email.

Update your own details at www.mygiftaid.com

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We’re back in Plymouth!

We are delighted to announce that after nearly 2 years, Devon Air Ambulance is now back in Plymouth with its new shop located in the fabulous Armada Way right in the city centre. DAAT ran its former Plymouth shop for 10 years but took the hard decision to close it down 19 months ago. We have been looking forward to opening the shop for months and the doors of the new Armada Way shop finally opened on Saturday 18th June. It will be managed by Eloise Roberts with assistance from Emma Walsh.

Thanks to everyone for their generous donations, our brand new shop looks amazing, with all your expected items from books, CDs and DVDs, women’s accessories and clothes, men’s and children’s

outfits, toys and bric-a-brac. Of course we have kept our prices as low as possible making our products very good value for money and offering bargains galore! There are even tables and a giant screen just outside the shop where shoppers and visitors can chill out and enjoy their day.

Our charity shops are at the core of the community, allowing us to engage and reach those who support us in many different ways.

Our shops always need stock: you can donate your quality goods for recycling whenever you want from 9.30 to 4.30 in any of our 17 shops. The money raised will go directly to the charity to keep the service running.

Main picture: The retail team showing off ust some of the donated items prior to the launch.

Inset: Young customers Ben and Tom are delighted with their purchases

Could You Be A Volunteer?

We always need volunteers to help in our shops. It is a nice way to give up some time to the community and meet people in a friendly atmosphere, help us raising money to keep our helicopters flying and save lives.

Come and join our family of 475 volunteers! www.daat.org

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Good Advice is Priceless

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Showroom Unit 2 Pixon Court Crelake Industrial Estate Tavistock Devon PL19 9AZ

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Home in time for Christmas

Patient Story

Alan rawley from reat Torrington was a fit, active 8 year old when, in ecember 01 , he suffered a cardiac arrest… Alan tells the story in his own words

I

t was early morning, still dark, and I woke needing to go to the bathroom. I noticed that I had a slight tightness and discomfort in my chest, a bit like indigestion but not exactly painful.

Next, I awoke thinking “what am I doing down here on the bathroom oor I scrambled to my feet and immediately collapsed and passed out. I don’t know how long I was unconscious but when I awoke again it was daylight and I realised that I had banged my head in my fall. This time, getting up was difficult. I was breathless and sweating profusely; I felt very weak and I realised I was in very serious trouble.

I don’t remember getting back to our bedroom but I climbed onto our bed and shook my wife’s arm to rouse her. “ I think I’ve had a heart attack Sandra, please call an ambulance Fortunately she knew how to sit me up and make me as safe and comfortable as possible at the same time as phoning the emergency services.

The land ambulance arrived very quickly and the paramedics wired me up to a cardio monitor in the back of the ambulance, which was radio-linking my readings to the hospital in Exeter, who said that I should go there urgently. They would be ready for me and the Air Ambulance was on its way.

The ambulance drove me half a mile to Torrington Football

Club and the Devon Air Ambulance helicopter seemed to land almost immediately. As the Air Ambulance team arrived, I went into convulsions and suffered a cardiac arrest. They revived me and I rewarded them by complaining that they had woken me from a beautiful dream!

After transferring me to the helicopter, we took off for Exeter Hospital and arrived just 20 minutes later. The trolley followed “the yellow brick road straight into the ardiac Lab. This was at 08:35 am. Within seconds I passed out again and awoke with a searing pain in the chest which was the electric shock from the defibrillator. This passed in seconds and I was wheeled into the recovery ward at 10am having had (according to my release notes) a total of 12 cardiac arrests!

My wife had followed by road and by the time she arrived, 1½ hours later, my initial surgery was already completed. Two stents had been fitted into my right coronary artery and I returned on 17th December and had 3 stents fitted in my left coronary artery. I was concious all through the second procedure!

Days later I had the best Christmas ever with my family coming 350 miles from Yorkshire to stay.

Thanks to you all and your amazing service, I am alive and well, enjoying an active fulfilling life, feeling great. I am eternally grateful and will sing your praises to the end of my days.

Your loyal supporter.

Alan Crawley o

“After transferring me to the helicopter, we took off for eter Hospital and arrived ust 0 minutes later

Did you know...

During 2015 we deployed to 1,059 incidents and assisted 806 patients.

Half of these incidents were medical emergences including 172 cardiac arrests.

49% Medical

of which >

27% Cardiac

of which >

16% Cardiac Arrest

Alan’s wife acted calmly and made the right decisions to ensure he received the best care quickly, could you do the same www.daat.org

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Secretary: Marcelle Connor

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Besshill Farm Shop was originally set up in the wake of the Foot and Mouth outbreak. It has since gone from strength to strength selling beef and lamb which is reared on the farm itself.

We also sell locally sourced pork and poultry and vegetables.

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

Free local deliveries can be arranged. Well worth a visit!

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Nursery | Pre School | Junior School | Senior School | Sixth Form

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Highway to Heaven The Devon stretch of the Atlantic Highway (A39) is packed with interesting things to do and outstanding places to visit. As it meanders from Barnstaple past Bideford and on to Hartland on its journey into Cornwall, it provides access to some fantastic beaches such as at Instow and Westward Ho!, award winning tourist attractions including the Big Sheep and the Milky Way, the iconic village of Clovelly and Hartland Point where there’s some of the most dramatic coastal scenery you’ll find anywhere in the South West.

A day’s outing may not be enough to take it all in but you’re sure to see enough to want to go back and fill in any gaps you may have missed. Our short 15 mile journey is going to take us from Bideford to Hartland Quay stopping off at Clovelly along the way. www.daat.org

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Bideford to Clovelly Bideford, the ‘Little White Town’ in Charles Kingsley’s novel Westward Ho! is rich in history and heritage. Located on the River Torridge, the town has long been associated with seafaring and maritime trade and is dominated by its fascinating quay with the delightful Victoria Park at one end and its famous 24 span, 222 metre Long Bridge at the other.

The bridge has stood in one form or another since the 13th century and today is a Grade I listed ancient monument. Until the opening of the towering Torridge Bridge on the Atlantic Highway, it was on the main route from North Devon to Cornwall.

Bideford Quay is also where you’ll find the ferry to Lundy Island. At right angles to the quay are a number of interesting streets with diverse shopping opportunities, a pannier marker, Butcher’s Row and plenty of cafés.

The Atlantic Highway now passes the road for Westward Ho! (the only town in England to be named after a novel and the only town with an exclamation mark after its name), past the all-weather family attraction that is The Big Sheep and onto a roundabout turning for Atlantic Village, a tempting precinct of factory shops, children’s amusements and cafés.

It’s hard to miss the picturesque part-thatched Grade II listed Hoops Inn & Country Hotel nestling in a dipped bend on the 26

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A39 before we reach a turn for Bucks Mills, a traditional fishing village on the South West Coastal Path within the splendidly named Parish of Woolfardisworthy. There is a steep walk to the beach where there’s an impressive waterfall.

Clovelly is known the world over, famous for its single cobbled and traffic free high street which tumbles down through tightly packed, whitewashed cottages to the harbour below and the welcoming sight of the Red Lion Pub for those that didn’t stop at the New Inn about half way down.

Hanging baskets and flower arrangements add touches of brilliance along the way which drops an astonishing 400ft in just half a mile. Goods are transported by the locals in hand drawn sledges and although the indigenous donkeys are no longer used as beasts of burden, children can still visit them and enjoy rides. Sensible footwear is essential for the uneven terrain which is unsuitable for wheelchairs except in the Clovelly Heritage Centre and shop. There is also is a Land Rover passenger service via a back road.

Unusually, the Clovelly Estate is still privately owned and is run by Hon. John Rous, a descendant of the Hamlyn family who have owned the village, estate and manor house Clovelly Court since 1738. The Estate’s policy of preserving the village (there are no holiday homes in the old village) has brought joy to generations of visitors. There is an admission charge but it will repay you with a lifelong memory. www.daat.org

Beautiful Devon

The Hartland Peninsula Before the Atlantic Highway heads off to Cornwall, we take a right hand turn and discover the remarkable topography of the Hartland Peninsula.

Hartland Point is the first stop and gives an immediate understanding of the power of nature, the savagery of the sea and the threat of jagged rocks and 330ft cliffs. This is where the Atlantic meets the Bristol Channel and where the obvious combined dangers of sea, wind and rock have merited a lighthouse since 1874. From the car park you can walk to the lighthouse to view Lundy Island in the distance, a rusting wreck which succumbed in 1982 and if you look hard enough, seals basking on the rocks.

Between the point and Hartland village lies Hartland Abbey & Gardens. Dating from the 12th century, the Abbey went into private hands after the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII and has never been sold since. It houses a fine collection of pictures, furniture and porcelain which have accumulated over many generations and boasts some splendid architectural features and outstanding gardens.

The Abbey has attracted much attention from film makers and

broadcasters including the Antiques Roadshow, BBC’s ‘Sense & Sensibility’ and, most recently BBC’s ‘The Night Manager’.

Passing through Hartland village where you’ll find several potteries and galleries, you can’t fail to notice the church tower of St. Nectan’s in Stoke. At 128 feet, it’s the tallest in North Devon.

On to Hartland Quay where hundreds of millions of years of natural history unfold before your eyes in the staggeringly powerful granite cliffs, compressed and layered rocks of sandstone and mudstone, some outcrops jutting claw-like into the sea. There are four car parks descending to sea level where there is a small museum, car parking, shops and a hotel with public bar and restaurant.

Here you’ll find some spectacular walking opportunities along the South West Coastal Path, some quite tough, others less so. A favourite is a 20 minute walk to from Hartland Quay to Spekes Mill Mouth with its famous 60 foot waterfall and long curving beach which was once voted The Times top secluded beach.

The Atlantic Highway takes in a truly wonderful stretch of coastline with something to interest just about everybody – history & heritage, fun and activities, great walking, wildlife and sightseeing, and unforgettable landscapes. A highway to heaven to be sure.

On to Hartland Quay where hundreds of millions of years of natural history unfold before your eyes in the staggeringly powerful granite cliffs

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GOLD

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Never stop learning…

Gardens

Sarah Chesters tells us why gardening is a lifelong love and introduces plants and shrubs that serve a double-purpose.

O

ne reason I love gardening is that you never stop learning.

A plant I have always loved for its spectacular and rather bizarre autumn berry colour is Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’ (quite a name!), also known as the beautyberry.

Callicarpa dichotoma is equally stunning, and they both have a mass of bright purple berries in late summer and into autumn.

However, this year I happened to walk past a shrub of it in full ower at S osemoor, and realised I’d only ever considered it for autumn berries. The owers are small but in large clusters and a lovely rich lilac colour – so unusual in a shrub. Plant a group of them in sun or partial shade for good pollination and therefore a mass of berries.

Another shrub which can give double the value is osa rugosa, with its rich rose oil scent and flower colours ranging from deep pink to white, which, come the autumn is covered in large, juicy red hips, which some children think are cherry tomatoes! It can also be useful as a very prickly and therefore impenetrable hedge and is usually trouble free with regard to pests and diseases, always a bonus in the south-west!

It doesn’t always have to be flowers and then berries. As the summer progresses into autumn the hot, fiery colours of herbaceous plants not only make our gardens really come alive, but later will also provide birds with a good source of seeds if you don’t cut the stems down too early. The hot garden at osemoor is always inspirational, with waves of ewel like Salvia uliginosa and S. leucantha

Salvia ‘Black and Blue’

colours from Monarda, Helenium, Gaillardia, Crocosmia, Agastache, Echinacea, Canna and Bidens. The salvias are a great favourite of mine too, many with lovely scent if you crush the leaves, and the range available for the gardener is now very wide. The blues are my favourite, from the rich royal blue Salvia guaranitica to sky-blue S.uliginosa and the very striking S. ‘Black and Blue’ – in a good autumn they will last until the first frosts.

We all have our likes and dislikes and some years ago I used to be very disparaging of the Hydrangea, until I saw a stunning display of white, blue and pink mopheads by the roadside.

So much colour, over a long period of time and then the dried flowerheads in autumn, all for very little effort. Some of the more woody white-flowered hydrangeas become tinged with pink as the flowers age – Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’ is a good one.

One of our most popular garden plants usually in summer, is the Clematis, yet if you choose the right species and cultivars you can have one flowering in your garden nearly all year round. Clematis ‘Bill Mackensie’ has delightful, nodding belllike flowers which are a rich Dahlia and Bidens yellow in colour and then provide a silvery and very silky shock of seedheads, which glisten in the late autumn sunshine.

So you see with a little thought there’s no excuse for a dull-looking garden later in the year, and to give you some more inspiration make sure you visit some of the gardens open for various charities. They will benefit and so will you!

Listen in to BBC Radio Devon every Sunday morning from 9.00 – 10.30am, when Sarah Chesters, from RHS Garden Rosemoor, will answer your gardening uestions on The Po ng Shed www.daat.org

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Understatedly sophisticated perfection

at Kit Heath Jewellery rom humble beginnings, melting down the family candlesticks to make earrings, Barnstaple based ewellery business it eath has gone from strength to strength. eeping it in the family, it works with his sister, atie.

How did your interest in jewellery start?

Kit: My interest in jewellery came from school where my metalwork teacher at Ashburton School showed my class how to cast and make jewellery. My mother’s silver candlesticks were my first supply of silver and it’s been silver ever since How do you break down the various roles in running the business?

Kit: We work around our individual strengths and weaknesses. I concentrate mainly on sales whilst Katie focuses on design and marketing and directs our management team in our North evon ead ce, where our distribution and marketing are based.

Katie divides her time between Devon and our design studio in London where our two designers work.

Katie: I am the annoying one behind any brand that commands perfection What are the advantages or disadvantages of it being a family run & owned business?

Katie: Advantages: you are your own boss. My father always said I was unemployable, being rather single minded and determined Family are your biggest fans - but also your biggest critics I have always considered a business is an e tension of yourself and re ects your standards and can creatively e press your style and taste and ideas. isadvantages you don’t stop working, thinking, worrying or creating outside of o ce’ hours.

How have things changed since your business started?

Kit: Early dealings with our far eastern factories were via telex whereas now it’s face time; stock control is now computeri ed and our social media accounts, acebook, Twitter and Pinterest, are essential to support brand awareness and sales. atie it eath was considered a pioneer in this industry for early adoption of digital systems to support e ceptional service, for e ample ne t day delivery, which had been unheard of.

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What are the biggest challenges you have had to face? it The uctuation of the price of silver, e change rates and several recessions over the years.

What is the design process? Do you always agree? atie to 8 months before our seasonal launches, design concepts are developed and initial sketches drawn, inspired by up and coming trends. These are transferred to computer aided design software. A collection is constructed to cover various price points for our core customer base, typically from for a pair of stylish everyday studs to 00 for a statement Torque hoker, so si e, weight and price of gemstones must be considered. it f course we don’t always agree I tend to prefer simple easy to gift and wear commercial pieces whilst atie is more edgy and tries pushing the boundaries - which makes for a good combination. Maintaining our British sense of style is paramount along with staying true to our values modern, classic silver, original British design, accessibly priced and understatedly sophisticated.

Why Devon?

Kit and Katie Kit: Devon is where I started the business.

We have a local loyal and dedicated workforce and besides, where better to bring up my family What advice would you give to a young designer wanting to start their own jewellery business? it ecide if you have the air, passion and work ethic for designing and/or making and concentrate on being both innovative and commercial, then go for it o We would like to thank Kit Heath for donating the beautiful bangle cuff, as awarded to fundraiser extraordinaire Mary Tractor’ Phillips on page 7

Thank you! www.daat.org

LOTTERY YOU FLUTTER WE FLY

ottery

Lottery winner buys new motorbike...

K

evin Gilbert from Holsworthy was more than happy to join our Lottery way back in February 2006. As a regular motorcyclist he recognised the value of the service and knew that his monthly subscription would help to keep the service going. He was even happier when, just one year later in February 00 , he won first pri e a fabulous 1, 0 evin was delighted to spend his winnings on a new motorbike.

Just a few months later, however, while out on his new bike, Kevin found himself in need of the Devon Air Ambulance when he was involved in a road traffic collision. As a car in front turned sharply across Kevin’s path, he knew in that split second that he was going to crash. He hit the rear passenger door, his left arm taking the impact, before momentum carried him and his bike through the air to the ground beyond.

Kevin’s friend, following behind on his own motorbike, saw the collision and feared the worst for Kevin. An ambulance crew were soon on the scene, followed by Devon Air Ambulance. Kevin, in a great deal of pain and drifting in and out of consciousness, remembers hearing voices around him.

His left arm was badly broken, with lacerations and nerve damage. Several fingers were also broken. Kevin was flown to Derriford Hospital where doctors warned him that his arm may need to be amputated. However, after a week in hospital with surgery to insert a metal plate in his upper arm, nerve transplants and skin grafts on a gouge on his forearm, Kevin gradually began to rebuild his strength.

It was not entirely plain sailing though, as having been given permission to return to the gym to start rebuilding muscle tone, xrays at a check up revealed that the metal plate had moved necessitating further surgery including a bone graft. evin, an engineer at the time, was unable to work for 1 months and finally returned to work having been offered a new role in the same company. He is still very grateful to the people who helped save his arm. “I really feared that I would lose my arm altogether; it felt as if it was just about to fall off. Knowing that the time saved by being flown to hospital ultimately saved my arm is very humbling and I’m really grateful to everyone concerned.” o

Kevin and his son

A huge thank you to our lottery members who together are making an incredible contribution to our operation! We are grateful to you all for joining us on this journey through the years, and look forward to our next milestone. If you fancy a flutter, join via the form overleaf! www.daat.org

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ottery

Devon Air Ambulance Trust o ery orm Please complete this form, plus Section A or B to advise us how you wish to pay.

Please return this form to DAAT o ery, 5 Sandpiper Court, Harrington ane, Exeter, E

NS NOT O

AN

I confirm all members are 16 years of age or over.

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If you would like to hear from us please tick this box If you prefer to hear from us by email please tick here Responsible person, C Creer of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, 5 Sandpiper Court, Harrington ane, Exeter, EX4 8NS. The Devon Air Ambulance Trust is the official ottery promoter and is licensed by the ambling Commission, no 000-0005032-N-308657-001 www gamblingcommission gov u

HP0 16

Mother Champions Lifesaving Techniques

Patient Story

A mother raises £1,000 to say thank you to Devon Air Ambulance for saving her son’s life

O

n 1 th ay last year Bradley lde suffered a cardiac FC, Sharon organised a ‘Life Saving Day’ to stress the arrest. He was only 20 at the time and was out jogging, importance of CPR and the priority of having a community preparing for a test to go into the Royal Navy. Thankfully, a defibrillator and how to use it properly. More than 100 people neighbour called while applying P to Brad, a first aid attended her fundraising event and together they raised procedure that obviously saved his life. £1,000. Sharon wanted to thank the 3 charities He stopped breathing for 8 minutes, that helped her son, donating £500 to the Devon challenging his life. A land ambulance Air Ambulance and the rest split between CRY crew arrived along with a Devon (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and the Martyn Air Ambulance; paramedics used a Luckett Trust who provide heart screening for debribillator and Brad was airlifted to young adults. erriford ospital. Suffering from a Brad’s mum also reported her son’s amazing serious brain injury, he remained in a story to DAA to thank them for saving Brad’s coma for three weeks. When he woke life. They were both invited to visit the Charity’s up, he had to re-learn everything: how airbase where they met the aircrew, to whom to talk, walk and feed himself. He was they presented their cheque. Brad was very in hospital for a total of 4 months. happy to meet the people who helped him Since then his mum, Sharon, has on that terrible day. We are still in touch with Brad presenting a cheque to Nigel Hare. DAAT Operations Director been highlighting how life-saving CPR Sharon who told us that ‘Brad is making a (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is and marvellous recovery and we have got our son the importance of first aid procedures. She is also fighting to back more than we could have ever imagined.’ She continues raise awareness of cardiac arrests among young people. to support us as much as she can because ‘you never know On 24th January this year, with the help of Morwenstowe when you will need them – after all, we didn’t!’ o

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

33

A Taste of Summer It’s time to break into those lovely ’s by the beach, fire up the charcoal and perhaps dodge a shower or two!!

W

ell, I’m sure by now we are all aware that summer has reluctantly come to the seasonal table; the crack of leather on willow, the thwack of tennis balls on racquets and the polite clink of ice in Pimms as well as the unmistakeable aroma of luscious foods cooked (though more often cremated) on the barbecue.

The seas are now teeming with summer bounty, great crabs and lobsters, wonderful shiny mackerel, and beautiful flatfish from the sandbanks scattered around our coast.

Take the humble Brill; a king of flatfish. Buy a good 1.52kg fish, deeply score both sides, season with a little salt and pepper, some olive oil and then bake in a preheated 210°c oven for about 20 minutes until just cooked, place in the middle of the table with some buttered new potatoes, an English garden salad and a glass of something cold and voila!

Food fit for kings!

There has been some wonderful lamb about although pricey at times; a whole leg butterflied (your butcher will do this for you, but have a go if you can) rubbed with lots of rosemary, sea salt and garlic and then cooked gently over the embers of a controlled BBQ is a true delight.

The good old runner bean is nearly ready, just lightly steamed with a soft poached egg and some crispy bacon makes a fantastic light supper!

This is the time that Devon’s Larder really comes into its own, those first really outdoor strawberries with such an exquisite aroma, only needing the light touch of rich Devon clotted cream or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and basil for the more adventurous to compliment this great British fruit.

I’ve just started picking my first Loganberries, a superb fruit bigger than the raspberry with a bit more kick, and really gives a fantastic crop, super in a fool or, as I am going to do,

The good old runner bean is nearly ready, just lightly steamed with a soft poached egg and some crispy bacon makes a fantastic light supper! jam them down with a little blackcurrant liqueur ready for those long winter days to be opened and enjoyed.

Summer time is about sharing great food together and not spending hours in the kitchen, lots of big sharing platters, cheeseboards bulging at the seams (a bit like my waistline too often!) bowls of soft berries and stone fruits ready to be picked up and nibbled at will.

A great foodie activity that I think we have all really forgotten about is the fantastic pick your own farms. It’s a sure way to get the children involved and if you take a picnic, after you’re finished you can retire to the beach and indulge in the benefit of your hard work. Growing up in Plymouth we used to go to a farm just outside Kingsbridge in West Charleton, and I’m sure the farmer should have weighed us let alone the fruits in our basket, the amount we used to consume, although we soon learnt that gooseberries and currants were a little tart to say the least!

For this issue’s recipe I have chosen a pud which is easy to do, a bit of fun and I think encompasses all that summer and Devon has to offer; the seasons change much too fast to be tied to the stove so get out there and enjoy Devon at its finest! o

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Devon Food

Strawberry, Pimms and Popping Candy Roulade Ingredients For the sponge 3 large eggs 85g golden caster sugar 125g self raising flour, sifted 15g melted butter 1 tsp vanilla extract or the seeds of 1 pod For the filling 110g clotted cream 100g mascarpone cheese 30g caster sugar ½ vanilla pod seeds 30ml Pimms or equivalent 100g strawberries finely chopped To decorate 100g whole strawberries cut in half 100g raspberries or logan berries 200ml double cream, whipped until stiff 15g popping candy

Method Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 Grease and line a 30 x 24cm Swiss roll tin with non-stick paper.

Put the eggs and sugar into a large bowl and beat with electric beaters until thick and light, about 5 minutes. Fold in the flour and baking powder, then the vanilla Tip into the tin, tilt to level the mix, then bake for 12-15 mins until golden and just springy. Turn onto another sheet of paper, dusted with 1 tbsp caster sugar Roll the paper up inside the sponge, then leave to cool completely. Sponge can be frozen for up to 1 month.

To fill, fold the clotted cream, sugar and mascarpone together with the vanilla, add the diced strawberries and keep cold Open up the sponge roll and drizzle with the Pimms, then liberally spread the filling over the whole surface of the sponge.

Roll gently back together and decorate with the whipped cream, berries and popping candy.

This goes great with a glass of Pebblebed sparkling rose!

English Sparkling is now a match for some of the best Champagnes - why not visit Pebblebed’s vineyard and winery near Topsham, recognised as one of England’s top vineyards. Guided tours and wine tasting experiences are held on Thursdays and Saturdays until September and their wine tasting experience vouchers make great gifts for wine lovers.

Check out www.pebblebed.co.uk for more details.

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

35

Small steps lead to

BIG SUCCESS elipad talks to

eter hiefs’

ead oach, ob Ba ter

H

aving been promoted to the Allied Dunbar Premiership Division 2 for the 97/98 season, Exeter Rugby Club struggled in their first e perience in rugby’s second tier and only avoided relegation because the league system was restructured.

They lost their last home game against former club Wakefield and then lost the last two away games of the season to Bedford and otherham.

Back then eter played in the St Thomas area of eter at the historic but creaky ounty round. ow times have changed.

A rebrand to Exeter Chiefs, the fortuitously timed sale of the ounty round, the move to state of the art Sandy Park in 00 and an outstanding commercial vision have made the club profitable and competitive and enabled the hiefs to turn into a real force in uropean rugby.

With steady but impressive momentum, the hiefs knocked on the door of the Premiership season after season finishing in a heart breaking second place but eventually winning against all the odds by beating Bristol in the 010 hampionship play offs.

Since then, they have improved their league standing year on year, tasted victory in uropean rugby, won the up and last season came within 8 points of becoming hampions of ngland losing 8 0 to Saracens in the play off final at Twickenham.

The club is heralded as the real deal who play at a fantastic stadium, which attracts family groups and women, and that rocks when 1 ,000 chant the infamous Tomahawk hop’. The club can also boast a hard core of international players and be very proud that 1 went on summer tours this year playing for ngland, ngland Sa ons, Wales, Scotland, Italy and Tonga. ow times have changed indeed Apart from the commercial nous of hief ecutive Tony owe B and his team, who have provided the wherewithal for the playing side to prosper, there is one man whose influence has been greater than anyone’s and has been involved in every facet of the hiefs’ progress over the last 0 years ob Ba ter. ob comes from an eter ugby lub dynasty. is father, uncle and younger brother all captained the club while ob played for 1 years in the eter second row, 10 of them as captain. is calm authority shone through when he led the team on the pitch but, since assuming the role of ead oach in 00 , it began to glow incandescently with the year old impressing his peers sufficiently to win the 011 1 irector of the ear award at the Aviva Premiership awards and go on to oin the ngland coaching team for the 01 summer tour to Argentina and Uruguay. ow did he do it ob spoke with elipad ust before pre season training commenced We had to be patient in building the business model based around the rugby. We knew funding

would improve if we stayed in the Premiership and we were confident that Sandy Park would grow as a business. It allowed us to bring in senior internationals like ean umm and eoff Parling. It allowed us to develop our academy players and see them come through to ngland U 0 and decide to stay here and become full ngland internationals. anny recruitment has played a large role in the hiefs’ development with Ba ter having to cut his cloth according to the available budget.

At first we spent a lot of time putting a squad together at the right level budget wise. Now we spend the same amount of time looking at how we can add to the squad we’ve got. So in addition to improving the players we already have here, we target at least one or two specific players year on year that will bump us up and we have to start that process really early.

Success has, in part, been attributed to a special culture, a hiefs way of doing things, but ob takes a more pragmatic view.

People ask how we udge a player’s character here but the truth is there isn’t any real secret to it. es there are phone calls, recommendations and the odd meeting but we spend a lot of time watching them play and if you study them in detail and watch enough games I think you know the kind of character they are.

We encourage them to be their own men, develop their own characters and look at what they can do on the rugby field. We always assume we can add to that.

Some players will be better in their second year more at home with pre season and the way we do things, settling into the area and making friends, getting on with the coaches and trusting what we say.

When I started the ob I spent a lot of time thinking about how not to overstretch the players and not raise e pectations to unnecessary levels. Now I’m prepared to challenge them limitlessly whereas before we were setting e pectations. I don’t want any player walking off the training pitch having not done enough.

People often say to me that I must wake up sometimes pinching myself to see the transformation in the club since the ounty round days. In reality it’s not like that. There have been lots of little steps that have allowed us to be where we are now.

Apart from a short summer holiday, occasional family surfing in North evon, a walk into eter with his wife for a meal, time on the family farm and, of course, watching rugby as a fan, there’s little time to rela in ob Ba ter’s world. e said It would be very easy to sit here and tell you

1 went on summer tours this year playing for England, England Saxons, Wales, Scotland, Italy and Tonga.

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Interview

about all the tough bits, all the hours you have to put in, all the work you have to do and all the stress that comes with it. But if asked – do you not want to be Exeter Chiefs Head Coach – that’s the last thing I’d say.

“It’s a bit like being a farmer. When you choose to be a farmer, it’s not only your livelihood but your hobby, your passion and it’s what you want to do. The work you put in gets you benefits down the line. When your day’s work is done it’s not a case of locking up and going home. It’s more than a job. It’s a way of life and everyone at the Chiefs has signed up to it.” o

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Operations

We’re almost there…

This summer our pilots and paramedics continue to train in readiness for night ying, despite the long, light evenings, and we are still on target to provide our service in the hours of darkness from October. Operations Director, Nigel Hare, brings us up to date with progress hilst communities have been wor ing hard fundraising and developing their Community anding Sites the operational team have been developing the processes that will enable us to start operating during the hours of dar ness I reported in a previous edition of Helipad how one of our aircra would be modified to enable it to land at night at these Community anding Sites. Following those modifications and the procurement of night vision goggles, the pilots and paramedics have been training to enable them to become proficient in their use. During the lighter summer months we are concentrating on the development of our operating procedures and incorporating them into our service whilst ying in daylight. As the nights start to draw in we will extend our training to later in the day so that, in the run up to autumn, our service will be ready for a formal assessment of our night operations procedures by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

An inspector will observe our processes, accompany us on a simulated incident, including us landing at a Community anding

Site, and based on this will make a udgement on whether to approve our service to operate at night. Having worked closely with the CAA at every step of our development, and incorporating some industry firsts to enhance the safety of our service, we are confident we will be helping patients during the hours of darkness from October.

Extending our operating hours to cover an even greater period of the day means that we need additional operational team members and we have over recent months recruited two new pilots and four new paramedics. Although highly experienced paramedics, they are new to air ambulance operations and are currently enrolled on an intensive training period to familiarise them with the aviation operating environment. Over the next 12 months they will be working alongside and being mentored by one of our existing paramedics during daylight shi s before they oin the most experienced members of the aircrew in the more challenging environment of ying, landing and treating patients in the dark.

Extending our operating hours to cover an even greater period of the day means that we need additional operational team members

Pilot Howard Roe

Pilot Ross White

Paramedic Alex Sanders-Page

Paramedic ee Hilton

Paramedic Nick Ratcliff

Paramedic Mark Hodkinson

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Jumbleberry Jam

Fundraisers

a real taste of summer Barbara Wesley, from Combe near Kingsbridge, has been an amazing supporter of the Devon Air Ambulance for many years now and has raised more than £13,500 for the Charity by selling her homemade marmalade, jams and preserves.

Fundraising started in April 2009 when a traffic jam formed outside her ‘Old Walls’ home and Barbara’s grand-daughter raised £25 from selling her Grandy’s prize-winning* homemade marmalade to drivers and passers-by of the Vintage Car and Aeroplane Show at nearby Soar Mill. (*Barbara’s Three Fruits Marmalade has won silver in the International Marmalade Competition no less than 5 times!)

Within the same year, her reputation grew as she raised £300 from selling Old Walls Preserves from her front gate and sales have grown magnificently year on year.

In 2012 Barbara started selling her homemade cakes and muffins as well, and funds reached the amazing sum of £5,000 in 2015!

Barbara explained, “With a campsite just up the road, we get a lot of regular customers who come back year after year. They pick muffins up on their way to the beach and jam or cakes on their way back.

We’ve had customers who regularly buy preserves to take home as gifts and one couple bought 14 jars to give as home-made wedding

favours to their guests for their wedding in Sweden!”

Having run a Bed & Breakfast for many years, Barbara is still happily cooking and baking every day making mouth-watering cakes and conserves. She said, “Cooking is my hobby and my passion. I still follow recipes taught to me by my Grandmother and one of the most popular jars is still the traditional apple and blackberry ‘bramble jelly’. Another is what I call jumbleberry – “a taste of summer fruits”.

Barbara has definitely been a great supporter and has greatly helped our service. We cannot thank her enough for all the money she has raised!

Barbara and her husband visiting the airbase

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

Get in touch!

www.daat.org

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

39

onday 1 th January 01 .

A day that changed my life...

Two years after a life changing accident, patient Nigel olmes finally felt ready to put down in words his memory of the day. ur thanks go to Nigel, who wrote this moving account

Main picture: Nigel at work in the Barnstaple shop Inset: Suggs

T

here I was, just driving along, having just left Winkleigh en route to Exeter. I saw in my mirror that one of the vans behind me had re ective striping and a badge. Two more vans were in front of me, both larger transit type si e.

I have a memory of seeing a blue car coming around a corner on a hill further ahead and seeing it twitch’; I remember thinking they were lucky . y ne t vision of this car was it appearing out of nowhere and it was heading straight at me.

A split second later and the biggest bang I have ever had the displeasure of hearing; I knew it was that blue car’. verything wrapped around me, trapping me in one position, smoke and dust from the airbag filled the air, all forms of orientation had gone apart from the friendly lady trapped

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between the windscreen and the dashboard repeating at the ne t available opportunity please turn around I looked over at the passenger side, hoping to see signs of life, but sadly my month old lurcher puppy was motionless, but with such a beautiful grin on his face, so peaceful in a small space of total carnage, an image that will stay with me forever.

RIP Suggs.

Then I felt a form of panic overcoming me, the smoke and dust haven’t cleared .... is the car alight I try to wriggle my toes, I can’t see my legs and have no feeling in my right leg though my left leg seems ok. I move my right arm which is wedged between the steering wheel still in my hand and a door that is pushed into my seat. y arm seems considerably www.daat.org

Patient Story

shorter than I remember and I have no feeling in it whatsoever. Trapped and useless, probably the worst feeling I have ever had.

Suddenly a face appears from the right and speaks to me. oincidentally, I recognise the face from years back, it’s Neil, the hief ire fficer at Bideford. I’d worked with him at an engineering works for a while. Talk about a story he was choking one day at lunch on an apple and I helped him out with the eimlich maneouver, and now here he was saving me, talking and asking questions to keep me conscious. is colleague, a firefighter in Bideford, appeared at the passenger door, which thankfully opened. y first reaction and words were not to step on Suggs, who was laid out in the passenger footwell. e picked up Suggs with such care, as if handling a glass statue, and laid him on the grass. e supported my head and continued to reassure and talk to me, even though I was finding it harder to stay awake, I just wanted to sleep.

I also remember a fella from a van in front of me helping out; he was St Johns Ambulance trained. Then I realised, here I am in the middle of nowhere and I have the luck of two emergency personnel and someone trained in first aid all in our little convoy travelling down a evon country road. This wasn’t to be the end of my luck…

The fire brigade from North Tawton arrived and straight away set to work trying to access and release me. I remember them starting to cut the driver’s door off, and me saying to one of the crew that they may need to hold my arm as I was sure it was in pieces and would probably fall on the floor. So with the brute force and power of the aws of life working away around me, one of the crew supported my arm.

Then I heard the familiar sound of a helicopter; in my previous life I had been a trainee Aircraft Technician in the working on helicopters each different helicopter has its own tune and whilst this wasn’t one I recognised I knew it was a helicopter.

In what seemed like no time there was a octor beside me. y ne t bit of luck was that, at the time, the Air Ambulance only had a doctor once a week and today was that day someone was looking down on me with a favourable smile. It didn’t take long for him to assess me and I was put under a heavy anaesthetic. Lights out for me.

Then another funny memory stays with me; out of the blue I remember coming around and giving the paramedic in the helicopter a bit of a fright, I suddenly came round and said we must be landing .... errr, yes, how do you know was the reply

Meeting paramedic Chris Saunders

.... the bloody helicopter is shaking itself to bits .... and back off to sleep I go. This is a characteristic of most helicopters, they do rattle a tad on take off and landing, something I remember from my Army days The ne t few weeks involved operations, induced comas, hallucinations and much hard work by the staff at erriford ospital.

I know how lucky I’ve been, I have seen the photos of my car and a funny thing is, by trade, I was a consultant motor engineer carrying out vehicle damage assessments; I have seen vehicles a lot less damaged where people have not been as lucky as me. any thanks to all the services involved, especially AAT, who were involved on that day and after from not only myself but also from my family.

I am still on the mend but getting there slowly and now have the pleasure of helping out at the Barnstaple shop a couple hours a week as part of my rehabilitation. o

Everything wrapped around me, trapping me in one position, smoke and dust from the airbag filled the air, all forms of orientation had gone - apart from the friendly lady trapped between the windscreen and the dashboard repeating at the ne t available opportunity please turn around www.daat.org

The remains of Nigel’s car

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Devon People

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

There are always loads of events and activities taking place around the county and our thanks go to ALL our fundraisers. Here are just a few…

After daughter Olivia was airlifted, mum Veronique Lafontaine enjoys the Warrior Adrenalin Race

p After her dad was airlifted, Amy Catley (left) and her friends completed the Grizzly Run in March and raised over £3,000.

Bridgerule Open Gardens have raised over £10,000 for us in recent years - thanks everyone!

Christy Bartlett took part in the 100 mile Lionheart Sportive at Longleat and raised a whopping £1,166.89

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Bob Carter took part in the London Marathon this April and raised over £2,000 in sponsorship!

Axe Valley Pony Club enjoy their novelty charity race, raising funds for DAAT

www.daat.org

Colyton’s David Clarke raised £229 from sales of his book of light verse and poetry, entitled Old Man.

Fundraisers

The Jarvis Family donate £2,500 in memory of a much loved dad and grandad, Mike.

p Mother and daughter team, Sarah and Rebecca Cox took part in the Plymouth Half Marathon and between them raised £561.42

In May Sam Durston and Jane Buchan took on the London2Brighton Challenge, a 100km walk, between them they raised over £2,500. p Jenny Hopper (pictured foreground) also ran the London Marathon and raised over £1,500. Fab selfie, Jenny!

Luppitt Players donate £1,000 following their successful 2016 Panto! www.daat.org

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Sisters Frankie and Katie Spry, from Dousland near Yelverton, walked 100 miles across Devon Coast to Coast and raised over £1000 – well done gals!

Some of the staff from Specsavers Tavistock and their family members did a 28 mile sponsored bike ride and raised £113.16

p Thanks to Roxane Gutteridge who, as part of Goodleigh Wolfpack, completed this year’s Three Peaks Challenge and raised over £500. Next stop for Roxy is Kilimanjaro!

Goodleigh Wolfpack reach the summit of Ben Nevis, despite the fog!

p The team at Howden’s Joinery Exeter took part in the Rock Solid Race this March and raised over £1,300. Up to 45 obstacles challenged the Howden’s Joinery team in this year’s race 44

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Did you know:- if you are planning an event for Devon Air Ambulance you can download our Fundraising Pack, it’s full of great advice and tips!

Go to www.daat.org/fundraising-for-us

Get in touch! www.daat.org

Hot on the heels of the adults!

Junior Crew

We are always so impressed when our young supporters go out of their way to participate in activities and organise events to raise funds for Devon Air Ambulance.

Here are just a few of the fundraising activities they’ve been involved with this spring…

p 11 year old Josh Withey, from Cullompton, pictured with his sister Georgia, organised a Lads V Dads football match and cake sale at his local football club, as well as taking part in the Children’s Torbay Triathlon. To date Josh has raised £1,150 and he has even enquired about volunteering in one of our shops – good on you, Josh.

p Sparkle for Samuel appeal continues to grow…

Following the tragic death of 10 year old Samuel Crocker last year, his 10 year old cousin Lily Keenor has boosted the funds raised in his memory.

Lily, who attends Landscore Primary School in Crediton, just as Samuel did, ran the Exeter Children’s Half Marathon and, so far, has raised £351.38 for the Sparkle for Samuel appeal in aid of Devon Air Ambulance.

Teacher Mr Williams helped by taking a group of students out running most weeks and Headteacher Mr Read helped to promote the Just Giving page in the school news letter and assemblies.

Charley Fowler from Bovey Tracey took part in Rock Solids Little Rock Stars race with his friend Harry and raised £187.14. The 2km race included obstacles of all shapes and sizes and plenty of mud! www.daat.org

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Charity of the Year opportunities for A

e are delighted that so many businesses, associations and clubs choose to nominate Devon Air Ambulance as their Charity of the ear This support enables companies to organise any number of events and activities throughout the year with the single aim of raising as much money as they can for their chosen charity The great thing about this from an employer’s point of view is that colleagues can participate in whatever suits them best, be it ma ing cupca es for a ca e sale and co ee morning or throwing themselves out of a plane in a s ydive, or running a marathon e would li e to than E E business for their fundraising and please remember that we will help in whatever way we can to support your e orts Here are ust a few Since their first fundraising activity for us back in 2005, Helpful Holidays have already raised over ,000 and have nominated us again as their Charity of the Year for 2016. One very simple idea they adopt is to invite their customers to make a small donation at the time of booking their holiday. They also organise an annual cream tea and charity cricket match’, where their team play an Invitation 11 and which, this year, raised a further 1, 00.

to be involved

Before...

Exeter niversity Benchball’ students organised and took part in a variety of events over the past year, including a Christmas Ball, two Rock Solid races and the Bath Half Marathon. They also helped marshall and volunteered at various events.

After

The Seaton office of solicitors eviss and ec ingsale started fundraising by donating a percentage from Wills when they were written during their spring and autumn promotions and they now hold an annual uiz night in Seaton Town Hall. i a

aste from Newton Abbot have raised £782.

Newton Abbot and reendale depots of iridor have raised 1,060 through their charity reward scheme.

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Business Support The Broadway Shopping Centre in Plymstock nominated us as Charity of the Year 2016 and, so far, they have raised £720 at an auction and also held a celebration party for the HRH ueen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday.

Golfers were entertained at Bideford Round Table’s Golf Day this year when Paul Harrington dazzled them with this olf Trick Show and the day raised £1,586.26.

Grateful thanks go to Masons King for collecting donations at their ator Ride experience at this year’s Devon County Show everybody who had a go loved it and they raised nearly £1,000!

ast, but definitely not least, we would like to thank Vospers Mazda for their continuing support of our rand Summer Draw. Once again, at shows and events around the county this summer, you will see our brand new Mazda 2 that you could win for ust 1. The draw will take place at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival on 25th September but you have to be in it to win it!

All businesses around the county are invited to take part in our Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday 25th September at Exeter uay. You can book your own boat, with 16 paddlers and a drummer, or oin forces with another team to make up a boat. This is a great team-building event! www.daat.org

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Operations

or ing with communities to develop a networ of night landing sites Devon Air Ambulance are helping communities throughout Devon to establish local surveyed oodlit landing sites that will enable us to bring our life saving service to them right through to midnight The Operations team at DAAT are currently wor ing with over seventy communities, in towns and villages across the whole county To date the potential night landing sites include sports pitches and playing elds and community owned open spaces such as recreation grounds and par s DAAT Community Helipads Development Officer, Toby ussell, said We have had a fantastic response from communities across Devon and are extremely grateful to all those people and organisations who have offered their facilities or land for the Air Ambulance to use at night.

Deciding on what will make the best landing site can be straigh orward for those communities where at open land is in short supply. In other communities, however, there are a range of sites to choose from and we then need to take into consideration factors such as proximity to the main population, vehicle and pedestrian access as well as the practicalities and costs of developing lighting solutions.

One aspect that has become very clear from our recent work is that many of our communities are facing changes with the planned growth in new housing and this means we need to factor in how a landing site might best give us access to that community both now and in the future.

Developing a networ of surveyed landing sites During the development of a night landing site, DAAT staff carry out a survey of each plot. This involves measuring and recording the size and shape of the landing area as well as the height and proximity of potential hazards such as buildings and trees. That information is used to create a unique landing site form which is then added to our directory of landing sites in Devon.

This is a really important part of our approach to night time ying and essentially means that the pilots and crew know what a site looks like prior to their arrival said Toby. This will help to reduce the inherent risks involved and speed up the process of the Air Ambulance landing there. Each community landing site will be re-surveyed annually to ensure our information remains accurate.

During site visits we also collect useful information on the location of nearby roads, car parks, gateways and paths that lead to/from a site. This helps build a picture’ for our crews indicating where and how a land ambulance might access the designated area and how the paramedics can leave the site to reach someone in the community.

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

Operating the lights All community landing sites need to have lighting in place to illuminate the landing area and assist paramedics during the assessment and loading of a patient into the aircra .

The ability to remotely control the lighting systems is essential and means no one needs to be on hand in the event of an emergency.

To facilitate this, each lighting system will incorporate a SM switch’, set within the power feed of the lights, which will be operated via a mobile phone SIM card. Toby Russell went on to explain In practice, a call is put into the SM unit by the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) dispatch team which then icks’ the connection and turns the lights on. A er the aircra has le the site, another call is made and the lights are turned off.

This technology is easy to programme and means we can both control the lights at a site and also the SM unit can send texts back to the users, for example, to tell them when the lights are being operated or to report that the system is functioning. Clearly we will need a mobile phone signal at the landing site and during the initial phase of working with a community I will be looking at which mobile phone company offers the strongest signal and then we can install the relevant SIM card.

ob Mac ie, Safety Manager at DAAT, carrying out a landing site survey

www.daat.org

e ng involved in developing your community landing site The saying the more the merrier’ is very ng when it comes to establishing a networ of community landing sites The more people that get involved with galvanising local support, fundraising and promotion the sooner we will be able to land a er dar If you would li e to nd out which communities we are wor ing with and see if there’s a site being developed in or near your community, please go to www daat org nigh light y clic ing on the icon you can locate your local community champion’ and nd out how you can o er your time or s ills to get a night landing site set up near you

If you would like to find out more, or discuss how your community might start to develop its own community landing site please contact our Community Helipads Development Officer Toby Russell on t.russell daat.org or 07943 207673.

www.daat.org

Helipad

The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

49

Back Chat

To infinity and beyond...

Well-known broadcaster and DAAT Patron, David FitzGerald, travels afar for the sake of marital harmony. ell, it is good to be bac in Devon The doctor has chec ed me for scurvy and malaria a er a recent trip and I am glad to say that all is well e had a li le excursion a few wee s ago a er a party invitation came through the post A friend was turning y, so why not, let’s celebrate the big day The enemy, the good lady wife, replied stating that we were coming and then we promptly forgot about it However, a few days before the event, I as ed where we were going?

‘Blakeney,’ said the wife.

‘Blakeney?’, I enquired.

‘Blakeney in Gloucester?’

‘No…..Blakeney in Norfolk….north Norfolk!’

‘How far north in north Norfolk?’

‘North,’ she replied and then vanished.

I looked on the map and she wasn’t kidding.

This part of north Norfolk would have been better described geographically as south Denmark.

Anyway, seven hours and thirty five minutes later we ran out of Great Britain and arrived at Blakeney, or rather a green square on the Sat Nav as for the past four hours it had tried to take us to Blakeney in Gloucester and refused to acknowledge that this small fishing community existed.

Anyhow, the journey home was a deligh ul affair, another seven hours and thirty five minutes. At one point we passed a sign for an airport and I was reminded that in the past I have made it to America fi y minutes quicker Hunger and desperation set in around Buckinghamshire or Kent or Caithness. The Sat Nav was playing up….so the enemy suggested dropping in for a burger. The very next bend provided a burger oint and we slipped in for a once a year McWotnot and chips.

‘Order me a kid’s meal,’ said the good lady wife as she has

Home

never liked the great festering burgers sold by this establishment. I’ll be in, in a minute.’ I le her in the car park fumbling for her cigarettes. To be honest a er seven hours and thirty five minutes I was thinking about taking up smoking myself.

The assistant smiled and took my order.

McWotnot and chips for me with water and a cheese burger children’s meal.’

‘What drink would you like with that?

Black coffee please.’

The assistant raised an eyebrow and looked over the counter for a child. Black coffee ’ ‘Yes!’ ‘With a children’s meal?’

‘Yes…..I could check but she’s outside havin’ a fag! ...she loves black coffee.’

The look of horror was a picture so I added….

‘She’s seven.’

I very nearly didn’t get served.

Thankfully the enemy arrived and I was told to sit down in the corner and play with the toy.

Anyway, I arrived back in my beloved county ust in time for The Devon Air Ambulance awards. It was great to meet the many faces and put names to people who do so much for this fine organisation. And ust to hammer home the point of just how vital the air ambulance is, when I finally got back to my house that evening, the familiar sound of those blades came low over my roof and landed in the park directly behind me, saving a neighbour.

Blakeney

Anyway, seven hours and thirty ve minutes later we ran out of reat ritain and arrived at la eney, or rather a green square on the Sat Nav as for the past four hours it had tried to ta e us to la eney in loucester

50

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The Official Devon Air Ambulance Trust Magazine

Spea soon

Fitz

www.daat.org

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