Beeline: Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Magazine, Spring 2016

FEATURE
eeline
Registered Charity
1078685
The Official Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Magazine
1
We help save lives, one day it could be yours
Spring 2016 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

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foreword
Welcome
ooking out of my office on a very
L
wet February morning, it’s hard to
believe that spring is just around
the corner. Mind you, with so much to look
forward to this year, the months will soon
fly by and we are frantically ticking off our
list of ‘things to do’. Roger Morgan, our new
Chairman of Trustees, makes a very good point
of listing some of these in his piece on page 8.
As well as the normal hustle and bustle of
any year in the life of Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance, this year we have an incredible
range of things happening that will have a
huge positive impact on all our beneficiaries.
A doctor and paramedic critical care team on
all our shifts, a major upgrade to our hangar,
to include a clinical training facility and, of
course, the new helicopter.
All this needs money and thanks to the
generosity of the people of Dorset and
Somerset, we will be able to go on improving
and delivering an air ambulance service of
which we can all be proud.
Sadly, this year, we have seen some quite
shocking fundraising activities on the part of
some very well-known charities and I felt that
I might take this opportunity to set the record
straight with regard to our own fundraising.
Firstly you should know that we have never
purchased lists of potential donors and that
personal information you share with us is only
used by us for accounting purposes, to thank
donors and to keep our supporters up to date
with how their donations are helping to make
a difference. We do not send letters to existing
donors asking them to contribute more and we
will cease all correspondence with supporters
the minute it is requested.
We have reviewed all our fundraising
activities to ensure that we continue to
treat our donors with absolute respect and
that we conform to the highest standards of
fundraising behaviour.
We currently have more than 82,000
members of our Flight for Life Lottery, which
represents a significant proportion of the
Dorset and Somerset population and makes us
one of the most successful society lotteries in
the country. However, with members dropping
out every week (moving away, financial
difficulties and passing away) we must keep
canvassing for new members to replace them.
This requires significant effort and we do
it by a mixture of in-store and door-to-door
canvassing. All our canvassers wear easily
identifiable clothing and carry identification,
however, we do not believe that current
national guidance goes quite far enough and
now apply our own standards to the way in
which our canvassers work.
We are particularly conscious of vulnerable
adults in all our communities who might
unwittingly give their consent to payments
they cannot really afford. To that end, we have
committed to avoid any canvassing in sheltered
communities and our canvassers have recently
undergone training as ‘Dementia Friends’.
Read more about this on page 14.
We have been so pleased with this approach
that we are planning to extend this training
to include all our fundraising staff and
volunteers. As well as being known for our
clinical excellence, we also want to be known
as leaders when it comes to fundraising
standards. We think it’s the least you deserve.
All that remains is for me to say that I hope
you enjoy this issue of Beeline. As you have
come to expect, it has articles covering a huge
range of topics. Some you will find informative,
others you might find inspirational.
If you have had personal experience of the
air ambulance as a patient, I hope that it will
encourage you to share your story so that we
can share it with others. Please also get in
touch if you have any ideas for possible articles
to include in the future.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Bill Sivewright
Chief Executive,
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Published by:
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance,
Landacre House, Castle Road,
Chelston Business Park,
Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JQ.
Tel: +44 (0) 1823 669604
Email: info@dsairambulance.org.uk
www.dsairambulance.org.uk
Registered Charity Number: 1078685
Editor: Tracy Bartram
Assistant editor: Lara Lucas
Designer: Anthony Collins
Production editor: Claire Manuel
Front cover: Michelle Walker
© 2016. The entire contents of this publication are
protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by
any means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior permission
of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
(DSAA). The reproduction of advertisements in this
publication does not in any way imply endorsement
by DSAA of products or services referred to therein.
BAMBOO HOUSE
PUBLISHING
For advertising queries, please contact
Bamboo House Publishing Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1225 331023
www.bamboohouse.co.uk
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 3

CONTENTS
Contents
3 Welcome
A letter from the Chief Executive
12
WHO WE ARE
6 About us
What we do and why we are needed
7 Your helicopter heroes
Pictures of our crew
8 A word from the Trustees
Welcome to our new Chairman of Trustees,
Roger Morgan, and fond farewell to staff member
Janet Gibbs
8 Our mission, vision and values
DSAA mission statement
9 Profile
Meet Dr Phil Hyde
WHAT WE DO
11 Statistics
Essential facts and figures on the vital work
of the air ambulance
12 Clinical update
We make the transition to providing pre-hospital
critical care for 12 hours a day, seven days a week
14 Your Dementia Friends
We apply our own high standards when it
comes to protecting vulnerable adults in the
community, including training our team to become
Dementia Friends
15 News from the AAA
The latest from the Association of Air Ambulances
16 HSJ winners
We were absolutely thrilled to come out winners at
the 2015 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards
4 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

CONTENTS
22
17 Every little helps
We rely purely on your generosity to fund us
WHY WE DO IT
18 “I am eternally grateful”
Living high on a hill, in the town of Rousdon,
Mike suffered a serious fall and needed our help
20 Remote beach rescue
Richard Wickham became ill while visiting
Studland Bay. He needed to get to hospital
quickly, but gaining access to his location was
extremely difficult…
21 “I wondered what was happening
to me”
A walk to Burrington Combe on the Mendip Hills
didn’t quite go to plan for Mark and his family
22 Sharing your story
Has DSAA helped you or someone you know?
LOTTERY
25 Flight for Life Lottery
The easiest and most sustainable way to keep
us flying
HOW PEOPLE HELP
30 From end to end…
Cycling the entire length of the UK is a challenge
that thousands of people take on each year. We hear
from those who have done it for DSAA
32 An enduring gift
We are very grateful for every legacy we receive,
be it large or small. These are special gifts that
help us secure the Charity’s future
30
33 Our volunteers
We rely so much on our wonderful team of
volunteers – their dedication to the Charity
is amazing!
34 Coast to Coast Challenge 2016
Our Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge takes place
on Sunday 15 May 2016
IN THE COMMUNITY
36 In the community
Fundraising stories from across the two counties
HOW YOU CAN HELP
43 Ways to support us
There are many different ways you can help us
44 Come and join in!
As summer approaches, all fundraisers are welcome
45 Business partnership
opportunities
Business partnerships are a great way of
demonstrating your corporate social responsibility
and motivating employees
47 National Air Ambulance Week
There are a number of ways you can get involved
and help raise money for DSAA during this
busy week
49 Kids’ page
How youngsters are helping us out
50 Postbag
A selection of readers’ letters
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 5

WHO WE ARE
About us
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is YOUR service –
provided for people in YOUR area – with YOUR support
orset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a
D
registered charity, established to provide
relief from sickness and injury for the people
of Dorset and Somerset, by the provision of an air
ambulance. We receive no direct funding from the
Government or the National Lottery and rely entirely on
the generosity of the public for support. Our operational
costs are over £2 million a year.
Operations
Since our launch in 2000, we have flown more than
11,000 missions. The average cost per mission is
approximately £2,500.
We are tasked as part of the normal ‘999’ emergency
process by a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical
Service (HEMS) desk located at Ambulance Control and
can attend up to eight or nine incidents in a single day
during the summer months.
Our airbase is situated at Henstridge Airfield on the
Dorset/Somerset border. From there, we can be at any point
in the two counties in less than 20 minutes of receiving an
emergency call. More importantly, the helicopter can then
take a patient to any one of the Major Trauma Centres in
the South West within a further 20 minutes.
Pilots
Our pilots are provided by Bond Air Services, who operate
our aircraft. They are carefully selected because air
ambulance flights are typically more challenging than
regular non-emergency flight services. They will have
a great deal of experience in low-level operations and
instrument flying.
Providing critical care
Our Critical Care Paramedics are employed by the South
Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).
As well as being very highly qualified and experienced
6 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

WHO WE ARE
Your helicopter heroes
paramedics, they are also trained to assist the pilot with
navigation and the operation of some of the aircraft systems.
The doctors are a mixture of senior emergency physicians,
intensive care consultants and anesthetists from hospitals
across our region. From April 2016, our on-duty crew will
consist of a pilot, one Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) and one
doctor on shift at any one time.
An exciting year ahead
At the end of this year, we will be replacing our EC135
helicopter with an AgustaWestland 169 (AW169).
Operating a larger and more powerful aircraft and
conducting operations at night will increase our cost of
operations. However, we believe that the increased cost
will be more than matched by the enhanced level of
patient care that we will be delivering. We will also, soon,
begin carrying blood on the aircraft for administering
to patients who require it. This is a very significant
development and has required a great deal of work and
co-operation between a number of organisations. We will
share all the details in due course.
Recognition
In 2013, the Charity sponsored a three-year
post-graduate education programme for our paramedics.
This innovative project has received much recognition
and was awarded top prize at the 2015 HSJ Awards
in the ‘Improving Outcomes through Learning and
Development’ category. Read more on page 16.
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance team. Left to right from top:
Pilots Max Hoskins and Phil Merritt Clinical Support Officer Paul Owen and
Critical Care Paramedics Leonie German, Claire Baker, Michelle Walker, Mark
Williams and Neil Bizzell Doctors Tony Doyle, Jeremy Reid, Farhad Islam (Izzy),
Rob Torok, Ian Mew, Phil Hyde and Dave Martin
Code of conduct
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a member of the Association of Air
Ambulances (AAA). Members are governed by a code of conduct requiring
air ambulances to meet the standards set by UK regulators for medical
care, aviation practices and fundraising activity. We are also a member of
the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB), which means that we adhere to
best practice, honesty, transparency, clarity and accountability in all our
fundraising activity.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 7

WHO WE ARE
Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance
Our mission, vision
and values
A word from the
Trustees
2016 promises to be a busy and exciting time for Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance as a number of projects
come to fruition in a relatively short space of time.
In April, we move to having a doctor on board our
helicopter, seven days a week. This is both financially
and clinically challenging, however, evidence from those
already using this model shows that it is absolutely the
right decision to make. This improvement has been
underpinned by our paramedic team continuing their
studies to ensure they are fully qualified to deliver the
highest level of critical care. To undertake these studies is
no mean achievement and it is wonderful that their hard
work was rightly recognised at the 2015 HSJ Awards. The
Trustees are thrilled that they have been acknowledged
in this way and congratulate them all.
Our new helicopter will arrive later this year. It has
been fantastic to be able to research and select the best
aircraft that we believe will serve our requirements,
knowing that we have sufficient funds to do so. This
is thanks to the wonderful support that the Charity
receives and I personally thank everyone for their
continued support.
Simon Michell stood down from the Board of Trustees
after a nine-year period at our December meeting. He had
been Chairman of the Board for the last three years and
his commitment and leadership throughout this period
has been outstanding. Simon has been instrumental in
the Charity’s development over the years and we thank
him for his service.
I am delighted to have been asked to take on the role
of Chair and look forward to working with the executive
and clinical team during this very exciting year ahead.
ROGER MORGAN, Chairman of Trustees
Roger Morgan
(above) is DSAA’s
new Chairman
of Trustees
OUR VISION
To provide the maximum patient benefit
by delivering the most effective, clinically
excellent and financially secure air ambulance
service in the South West Region.
OUR MISSION
To save and enhances lives through the funding
and provision of a Helicopter Emergency
Medical Service.
OUR VALUES
Teamwork
Aircrew, business partners, staff, trustees,
volunteers, and the community – one team.
Respect
We treat everyone with the highest degree of
dignity, equality and trust.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our performance in
all of our decisions and actions.
Integrity
We demonstrate honesty and fairness in every
action that we take.
Innovation
We anticipate change and capitalise on the
many opportunities that arise.
These values will be at the heart of every
Charity decision and action.
13 years of service
Our best wishes go to Janet Gibbs, who has left
the Charity after 13 years of service. Janet joined
the Charity back in 2003 when our offices were
located in a portakabin at Taunton Ambulance
Station. She continued to work part time in our
administration department based at head office
in Wellington. We wish her well for the future.
8 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

WHO WE ARE
Profile
Dr Phil Hyde
Actively involved in pre-hospital care since 2003, Phil has received a number
of regional and national awards for inspirational leadership and teaching
hil has been working with Dorset and Somerset
P
Air Ambulance since April 2013 and took over
as our medical lead in January 2015. Phil is
supporting our Critical Care Team operations and has
guided the Charity’s extensive training and development
programme.
Actively involved in pre-hospital care since 2003,
Phil has served as the national curriculum lead for the
training of doctors in pre-hospital care for the last five
years. He is currently Deputy Convener of National Exams
within the pre-hospital care arena.
Phil also works at Southampton Children’s Hospital
as an intensive care consultant and led the children’s
trauma service from 2011 to 2015. He has developed a
range of team-based education courses for training NHS
multi-professional staff to care for critically ill or injured
adults and children, and continues to be active within
this field.
Phil has received a number of regional and national
awards for inspirational leadership and teaching. In
October he was announced ‘Inspiring Educator of the
Year’ at the 2015 Shine Awards, organised by Health
Education Wessex. This award recognises the people who
mentor, supervise or train people ‘on the job’, helping
and supporting the learning of students, trainees and
colleagues. It is also awarded to those who are role
models for their values and attitudes and recognises
the part they play in educating the next generation and
inspiring the current workforce.
Phil spends his free time with his wife and two
children and they enjoy climbing, walking, sailing and
kayaking together.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 9

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what we do
Facts
The number of people who follow us on Facebook now
More facts and statistics are available on
exceeds 13,400. Please like and share our page and encourage
our website: www.dsairambulance.org.uk
others to follow us too! Simply search for Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance and click ‘like’.
facebook
National Air Ambulance
Week takes place
between Monday 19-Sunday
25 September this year.
Find out how you can get
involved on page 47.
Help us increase
our Twitter
following of 3,112. Visit
@dsairambulance and
don’t forget to tag us if
you see our team.
Our Flight for Life
Lottery costs £1 a
week to join and includes
a Jackpot of £1,000.
Join today by completing
the direct debit form
on page 28.
saturday
In the period
July-December
2015, our busiest
day of the week was
a Saturday. Seventy
missions were flown
during August,
making this the
busiest month over
this six-month period.
Since our
formation, we
have now flown more
than 11,000 missions.
Every mission we
fly is the result of
somebody suffering
a potentially
life-threatening
injury or accident
and it is not a number
we celebrate.
During the period July-December 2015 we flew a total of
313 missions, of which 147 took place in Dorset and 146 in
Somerset. The outstanding number took place on the border
of our neighbouring counties.
207
There were 207 supporter-led events held in aid of
the Charity between June and December 2015. This
is 34 more than the same period the previous year.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 11

WHAT WE DO
Clinical update
The last six months have been another
extremely busy time for the crew of
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
n April, we make the transition to providing
I
pre-hospital critical care for 12 hours a day,
seven days a week. This means that our crew
will consist of a Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) and Critical
Care Doctor, on duty, every single day.
This is important news for the people of Dorset and
Somerset, as while we have been providing pre-hospital
critical care for a large proportion of our shifts, the
public can now expect us to deliver drugs including
pre-hospital anaesthetics, perform surgical procedures
and give organ support to critically ill patients, at the
scene of an incident, on any given day.
With the formation of this team comes the capability
to provide more inter-hospital transfers and the
administration of pre-hospital anesthesia to critically
ill or injured patients that need it. Being able to do the
latter means that our team can also deliver life-saving
surgery or other critical care procedures at the scene of
an incident before taking the patient to hospital.
We have been working towards this for the last six
months and between December 2015 and March 2016,
93.5 per cent of clinical shifts were covered in this way.
Outside those shifts, the aircraft was manned by a team
made up of two CCPs.
Over the 2015 winter period, our team provided a
12-hour service – 10 hours on the aircraft and the latter
two hours (during darkness) via our Rapid Response
Vehicle. The mode of transport obviously plays a key
factor in us being able to reach patients as quickly as
possible and our helicopter can cover an extremely
large area in a very short time. However, what’s more
important is that when the helicopter is not available,
we still have the capability of bringing the Emergency
Department to the patient.
We have also been continuing our work with the
Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) desk
and with the South Western Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust (SWASFT) road crews, to ensure we
are mobilised to patients that need us. In order to make
the best use of our Critical Care Team, CCP Neil Bizzell
has been leading an ‘outreach’ programme to provide
knowledge on our capabilities to all involved.
Claire Baker, Neil Bizzell, Phil Hyde, Ian Mew, Paul
Owen and Michelle Walker have been providing teaching
sessions to a variety of other SWASFT staff, clinicians
12 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

WHAT WE DO
Our team has been providing teaching
sessions to a variety of SWASFT
staff, clinicians and students
and students within the paramedic, medical or nursing
backgrounds and our whole team is now involved in
regional or national teaching of clinical groups.
All these activities are aimed at educating others about
the skills we can provide. Exposing them to our training,
taking part in simulated exercises with other service
providers and teaching others the skills we have learnt
plays an important part in the appropriate tasking of our
aircraft and crew.
Over the last six months our monthly training
sessions have covered a range of topics, including
the management of traumatic cardiac arrest in
adults, children and pregnant ladies; blood product
resuscitation; and head injury management. Most of
these sessions have utilised our infant, child and adult
manikins, which were purchased by the Charity.
Other simulated training exercises with the
Coastguard and Hazardous Area Response Team (HART)
have improved inter-agency co-operation and enabled
us to practise real-life scenarios and improvements in
patient pathways.
In December, our training was based at the
Search and Rescue base in Portland and involved the
land-based Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team, Search
and Rescue and SWASFT. These sessions have proved
extremely beneficial and the lessons learnt have already
been used for treating real patients, demonstrating the
importance of this integrated approach.
It’s been an extremely productive and busy start to the
year, with many more sessions planned for the coming
months. Our thanks go to Owen Hammett for organising
and facilitating these activities and to the Wessex Critical
Care Programme (www.wessexccp.org), who provide
support and technical help on all of the days.
Training does much to keep skills up to scratch, but to
keep clinicians up to date with current and developing
best practice and the latest research, the team has
formed a Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Journal
Inter-agency
co-operation has
been improved
through simulated
training exercises
Club. This is led by David Martin and gives our
team the opportunity to debate scientific and clinical
journal articles and the implications they may have on
our service.
So, as you can see, making sure that our patients
receive the best possible care requires dedication,
commitment and enthusiasm from our whole clinical
team. We thank them for being exceptional ambassadors
for the Charity and look forward to providing you with
further updates in the next edition of Beeline.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 13

WHAT WE DO
Your Dementia Friends
In his foreword, Bill Sivewright briefly mentioned the work we are doing
to apply our own standards when it comes to vulnerable adults in the
community. Below we explain more about the training of our team to
become Dementia Friends
uring January, our Lottery Canvassing Team
D
completed their Dementia Friend training.
This friendly, knowledgeable group of
individuals represent the Charity out and about at
supermarket stores and call on people door-to-door, to
promote and encourage people to join our ‘Flight for Life’
weekly lottery.
The aim of the training was not about receiving a
qualification. Instead, its purpose was for our team to
gain a better understanding of dementia, how to identify
the common signs of someone suffering with the disease
and the simple actions to take that will help. Given the
nature of the canvasser’s role within the community,
the training would also help them to identify vulnerable
adults who might unwittingly give consent to payments
they cannot really afford.
Dementia is caused by a number of different diseases
of the brain. The most common is Alzheimer’s but there
are others including Dementia with Lewy Bodies and
Pick’s Disease. Although more people over the age of 65
suffer from dementia, it’s not a natural part of the ageing
process as younger people can have dementia too.
Dementia Friend
training was
so successful
that we plan to
extend it to all
fundraising staff
and volunteers
The team learnt how it can be difficult to tell
if someone has dementia as it affects everyone in
very different ways. Interactive discussions involved
identifying the common symptoms of dementia, which
include short-term memory loss, struggling to plan or
complete tasks, problems with perception, confusion,
indecisiveness and difficulty in reading or following
instructions. The day was deemed a real success and our
team learnt so much in the process. We were so pleased
that we plan to extend the training to include all our
fundraising staff and volunteers. As Bill quite rightly says
in his foreword, as well as being known for our clinical
excellence, we also want to be known as leaders when it
comes to fundraising standards. We think it’s the least
that you deserve!
The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends initiative
was launched in March 2013. The programme is the
biggest ever initiative to change people’s perception of
dementia. There are currently over one million Dementia
Friends across England and Wales with a long-term
commitment by the Alzheimer’s Society of creating four
million Dementia Friends by 2020.
14 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

WHAT WE DO
News from the AAA
reception held by the All Party Parliamentary
A
Group for Air Ambulances (APPGAA) on
the House of Commons Terrace gave us an
opportunity to meet some of our local MPs. The event was
hosted by Chairman of the APPGAA, Chloe Smith, MP for
Norwich North. In her opening speech, Chloe explained
how she was honoured to be the chair of such a dynamic
group of organisations that do amazing work within the
community.
The Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Jeremy
Hunt, also delivered a speech that praised the work of
the UK’s air ambulances and ambulance services. He said:
“In July I was lucky enough to experience the amazing
work you deliver to the most critically ill. It was one of
the most impressive things I have seen and showed the
NHS at its finest. I would like to thank the paramedics,
doctors and pilots who deliver these services; I am
amazed how you all unwind at the end of your day after
looking after these very ill NHS patients. I would also
like to thank the volunteers across the UK for all their
dedication and hard work.”
The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) supported
the reception for the third year, bringing patients,
charities, ambulance services and legislators together.
Left to right:
Bill Sivewright,
Jeremy Hunt,
Chloe Smith and
Clive Dickin
Awards of Excellence
Almost 350 guests celebrated the best and brightest
from the air ambulance community at the 2015 Air
Ambulance Awards of Excellence. Awards hosts, BBC
News presenter Sophie Long and Helicopter Heroes
presenter Rav Wilding, handed out 11 awards to
outstanding individuals and teams, whose stories
were inspirational, astonishing and humbling. Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance was shortlisted in four
categories: Ian Mew (Air Ambulance Doctor of the Year),
Paul Owen (Air Ambulance Paramedic of the Year),
our Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge (Air Ambulance
Campaign of the Year) and further recognition
was given to our unique Post Graduate Education
Programme (Innovation of the Year). A list of all the
winners can be found on the AAA website.
Left to right: Julie
Plowden, Claire
Baker, Anna
Phillips, David
Warburton MP,
Phil Hyde
Recognition of Bill Sivewright
Bill Sivewright has been Chairman of the AAA since
November 2012. This was preceded by a year as
Vice-Chair. In March he stepped down from his role
after serving his term and Hanna Sebright will take over
the reins from March.
Bill led the then-unincorporated membership of the
AAA to the position of incorporation, by allowing a
governed structure to form, starting the Association on a
journey that has seen it exceed members’ expectations.
His leadership has seen the AAA membership grow and a
number of significant projects come to fruition
Clive Dickin, National Director of the Association, said:
“I would like to formally congratulate Bill on his tenure
and successes. He has been an inspirational leader and
the Association owes him many thanks for his dedication
over the years. It has been an absolute pleasure working
with him as Chairman.”
More information on the Association of Air
Ambulances and the air ambulance community
across the UK can be found at: www.aoaa.org.uk
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 15

WHAT WE DO
HSJ winners
We were absolutely thrilled to come out winners at the 2015
Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards, which were held in November
he HSJ Awards are the largest celebration of
T
excellence in UK healthcare, highlighting
the most innovative and successful people
and projects in the sector. The awards were created in
1981 to recognise, on a national platform, the projects
and initiatives that deliver healthcare excellence and
innovation. More than 600 organisations submitted over
1,600 entries in 2015.
Earlier in the year, the Charity was recognised for the
initiation, development and delivery of the unique Post
Graduate Education Programme for our paramedics.
Funded entirely by the Charity and run in partnership
with the University of Hertfordshire, the South Western
Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and senior
doctors and consultants from local hospitals, the
initiative saw us become a finalist in the ‘Improving
Outcomes through Learning and Development’ category.
Subsequently, all finalists completed presentations and
interviews during October to a judging panel made up of
senior and influential figures from the health sector. The
results were subsequently announced in November at the
awards ceremony.
The judging panel was impressed by how the Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance project was funded and
felt it was a great example of the collaboration between
stakeholders. The presentation had apparently used clear
evidence to demonstrate its impressive outcomes.
A delighted DSAA
team receive their
award from host
Clare Balding
After walking away with the top prize, Bill Sivewright,
the Charity’s Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have won this award.
Training and education form a cornerstone of the
Charity’s vision for the pursuit of clinical excellence. We
feel that the future benefit for our patients is best served
by investing directly in those charged with delivering the
clinical care.
“The unique element of this programme is the fact
that the education and training is delivered on-site at
the Charity’s airbase and not in the university classroom.
Through this mechanism we have now established a
group of highly enthusiastic paramedics and doctors who
help deliver the training at the airbase, on the helicopter
and within their own trusts.
“It is particularly satisfying that the judges recognised
our collaborative approach and the extensive stakeholder
involvement. This has helped foster regional clinical
relationships that we believe provides significant
patient benefit. We are most grateful to South Western
Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and the
University of Hertfordshire for their commitment to the
creation of this unique programme. We must also thank
our supporters, without whom we would never have been
able to contemplate such an ambitious project.”
More information on the HSJ Awards visit:
https://awards.hsj.co.uk/winners-2015
16 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

WHAT WE DO
£1,500
Over £2m
per year
£144
£800
£1,000
£7,500
£5,000
£66
Every little helps!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance receives no direct funding from the
Government or the National Lottery. We rely on donations from the public
and money from fundraising to help us raise the funds we need. Thousands of
people’s lives have been changed thanks to the provision of our service and it is
with thanks to YOU, that we continue to fly.
COST OF OPERATION
Annual cost..............................................................Over £2 million
Cost per mission..................................................Approximately £2,500
One life saved.........................................................PRICELESS
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 17

why we do it
“I am eternally grateful”
Living high on a hill, in the town of Rousdon near Lyme Regis, Mike suffered a
serious fall. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was called, but low cloud and
deteriorating weather en-route meant the crew on board would have to find an
alternative safe landing site on lower ground…
n 7 October I had been fishing for the day and
“O
came back home to find that my wife and
neighbours had been busy cutting away trees
and laurel bushes that had become overgrown. A local
farmer had very kindly lent us one of his industrial
trailers to take the cuttings away. The cuttings, having
been thrown into the high trailer, were now sticking out
of the top. I took two ladders, one that I climbed and the
other to use to compact the cuttings.
“Having reduced the laurel to a quarter of the
trailer’s capacity, I decided I would climb down the
other ladder inside the trailer. While transferring my
weight from one ladder to the other I was catapulted
up into the air. I started falling head first (this gives
me shivers just thinking about it) but in a split second,
somehow I managed to do a ‘half turn pike’, landing on
my left side.
“This, I believe, saved me from suffering serious
head injuries. Suddenly I was aware that there were a
lot of people around me. They were asking questions
and telling me not to close my eyes or fall asleep.
Some friends made light-hearted jokes to try and keep
me alert and I am sure this helped. The emergency
services were called and it wasn’t long before two first
responders arrived.”
On air ambulance duty that day was pilot Max Hoskins
and CCPs Claire Baker and Paul Owen. Claire remembers
the incident well.
“We were called by our HEMS desk at Ambulance
Control with information on Mike’s incident. The details
of the call led us to believe that he may have sustained
serious injuries and quite possibly needed specialist
pre-hospital care before being flown to hospital.
“On leaving our airbase and flying south-west,
we discovered the weather and cloud cover were
deteriorating quite quickly. Mike’s incident had taken
place on the top of a hill and the weather conditions
meant that we were unable to land at his exact location;
18 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

why we do it
DSAA paramedics
Claire Baker
(right) and Paul
Owen were
given a lift on the
final leg of their
journey by
a helpful postie
instead we found a safe landing site next to the River Axe
in the low ground of the estuary.
“Carrying our heavy bags, we began to run up the hill.
Fortunately, a local postman was delivering mail in the
area. He pulled over in his Royal Mail van and offered us
a lift, delivering both us and our equipment to the scene.
At this point our ambulance service colleagues had also
arrived and were starting to assess Mike’s condition. He
had suffered a fall from a potentially dangerous height
so it was important that we recognised and treated his
injuries quickly.
“We assessed Mike’s consciousness level. His airway and
circulation were normal, however, he was complaining of
pains to his chest and ribs. We were concerned that one
of his lungs may have been damaged in the fall but, after
further monitoring and assessment, it was determined
that his condition was not life-threatening. Working with
our ambulance service colleagues, we tried to make him
comfortable, immobilised his head, neck and back as a
precaution and administered pain relief as required. The
land ambulance was then used to transport Mike back
“An accident like this
really helps you focus
your mind on what .
is important in life”
to the helicopter before he was flown to Royal Devon and
Exeter Hospital.”
Mike underwent a series of x-rays and CT scans.
These showed that he had fractured five of his ribs and
fortunately suffered no further breaks or injuries.
“The doctors informed me that broken ribs have to heal
in their own good time and thus 24 hours later I was back
at home. The first six weeks were the worst as I had to
‘sleep’ in the spare room with ten pillows behind my back
to make sure that I was sat in an upright position. As you
can imagine, not much sleep happened over that period.
“About ten months after the accident, I noticed that I
wasn’t able to lift my arms above my shoulders and when
I mentioned this during my yearly medical, I was advised
to see a shoulder specialist. Further X-rays diagnosed that
I had torn tendons in both of my shoulders, which was
likely to be a result of my incident.
“Injections were tried at first and although this gave
me some mobility, it began to wear off so we opted for
keyhole surgery (rotator cuff procedure) to repair both of
the shoulders. I was informed that it could take anywhere
between nine and 18 months to repair my shoulders,
depending on the severity of the tear.
“My left shoulder was operated on in November
2015, where the specialist found a small tear, some
compression and a torn biceps tendon as well. Part of the
recovery has meant a course of physiotherapy and more
than 210 daily exercises at home.
“I am due to see the specialist again soon and am
hopeful that he will sign me off in order that I can go
salmon fishing in Canada later this year. The plan is to
have another operation on the other shoulder after that.
“An accident like this really helps you focus your mind
on what is important in life and I am eternally grateful
for the care and assistance that Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance gave me. I am now a keen fundraiser and
organise the annual Rousdon Quiz, which raises funds
for both DSAA and Devon AA.”
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 19

why we do it
Remote beach rescue
Richard Wickham became ill while visiting one of the most remote beaches
on the south coast. He needed to get to hospital quickly, but access to his
location was extremely difficult. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was
called in by paramedics at the scene. Richard tells us more…
eing retired, I like to take special advantage of
“B
warm, sunny days and often got to Knoll Beach,
Studland during the summer months to relax,
sunbathe and sometimes swim.
“It was Monday 7 September 2015 and although I had
suffered slight stomach cramps the day before, I decided
to go to the beach as it was such a lovely day. I was quite
relaxed and enjoying the day until around 11.30am when
the stomach cramps returned and I collapsed as a result
of the pain.
“An ambulance was called but unfortunately it was
about a ten-minute walk from the road to get to me, so
it took some time before paramedics arrived. Having
established there was definitely something wrong – as
apparently I looked very pale and had severe stomach
pain – I was given medication and put on a drip.
“The paramedics decided to call the air ambulance for
assistance as it would have been difficult to carry me on a
stretcher over soft sand and along a rough track to where
the ambulance was located.
“The Coastguard and National Trust closed an area on
the beach. As soon as the helicopter landed, a doctor on
board checked me out and diagnosed an internal bleed.
Richard spent nine
days in hospital
following his airlift
from Knoll Beach
I was quickly strapped up to a stretcher, carried a few
yards across the dunes onto the beach, put in the waiting
helicopter and taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The
crew on board kept me reassured and relaxed as I took
my first ever trip in a helicopter, although I only had a
view of the sky!
“I had x-rays soon after arriving in hospital and at
11.00pm that evening a CT scan showed a large acute
haematoma of the abdomen, suspected to be the result
of a fall.
“I was in hospital for a total of nine days. It has taken
me three months to return to good health and the latest
scan shows an improvement in the blood clot. Once I was
aware that DSAA was a charity, I had no hesitation in
sending a thank you letter and donation as I appreciate
that this emergency trip to hospital – and the attention I
was given – cost a lot more than a taxi ride!
“I realise my cheque was a drop in the ocean compared
to the costs incurred in keeping this important life-saving
charity going, but I hope it showed my appreciation for
what was done for me and I would like to think other
people will show theirs in the same way, should they ever
be in the same position.”
20 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

“I wondered what was
happening to me”
why we do it
One Sunday afternoon in late
October, Mark and his wife
Becky decided to take their
children Beth (14) and Joseph
(12) on a walk to Burrington
Combe on the Mendip Hills.
However, the trip didn’t quite
end as the family expected.
Mark tells us more….
e’d only been walking for about 15 minutes,
“W
when I suddenly felt this intense nausea and
dizziness. This was followed by a deep pain in
my throat and between my shoulder blades. I fell to the
floor on my hands and knees and, according to Becky, I
went ashen in colour, very cold and really sweaty.
“I tried rocking about to stop the pain, but it wouldn’t
lessen and I wondered what was happening to me. I
remember thinking that my left arm didn’t hurt (the
classic symptom of a heart attack on TV dramas), my
throat felt like something was being forced down it and
my back felt like it had been crushed by something.
“Not one of us had a mobile phone with us, which
was a bad move and there were no other people around.
The children ran off in different directions to try and
find someone with a phone. It was quite a while before
they found someone and eventually returned; by that
point I was rolling about on the ground in waves of
unbearable nausea and severe pain.
“After some time, I heard the sound of a
helicopter overhead and before I knew it, a
Mark and his
family were taking
a walk near the
‘Rock of Ages’
when he fell ill
paramedic was asking me how bad the pain was on a
scale of 1 to 10. I remember thinking that this was an
impossible question to answer in the circumstances and
said ‘7’ because I didn’t want to exaggerate (how British
is that?).
“I answered a few more questions about the location
of the pain and then one of the paramedics said, “We
are going the cardiac route”, or something very
similar. This confirmed both Becky’s and my
thoughts that I had suffered, or was suffering,
a heart attack. After popping an aspirin under
my tongue, I was put on a stretcher and placed
inside the air ambulance.
“I was cared for by the paramedics and flown
to Weston Hospital. There I was given oxygen
and underwent tests on my heart. After I showed
no signs of improvement and experienced a
sudden drop in my blood pressure, the consultants
decided I needed transferring to Bristol Royal Infirmary
for more specialist treatment and so I was whisked away.
“On arrival at Bristol, I was given more drugs and
eventually the pain began to ease. I underwent an
angioplasty procedure and one stent was inserted.
Amazingly, I watched everything that was happening to
me via a monitor. As soon as the stent was fitted, I felt
much better, which was such a relief. I stayed in hospital
for a few days before being taken back to Weston, where I
stayed for another week and then attended cardiac rehab
in Wells. Everyone has been excellent in building me
back up both physically and mentally and I can’t thank
them enough.”
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 21

why we do it
Sharing your story
Ben Ollis was three
and a half when
he was kicked
in the head by a
horse. His family
shared their story
and featured in a
previous edition
of Beeline. Ben’s
full story, among
others, can be
found on our
website
ver the years, our Beeline magazine has showed
O
the many different ways that people support
the Charity. There are those that challenge
themselves to take part in sky dives, climb mountains
or run marathons and those that hold events on our
behalf to raise funds. There are children that donate their
pocket money, volunteers who work tirelessly throughout
the year to help us and thousands of you who sign up for
our Flight for Life Lottery. These are just a few ways that
people help us and without every single one of you, we
would not be able to help so many others.
Within each issue you will also read some incredible
stories of courage and determination from the patients
we have helped. They have all been provided by the
individuals or their friends and family members and play
a crucial part in helping to raise awareness of the work
we do.
You may be unaware that due to patient
confidentiality, we cannot hold patient records. That
means that unless the patients we have helped get in
touch with us, we have no way of knowing the full impact
of our service.
We appreciate that reliving an incident can sometimes
be traumatic, but in our experience, we have found that
many patients get comfort from telling their tale. Some
are re-united with the crew who played a part on the day
and in most cases they become friends and supporters of
the Charity.
The process of getting in touch is simple and our
patients are under no obligation to disclose anything that
they would not want to be published or shared. So if you,
or anyone you know, has been airlifted or treated by our
team, we would be delighted to hear from you.
There are a number of ways in which this can be done.
You could give a personal account of the events on the
day by email, phone or letter – or alternatively arrange a
time for us to call or visit you at home.
So please, if you have had an experience you would
like to share, contact our Communications Manager, Tracy
Bartram, by email: tracy.bartram@dsairambulance.org.uk
by phone: 01823 669604 or by letter: DSAA, Landacre
House, Castle Road, Chelston Business Park, Wellington,
Somerset, TA21 9JQ.
Thank you!
22 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

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Untitled-6
'Secure'
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Watergate Bay, Cornwall
Untitled-4 13 15/03/2016 19:00

Registered Charity
1078685
FLIGHT FOR LIFE
LOTTERY
Lottery
£1
a week
Thank you for supporting
our Flight for Life Lottery
Your membership is extremely important
to us. Please share these centre pages with
your family and friends to help us increase
our membership. With your support, we are
confident that we can continue to deliver an
air ambulance service you can be proud of.
Thank you!
PRIZES
JACKPOT.........................£1,000
2nd PRIZE.............................£250
3rd PRIZE...............................£150
4th PRIZE................................£125
5th PRIZE..............................£100
Plus many other consolation prizes
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 25

FLIGHT FOR LIFE
Lottery
Weekly draw takes place
every Friday
No rollovers, so all prizes
are won every week!
Winner’s cheques are sent
out in post, so no need to
claim!
You can pay by cash,
cheque or Direct Debit
ABOUT THE LOTTERY
Our Flight for Life Lottery was launched on 19
December 2000 by Jeremy Beadle and since
its launch has gone from strength to strength.
There are five main cash prizes, including a
Jackpot of £1,000 and a number of other
consolation prizes.
HOW IS IT PROMOTED?
We promote and recruit new lottery members
using our canvassing team, who may visit you
at your home, attend events and are seen in
many supermarkets across the two counties.
Canvassers should always carry photographic
identity badges so you can be assured they
are genuine.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Once we receive your membership application,
we enter your details onto our computerised
lottery system. Each Friday, the winners are
randomly selected from all paying members.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Each entry costs £1. You don’t have to stick to
one entry, you can have as many as you like.
Your Lottery
membership
helps fund the
air ambulance
HOW CAN I PAY?
The easiest and most cost-effective way is by
Direct Debit. We are a Direct Debit originator
with Nat West Bank, which means your bank
details are safe with us.
HOW DO I CLAIM?
We automatically send out all winners’ cheques
in the post so you do not need to claim your
prize. A list of winners can be found on our
website: www.dsairambulance.org.uk
HOW DO I JOIN?
Simply complete our application form on page
28 and return it to us at: Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance, Unit 3, Brook Road Industrial
Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2BH.
If you would like to pay by cheque or by other
means, please contact the Lottery office on:
01202 849530
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Lottery is registered with the Gambling
Commission www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk,
Registration No. 000-004838-N-100338-008
and is also a member of the Lotteries Council.
Players must be 16 or over.
26 Lottery Tel: 01202 849530 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

Dear Sir/Madam,
Back in May I was amazed
to win the first prize in your
Lottery. I have been able to share
it with my own children and
grandchildren and other charities.
However, I would like to give
you the enclosed cheque as a
thank you. Philippa Grier
After 34 years as Williton’s independent
newsagent and 50 years in the newsagent trade,
Hugh Davies has retired. Davies Newsagent was
the second shop to become an agent and promote
our weekly lottery to its customers. Hugh spent
time encouraging people to take part and has
since generated an income for the Charity of over
£15,000. We are sure that Hugh will be a great
loss to the village and want to thank him for the
many years of support.
GRAND DRAW RESULTS
In addition to our weekly lottery, the charity
holds two Grand Lottery Draws every year.
These take place during the summer and at
Christmas. Our 2015 Christmas Draw took
place on Wednesday 16 December. We were
astounded by the amount of support we
received and you all did an incredible job
buying and selling raffle tickets on our behalf.
A total of 102,446 tickets were sold, which is
incredible. Our congratulations go to all the
winners and a big thank you goes to everyone
who took part!
GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW 2015 winners
£1,000 Mrs A Slater, Wareham
(Ticket 571654)
£250 Mrs B Yalden, Portland
(Ticket 502010)
£150 Mr R C Turner, Gillingham
(Ticket 664646)
£125 Mr F J Seal, South Chard
(Ticket 60877)
£100 T Plain, Wimborne
(Ticket 517650)
The date for our Grand Summer Draw is
Thursday 14 July 2016. We really hope that you
will once again help us by purchasing tickets.
Who knows, it could be you that comes away
with one of the winning tickets!
A LOTTERY GIFT
Don’t forget that our Lottery Gift Vouchers
are only available to purchase via our Lottery
office. What an incredible gift to give to a loved
one or friend. Vouchers can be purchased in
different denominations depending on the
amount you wish to spend.
Simply call: 01202 849530 or email:
lottery@dsairambulance.org.uk
I am writing to thank you for the surprise
cheque of £250 that I recently received
as second prize in your Lottery. It was
most unexpected and very welcome. I am
of course, pleased to be able to continue
to support the Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance. Once again my grateful
thanks for the cheque. Peter F Masters
To
Registered Charity
1078685
Lottery Gift Voucher
This Gift Voucher Entitles:
weeks in the Flight for Life Lottery
From: To: Authorised by:
Membership Number:
Date:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you so much for the
cheque I received yesterday.
What a lovely surprise and all for
supporting such a worthy cause,
which I would hope never to
make use of. Once again, thank
you. Judy Hathaway
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Lottery
Unit 3, Brook Road Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2BH
T: 01202 849530 E: lottery@dsairambulance.org.uk www.dsairambulance.org.uk
DSAA_Lottery_Voucher_A5.indd 2 15/07/2013 13:38
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 27

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Flight for Life
Lottery
Name(s) of Account Holder(s)
Bank/Building Society Account Number
Branch Sort Code
- -
Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society
To the Manager
Address
Tel 01202 891440
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Unit 3, Brook Road Industrial Estate,
Wimborne,
Dorset,
BH21 2BH
Registered Charity
1078685
Bank/Building Society
Instruction to your Bank or Building
Society to pay by Direct Debit
Service User Number
6 8 2 0 5 4
This is not part of the instruction to your Bank
or Building Society.
Please complete the whole form including this section
Please tick one box to select the payment type :-
Single Membership Double Membership
(1 Ticket) (2 Tickets)
£4.34 monthly £8.68 monthly
£13 quarterly
£26 six monthly
£52 yearly
£26 quarterly
£52 six monthly
£104 yearly
Preferred Start Date (if any).............................
(You will be notified in writing, before the first
payment is taken).
Name ...............................................................
Address ...........................................................
.........................................................................
................................ Postcode ........................
Tel....................................................................
Postcode
Email ...............................................................
Reference (Ticket Number)
Signature(s)
Date
Instruction to your bank or building society.
Please pay Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Direct Debits from the account detailed in this instruction, subject to the
safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with the Dorset and
Somerset Air Ambulance, and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.
The Direct Debit Guarantee
This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits
If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance will notify you
10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request
If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance or your bank or building society you
are entitled to a full and immediate refund from your bank or building society
- If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance asks you to
You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required.
Please also notify us.
W15
28
Lottery Tel: 01202 849530 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

Untitled-3 13 26/08/2014 09:50

how people help
From end to end…
Cycling the entire length of the UK is a challenge that thousands of people
take on each year. Whether cycling south from Lands End to John O’Groats
(LEJOG) or north from John O’Groats to Lands End (JOGLE) it is an
experience you never forget. We hear from those who have done it for DSAA
Torr De Britain
Five employees from Aggregate Industries at Torr
Works Quarry in Somerset endured Britain’s ultimate
cycling challenge by riding from John O’Groats to
Land’s End, raising funds for Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance.
Initially the challenge was personal for those taking
part (Sam May, Calum Barnett, Matt Wilkins, James
Ashman and Gary Pryer) as four out of the five riders
were amateurs and had never cycled before.
During the year-long preparation and training, in
typical wet and windy British weather, the team realised
it would be a fantastic opportunity to raise money for
two charities close to their hearts. Sam and Matthew
The team from
Aggregate
Industries did
the JOGLE ride
for DSAA and
Macmillan
are both retained firefighters and have attended many
incidents alongside the crew of Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance, seeing first-hand how valuable the air
ambulance is in helping to save lives. This was the reason
they selected Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance,
alongside Macmillan, who would share any funds raised.
A brilliant team effort saw the cyclists ride 960 miles
in a total of nine days. Although the route was long
and tiresome, the adventurers were not alone on their
quest as a much-needed support vehicle and crew
(Paul Herridge, Jody Herridge and Les Ashman) cheered
them on and offered much-appreciated motivation at
times of struggle.
30 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

how people help
According to Sam, there were many challenges along
the way: “Cycling 100+ miles each day and then getting
back on the bike the following morning (with some
rather sore parts) proved extremely difficult. However, the
biggest challenge of all was climbing the Kirkstone Pass
in the Lake District, which consisted of cycling for 1 mile
while climbing 1,000ft at a 20 per cent gradient. This was
also the most memorable moment when we reached the
top. It was simply unforgettable.”
The group received a fantastic amount of support from
local businesses who contributed towards supplies during
the trip. Family, friends and work colleagues played a big
part in encouraging others to donate. In total, the team
raised more than £8,000, of which £4,065.48 was received
by the Charity. A great achievement and a very big thank
you from us all!
South to north
Sixteen-year-old Matt Kosinski took on the Lands End to
John O’Groats challenge last year. Cycling with his dad,
they set themselves a target of completing the ride as
close to 100 hours from start to finish. Matthew started
training at the beginning of the year and as soon as he
had finished taking his GCSEs, the challenge began.
Matt Kosinski
and his dad took
the LEJOG route,
raising £1,609
for DSAA
“I’ve seen the air ambulance attending incidents on a
couple of occasions. When I discovered that it receives no
direct funding from the Government, I wanted to help.
When the day arrived we set off at 8.00am. The weather
was sunny and not too windy but we got off to a good
start and completed the 178 miles from Lands End to
Weston-Super-Mare.
“Day two involved cycling from Weston to Wigan, a
total of 203 miles in some wet and windy weather. A
pit-stop just north of Gloucester allowed us to change
our clothes as we were soaked through. We arrived just
before 10.00pm. At 7.00am the following morning we
started our trip from Wigan to Edinburgh. The 197-mile
trip saw us cross the Scottish border at Gretna Green,
climb the Southern Uplands before taking a brief stop to
take in the scenery. Luckily the last part of the day was
predominately downhill.
“Our penultimate day was spent cycling from
Edinburgh to Inverness; a total of 162 miles. It was hot
when we left just before 8.00am and we were beginning
to be rather weary. We crossed the Forth Road Bridge and
it was a fairly hilly route from there up to Perth. After a
break we continued to Inverness, crossing the Grampian
Mountains, which were really tough!
Finally, our last day; 122 miles from Inverness to John
O’Groats. We got off to an early start (6.00am) as the
weather forecast for the day was not good. Just after
Helmsdale, the wind picked up to 25mph and with either
a headwind or crosswind, it was hard going. By the time
we reached our destination, the wind was up to 45mph
but thankfully we had made it!
It ended up taking 104 hours to complete the ride
from the time we set off, to the time we arrived in John
O’Groats; just a few hours short of our target. With
support from our friends and family we managed to raise
£1,609 for DSAA.”
What a magnificent effort! Thank you Matthew!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 31

how people help
An enduring gift
We are very grateful for every legacy we receive, be it large or small. These are
special gifts that help us secure the Charity’s future – and each one is a lasting
memory of someone special. By Richard Popper, DSAA Trustee
’ve been a volunteer with Dorset and Somerset
“I
Air Ambulance for four years and I never cease
to be inspired by the skilled work of our crew
and staff, the tireless enthusiasm of our volunteers and
generosity of our supporters. I’ve also met patients who
have been airlifted in a time of need. These are all reasons
why increasing numbers of supporters have decided to
remember the Charity in their will so we can carry on
serving the communities of Dorset and Somerset in the
years to come.
“For many of us, the thought of preparing a will is
something we’d rather not think about and even the
legal terms (legacy, bequest, codicil) can be off-putting.
However, the process should be fairly straightforward
and a big relief when satisfactorily completed. We always
recommend that supporters consult a solicitor to help
them draw up a will. Of course we want supporters to
make sure their family and loved ones are provided for
before considering leaving a share of what might be left
to charity.
“Many of you will already have a will but not
thought about leaving a gift to the Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance. It’s pretty
straightforward to update a will by including
additional wishes in a separate document
called a codicil. The charity is currently
producing a booklet that outlines the process
and will help you get started. It will also
contain important information such as our
Charity number so that your solicitor can make
sure your gift will go to the right charity. This will
be available later in the year.
“For many people the content of their will is a very
private matter, whereas others would like to talk to us
and find out more about the Charity. Advising us of your
future intentions means that we can make sure we keep
you up-to-date with our latest news and developments
and it also helps us plan for the future.
“Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is about
to embark on an exciting new chapter with a new
helicopter and expansion of our operating hours, thanks
to your support. I’m looking even further ahead and
asking for you to think about securing the future of
our Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for the next
generation to come.
“Wills are a very personal thing and something we all
need to take time to consider. Hopefully you don’t mind
me giving you another thing to think about!”
Some future security
Marie Cherrett (left) of Upton, Poole, has left the Charity
a gift in her will. She explains why she decided to do so
“I’ve been a supporter of Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance for a number of years. I joined their
Flight for Life Lottery after a canvasser called at
my home. He was really lovely and told me so
much about the work of the air ambulance.
I used to drive in and out of London, over a
thousand miles a week and fortunately never
had an accident; however I saw many during
my travels.
“My daughter Karen lives on a pheasant farm
in Somerset, which is accessed down a steep,
narrow lane. Access to the farm can be restricted
32 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

how people help
Our volunteers
We rely so much on our wonderful team
of volunteers – their dedication to the
Charity is amazing! Below we tell you
more about one of them
during extreme weather. A lady in the village was once
taken ill and there was a road accident at the top of the
lane that had blocked any access down to her home.
The air ambulance landed and came to her aid. I was
extremely comforted to know that in such a situation,
my family will have the security of having such a
wonderful, efficient emergency service available to
them should they need it.
“A local solicitor in Broadstone helped me leave
a legacy to the Charity in my will. It was really
straightforward. I have four children; three daughters
and one son. Obviously my home will be equally shared
between them all and when I told them I had left a small
gift to DSAA, they didn’t question it one little bit.
“I am lucky to have been so looked after by the medical
profession over the years. It gives me great satisfaction
to know that in my legacy, someone else’s life might be
saved or they will be looked after as well as I have been.
Knowing that my children have the security of such a
wonderful service as Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
in the future and the fact that I have played a part makes
me feel very proud.”
Joy Whittingham
Joy Whittingham worked in
private medical insurance for
more than 25 years. In 2010,
she sadly lost her husband
to a brain tumour and, after
becoming semi-retired,
decided that she wanted
a new direction in life and
wanted to donate some of
her time to a local charity that
helped others. In 2013, she
applied to become a Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance
volunteer.
The first time we met Joy,
she was a breath of fresh
air and boy could she talk!
Immediately, we identified how
well she would be received
within the community. She was
confident, presented herself
impeccably and her delightful
smile would be welcomed by
many.
Nearly three years on, Joy
services a large number
of the Charity’s collection
boxes, attends events and
cheque presentations on our
behalf and delivers talks to
audiences of all sizes. Her
talks are extremely popular
and with enthusiasm, passion
and commitment, Joy wows
audiences with her great
charisma.
It seems to be in her nature
to constantly look for ways
to improve her engagement
with members of the public.
For example, earlier this year
Joy welcomed Peggy Sutton
as a new volunteer to the
area. Peggy experienced the
work of the Charity when she
was involved in a road traffic
incident that left her with lifechanging
injuries. Together
they joined forces and Joy
now includes time within her
presentation for Peggy to tell
her story, in her own words.
This innovative approach,
together with Joy’s willingness
and determination to deliver
every element of the Charity’s
work in detail, has had an
extremely positive impact
across the board. Despite
her busy schedule, Joy
endeavours to support us at
every opportunity possible
and we feel extremely lucky to
have her as part of our team.
Need advice? Please get in touch
If you have any questions about leaving a gift
in your will or would like to tell us why you’ve
already left a gift to the Charity, we would be
delighted to hear from you. We can help
answer any general questions, provide advice
and give you the important information you
need to know.
Simply contact us today by telephone, post or
email via the details shown on the right.
Contact:
Julie Plowden
julie.plowden@dsairambulance.org.uk
Charlotte Routley
charlotte.routley@dsairambulance.org.uk
Telephone: 01823 669604
Post: Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance,
Landacre House, Chelston Business Park,
Castle Road, Wellington, TA21 9JQ
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 33

how people help
Coast to Coast
challenge 2016
Our Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge takes
place on Sunday 15 May 2016. With only
600 places available and demand expected
to be high, it was no surprise that within
three days and four hours of the Charity
announcing online registration open, all
places had been filled!
he event, which is not a race, offers two
T
different routes and distances. For those who
like a challenge, a brilliant 54-mile cycle ride
starts in the Somerset port of Watchet and finishes at
West Bay near Bridport. For those that do not want to
cycle that far, there is a shorter 11-mile route that begins
at Drimpton in Dorset and also finishes at West Bay.
This will be our sixth year in the saddle and every
year seems to get better and better. With such a demand
for places, there will undoubtedly be those who are
disappointed not to gain a place. We hope that they will
continue to support the Charity and the cyclists taking
part, by joining us on the day both at the start, en-route
and at the finishing-line celebrations.
Last year’s event raised more than £64,000 and we
hope that those taking part this year will encourage their
friends and families to sponsor them, in a bid to make
this the best Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge yet. Thanks to
one of the event sponsors, Bicycle Chain Ltd, individuals
in the Over 16 and Under 16 categories who raise the
highest amount in sponsorship will win a brand new
bicycle this year!
Club enthusiasts and the more experienced cyclists
will leave Watchet Harbour in Somerset at 11.00am
with the less experienced riders getting on their way at
11.15am. The shorter, 11-mile route from Drimpton in
Dorset starts at 2.00pm.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
2015 winners announced
We were thrilled to be able to welcome and present the
2015 Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge prize winners with
their fundraising trophies at a recent visit to our airbase.
34 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

how people help
Prizes are awarded annually to those who raise the most
in sponsorship in three different categories: Over 16,
Under 16 and Team.
Chris Norris, aged 66 from Evercreech, took part for
the second year running, completing the 54-mile route.
Chris’s son, Sam Norris, tragically lost his life in a road
traffic incident in 2009. Chris had taken part the previous
year to prove to himself that he could do it. However, in
2015 he wanted to try and raise as much in sponsorship
as possible. He encouraged his friends and family to
support him and raised a whopping £1,949.38.
Chris explained: “By far, the best bit is the feeling of
achievement when you cross the finish line knowing
that you have raised money for such a vital service. The
fish and chips at West Bay were definitely a highlight
too. The hardest part of the challenge for me was when I
started training. I seriously wondered if I would be able
to manage the hills, but I did.”
Amelia Fleming, aged 12 from Maiden Newton, cycled
the 11-mile route from Drimpton to West Bay. Her mum,
Rechenda, knew of a lady who was taken to hospital by
air ambulance after a riding accident, which was one
Above:, left to right: Chris Norris
(Over 16), Emilie Gordon and Charles
Richardson (Team o’ Tumblers), Amelia
Fleming (Under 16), Bill Sivewright
(DSAA Chief Executive Officer)
of the main reasons that they both took part. Amelia
set up a JustGiving page before sending an email to all
her friends and family asking for their support. Her
godfather who lives in London was particularly generous
and really kick-started her fundraising.
Rechenda commented on her daughter’s achievement
and said: “It was amazing. The finish line at West Bay was
full of supporters cheering and clapping, the atmosphere
was brilliant and we loved getting a medal and goodie
bag too! The 11-mile route was really not too difficult and
only took us an hour. Amelia raised £227.50, which we are
really proud of and we would definitely like to be involved
with other fundraising events for Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance in the future.”
Team o’ Tumblers once again came out in force. It’s
not hard to spot this group of hunting and equine
enthusiasts who take part as a team. Thirty-six members
who are totally united in supporting Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance wore branded shirts and challenged
themselves over the 54-mile route for the second year. In
total, they raised a staggering £19,601.90 and together
cycled a total of 1,994 miles!
Each member has their own reason for wanting to take
part and most have an incredible story to tell. United,
they cheer each other as each one crosses the finish
line, which creates an extra buzz in the already electric
atmosphere.
Spokesperson Rupert Rees said: “The camaraderie
between the team is great. The event enables the group
to do something different outside of our everyday lives
and raise money for a cause that is extremely close to
our hearts.
“Individually we set a target of raising £100 per
member, which seems quite a low ask. As you can see
by how much we raised last year, everyone far exceeded
that. This is because the cause is so important to us.
Many of us know someone who has needed the air
ambulance or indeed might need them in future. This is
our way of saying thanks and showing our support. It’s
a jolly good day out in aid of a charity that we love. It’s
just got to be done!”
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 35

FEATURE
In the Community
Exmoor Lodge
In memory of
George and Ellie
For the second year running, a
Car Meet event held at Southwest
Karting in Cheddar has raised money
for the Charity. Jak ‘Titch’ Titchener
from Southwest Karting organised
the event last year in memory of
friends George Stott and Ellie Clare,
who tragically died in a road traffic
incident. This year, Jak decided to
run the event with additional help
from PJ at Sweetshop Automotive, a
car enthusiasts club.
As a result of better organisation
and some great publicity, the event
raised £2,092; nearly £700 more than
last year. PJ and Jak were delighted to
visit the airbase to present paramedic
Claire Baker with their recent
fundraising cheque and plan to
support the Charity again next year.
The Somerset Freemasons, Exmoor Lodge
No 2390, selected Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance as one of their chosen charities in
2015. Volunteer Gail Everett attended a cheque
presentation and dinner at the Masonic Hall and
was delighted to be presented with a cheque for
£500 from Worshipful Brother, John Lendon.
Happy birthday
Mr Wells, a local Parish Councillor for 48 years and
a key part of the Somerset Football Association,
celebrated his 80th birthday with a special dinner
at Mendip Golf Club. Instead of receiving presents,
he asked his friends and family for donations
to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. After
receiving an amazing £550, Mr Wells generously
topped this up to £700. Thank you!
Pictured: Mr Wells and close friend Nicola Fitzgerald present a
cheque to Volunteer Marie Parkes
Transport of Yesteryear’s Annual Fun Day and Car Show will once again support
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance in 2016. This popular event, now in its 18th
year, will take place on 26 June at School Hill in Chickerell. A spectacular day of
music, fairground rides, trade stands, food stalls, car boot sale, and of course an
array of classic and vintage vehicles, will not disappoint those who attend.
Pictured: volunteers Pam Eamer and Ron Bishop gratefully receive last year’s
fundraising cheque from Club Chairman Carle Graham and Muriel Ovens, which
totalled £1,250.
36 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

FEATURE
Gun dogs to the rescue
Jean Pugh organised a gun dog training day near Taunton to raise money for the Charity. Twenty dog owners took
part on the day, raising more than £750 in entry fees. Woof woof – well done!
Bowled over
Danny Newman, President of Branksome Park
Bowling Club, agreed, with the support of fellow
committee members, to select DSAA as the club’s
Charity of the Year in 2015. Danny’s enthusiasm
and outgoing personality also saw him take on
a Wing Walk, which raised £915. At the end of
his Presidency, volunteer Joy Whittingham was
invited to a ‘President’s Lunch’ to give a short talk
and accept a cheque totalling an amazing £3,300.
What wonderful support!
Dave Covill Memorial
Skittles Cup
The Rotary Club of Frome held
the Dave Covill Memorial Skittles
Challenge Cup and raised £900 for
the Charity.
Dave sadly passed away in May
2014; he was a worthy Rotarian and
sportsman. Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance received donations
from his funeral at the time, which
totalled an incredible £4,600.
The Skittles Challenge, held in
Dave’s memory, ran over a fourmonth
period. It culminated in a
presentation dinner held at Frome
Town Football Club, where Dave’s
wife Yvonne presented the winner’s
cup to Dot Cretney.
Yvonne was accompanied by
Rotarian Terry Hulbert at a visit
to our airbase, where they kindly
presented the funds raised to
members of our team.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 37

FEATURE
In the Community
Close shave
Ed Beardsley from Street in
Somerset was a clean-shaven
man when he met his wife Gill
in 1963. Over the duration of
their marriage, Ed has grown
his beard three times, with
the most recent one taking up
residence for 39 years! After
much encouragement from Gill, Ed finally agreed
to shave and took the plunge – raising £259 for
DSAA in the process.
Bookstall bonanza
Staff and customers at the Co-operative Food Store in Bridport have
added another £7, 000 to their fundraising in support of DSAA by selling
unwanted second-hand books. The store’s bookstall is bursting with a
variety of genres that are donated by customers and staff. All books are
available to purchase for the small sum of 50p. With fresh books introduced
regularly, many people bring theirs back after reading to exchange for
more. The simple yet popular fundraising initiative was thought of by a
staff member and has since raised more than £35,000 for the Charity. Store
Manager Rob Garland presented the most recent donation of £7,000 to Tina
Viksna (DSAA Fundraising Manager) when she visited the store. He said: “We
are very proud of everyone who works here and for the support that we have
received from the community. The people of Bridport are very passionate
about the air ambulance and we are delighted to be able to help.”
Police in
fine voice
Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Dorset
Police male voice choirs held a concert at
Sherborne Abbey in aid of Care of Police
Survivors and Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance. A wonderful evening saw a total
of £1,300 raised, which was split between both
charities. Leanne Colverson was delighted to
receive a cheque on the Charity’s behalf.
70 years of singing
Westfield Ladies Choir, based in Midsomer Norton, held a concert
celebrating 70 years of singing and raised £600 for the Charity. They
presented volunteer David Collins with a cheque during one of their
rehearsals. Lesley Schofield from the choir said: “We are delighted to be able
to support the air ambulance, which helps so many people and saves lives
on a daily basis.”
Our thanks go to the members and customers of Colin’s
Community Club in Blandford who donated £836.56 in support
of the Charity. In total, more than £1,400 was raised and
donated to three charities, of which DSAA was one. Volunteers
Wendy Burke and Richard Robbins were delighted to be able to
attend the cheque presentation on our behalf. They were both
out and about the following day receiving a cheque for £709
from Blandford Constitutional Club, who held an Open Day and
80-prize raffle in aid of the Charity.
38
01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

FEATURE
Dunster extravaganza
West Somerset’s biggest county fair and annual show took place during
the summer. Dunster County Fair, which is held in the grounds of Dunster
Castle, provides fun and entertainment for the whole family, with a fun fair,
children’s entertainment and a variety of trade stands, shows and displays.
The DSAA team were present and held a ‘Name the Bee’ competition,
which was won by Freddie Little from Wadebridge in Cornwall with his
name, Frankie. To add to the excitement, our helicopter made a special
fly-in appearance, which was kindly marshalled by the Taunton Air Cadets.
Members of the public had the opportunity to explore the helicopter and
meet our Critical Care Team. The Minehead Sea Scouts were also on hand
to help the Charity with a bucket collection (which raised £810) and DSAA
supporter Mrs Bosley from Watchet was delighted to present the crew with
her annual fundraising cheque for £2,000. What a fantastic day!
In addition to Dunster County Fair, Fundraising Co-ordinator Debbie
Birtwisle and volunteers Ron Sidewater and Derek and Diane Albutt attended
the Annual Dunster Show. Our team held a raffle for a spectacular quilt made
and donated by the Greystones Quilters from Highcliffe in Dorset, which
raised £337. The proud winner of the quilt was Archie Galloway-Leist.
Santa’s Christmas crew
The Christmas crew helped Santa travel across
the Somerset Levels during the festive period,
raising a record amount of £2,040 for DSAA.
The crew visited many villages across the
Langport area, giving out sweets and taking
donations.
Debbie Birtwisle, DSAA Fundraising
Co-ordinator, paid a visit to High Ham Primary
School to receive a cheque for the final amount
raised and give a talk to the pupils. Christmas
Crew Secretary and DSAA volunteer Karen
Cook said: “We would like to thank everyone
who came out in all sorts of weather, to wave,
chat and put money in our buckets.”
For the past ten years,
Kitchencraft in Weymouth
has supported the Charity by
holding a Christmas raffle.
Over this period a total of
£3,579 has been raised, with
the most recent raffle proceeds
totalling £426. Brian Cookson,
Owner of Kitchencraft, said:
“The air ambulance provides
such a vital service to the local
community. It is our pleasure to
help support them and I would
like to thank everyone who took
part and donated prizes.”
The Weymouth Vehicle
Preservation Society is
pleased to report another very
successful New Year’s Day
Vintage and Classic Vehicle
Run. Sponsored by Harts of Stur,
this year a record 217 vehicles
took part, and the event raised
£2,711 for Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance. Of this sum, a
staggering £801 was collected
in the buckets, and our thanks
for this must go to DSAA
volunteers Richard Robbins and
Wendy Burke and their helpers.
Summerfield Boules
Property development company Summerfield
organised their fifth Taunton Boules
competition in aid of DSAA. Forty teams came
together to enjoy an afternoon of boules in
the grounds of Woodlands Castle. Undisputed
winners of the fancy dress were Ashfords B
team with their French mime artist Marcel
Marceau costumes. Taunton Deane Borough
Council fought a hard battle to win 8-5 over
Boules of Steel (Porter Dodson) in the final.
Setsquare Recruitment entered two teams
who both made it to the Cup final, however,
the seniors were well beaten by the younger
generation 0-7 and Setsquare One took the
coveted prize. Together with a kind top-up from
Summerfield, the event raised £2,600.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 39

FEATURE
In the Community
Christmas spirit
Lynn Miell from Langport got into
the Christmas spirit by creating
sprays from foliage in her garden.
These were sold in aid of the
Charity at Cobbs Wholefoods in
Somerton and raised a total of £220.
For the second year running,
Linda Parry from Wincanton held
a Christmas Wreath Workshop at
her home. Linda’s granddaughter
suffered a seizure three years
ago and Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance airlifted her to hospital.
With bookings already being taken
for this year, members of the public
pay £12 to make their own wreaths
from natural materials and willows,
which Linda supplies.
Thanks, Modrapheniacs
Scooter Club
The Modrapheniacs Scooter Club raised £1,465
for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance in
memory of a member’s daughter, Joanna, who
sadly lost her life at the age of 17 while riding her
scooter. Volunteer John Hoyle met the group at
one of their gatherings, where they presented
him with the funds raised. Thanks and best wishes
are sent from us all!
Members of Bridport Bowling Club
had a fantastic time at their yellowthemed
Charity Day.
After an enjoyable game of bowls,
members tucked into a scrummy
cream tea and also held a raffle.
Many of the prizes donated by club
members were considered too good
to raffle, so they held an auction
– with the proceeds from the day
going to the Charity.
Additionally, the club raised
money during their tour of Wales
and included a daily swindle and
fines night for those who had
committed various misdemeanours
throughout the tour. In total, they
raised £1,085.
Touchdown
The Dorset and Wilts Rugby Football League
and Swanage and Wareham Rugby Club have
raised a total of £760 for Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance.
The money was raised from the proceeds of
gate receipts for champion matches played
against Hampshire Rugby Football Union.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance also received donations
from champion matches played against
Trowbridge Rugby Club.
County President John Constable presented
Fundraising Co-ordinator Debbie Birtwisle with a
cheque at a recent airbase visit and said: “We are
proud to support both air ambulances as they do
all three counties a great service.”
40
01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

FEATURE
Pam and Ed Bowditch from Bowood
in Dorset had a wedding with a
difference. The couple, who are
both young farmers and love the
outdoors, decided to hold their
wedding ceremony in a local field.
After the bride made a sensational
entrance on her 17hh warmblood
horse, they were wed in a ‘church’
that Ed constructed from straw bales.
Pictured: Gerald
Davidson and
Henry Pinney
(Chairman
of WCMC)
presenting
volunteer Jim
Burrows with
£5,400
A classic night
The Westland Classic Motorcycle Club held an evening of laughter
and entertainment, raising £5,400 for the Charity. Organised
by former Honda Director and Honorary Club Member Gerald
Davidson, the event saw more than 320 bikers attend. Former bike
racer and now commentator Steve Parish entertained the crowd
by revisiting some of his wildest and most amusing experiences at
the height of his career. The night also included an auction of rare
racing parts and a grand raffle, which was sponsored by Bransons
Motorcycles of Yeovil.
Pam and Ed’s Dorset wedding –
with a twist…
Instead of guests paying for
drinks at the bar, the couple asked
for donations to go to the Charity,
which totalled £1,200. Beaminster
Young Farmers were on hand to help
serve the drinks and volunteers Pam
Eamer and Ron Bishop were thrilled
to be invited to the special day. We
wish the happy couple all the best for
the future!
Coach trip with
a difference
Crossways Travel nominated Dorset and
Somerset Air Ambulance as their Charity of the
Year during 2015. They held various coach trips
in aid of us, raising a total of £1,447. Fundraising
Co-ordinator Leanne Colverson was delighted
to attend a cheque presentation at St Leonard’s
hotel in Weymouth to receive the funds raised.
Kingston Country Fair
success
Our thanks go to the organisers of Kingston
Country Fair, who presented our team with
a cheque for £5,100 as proceeds from their
2015 event. A recent announcement has also
confirmed that Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance will once again be beneficiaries of
this year’s event, which takes place on Sunday
3 July 2016.
Plans are well underway and it’s looking
bigger and better than ever. Located in the
field next to Kingston Country Courtyard,
which showcases magnificent views across
the Purbecks, it sounds the perfect family day
out. For more information on attending or
participating with stalls and attractions, please
contact Mr & Mrs Alan Fry on 01929 481663 or
by email: ann@fryfarm.net
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 41

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how you can help
Need to get in
touch?
CONTACT US:
Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance
Landacre House
Castle Road
Chelston Business Park
Wellington
Somerset
TA21 9JQ
Tel: 01823 669604
E: info@dsairambulance.org.uk
www.dsairambulance.org.uk
Ways to support us
As you can see from our magazine, there are many different ways that you can help us! For those
of you with a busy lifestyle, we have initiatives already in place that are simple to implement.
For those with more time available, there are plenty of alternatives
Book a talk
Ideal for groups, clubs and schools to learn
more about what we do
Business partnership
opportunities
Charity of the year, payroll giving, employee
volunteering
Collection boxes
Place one in your local shop or simply donate
whenever you see one
Events
Register for one of our events or organise your
own
Join us
Become a volunteer and donate the ‘gift of
time’
Join our Lottery
Individually or as part of our business
partnerships initiative
Leave a legacy
An everlasting gift
Recycle
Donate your unwanted textiles, mobile phones
and used stamps
Sponsorship
For equipment, flying time, or one of our events
Ways to make a personal donation
There are a number of ways to support us by
making a personal donation. It really depends on
which option suits you best.
If you are a UK taxpayer, the methods below
allow us to claim Gift Aid on your donation.
Gift Aid allows us to claim back 25p in every £1
donated from HMRC and is one of the easiest
ways to make your donation tax effective. The
Charity reclaims the money and there is no extra
cost to you.
Credit/Debit card You can do this over
the phone by calling: 01823 669604
Cash or personal cheque Please make cheques
payable to ‘Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’
and send to: DSAA, Landacre House, Castle Road,
Chelston Business Park, Wellington, Somerset
TA21 9JQ. Please do not send cash in the post –
you are welcome to call into our office, where we
would be pleased to see you.
Standing order For regular donations
Online via JustGiving
www.justgiving.com/dsaa/Donate
Payroll giving Ask your employer if they offer a ‘Give
as you Earn Scheme’, most large employers do
Text giving Simply text DSAA01 £2/£5/£10 to
70070 (eg, DSAA01 £5)
More information can be found on our website:
www.dsairambulance.org.uk or you can speak to
one of our team on: 01823 669604
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 43

how you can help
Come and join in!
As summer approaches, we are looking for people to get involved in fundraising
016 seems to be flying by and it won’t be
2
long before we are into the summer season.
We’ve already got a number of events and
talks booked into our diary, which are keeping our
fundraising and volunteer teams extremely busy.
When it comes to fundraising, it would appear that
there is never a ‘down time’. That’s probably because
our supporters are constantly thinking up new and
innovative ways of raising funds to enable our crew to
carry out their amazing work. You can read about some
of these within this edition of the magazine.
Remember, if you are holding an event or raising
funds for the Charity, please be sure to let us know.
This enables us to support you in your quest, whether
by providing fundraising merchandise, promoting
your event on our website calendar, sending along
a representative or simply by providing advice and
guidance.
We have a fantastic team of volunteers who
represent the Charity at events, service our collection
boxes held at over 2,000 outlets across the two counties,
attend cheque presentations on our behalf and carry
out talks to a variety of clubs and groups. Between June
and December last year, 207 supporter-led events were
held in aid of the Charity – which is 34 more than the
previous year – and 69 talks were presented by our
team over the same period. We simply could not do this
without the help of our volunteers, so a very big thank
you from us all.
On the subject of volunteers; we are currently
looking for people to help us in the Bournemouth,
Poole and Dorchester areas by attending events or
giving talks. We are looking for people with excellent
communication skills, who are numerate and have the
ability to talk to groups with confidence. Full training
will be provided. If you feel you could donate your time,
(it doesn’t have to be on a regular basis), please call us
on: 01823 669604 or email: info@dsairambulance.org.uk
Our supporters are often looking at the different ways
to get involved. Our website is a great place to start to
find out more. There are a number of initiatives already
in place that are easy to implement and our fundraising
pack gives you some really great ideas, together with
hints and tips.
In addition to these, there are also a number of
initiatives that give a donation to Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance when you purchase, sell or recycle
products.
Easy fundraising
One way you can help is by signing up to Easy
Fundraising and logging in whenever you buy online.
44 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

how you can help
Business partnership
opportunities
There are nearly 3,000 retailers who make a donation
when you shop this way, including Amazon, John Lewis,
Aviva, thetrainline and Sainsbury’s! It’s really simple and
doesn’t cost you a penny extra.
Here’s how to do it:
Sign up for FREE: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/
dsairambulance/
Shop – Every time you shop online, go to
easyfundraising first, pick the retailer you want and
start shopping.
Raise – After you’ve checked out, the retailer will
make a donation to your good cause for no extra cost
whatsoever!
Let’s sky dive
Perhaps you’re more of an adrenalin junkie and fancy
taking part in a sponsored parachute jump? Check out
our website for details of Skydive.buzz and Go Skydive,
who both offer the opportunity of jumping to raise funds
for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
Textile recycling
Your unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, blankets, towels
and general household textiles continue to raise
money for the Charity. There are more than 150
yellow banks located across the two counties. Please
keep donating. To find your nearest bank, visit:
www.bagitup.org.uk/banklocator
ebay for charity
Sell your goods on eBay and donate between
10% and 100% of the profits to DSAA. eBay will
guide you through the whole process. Visit:
www.ebay.co.uk/ebayforcharity and then search
for ‘Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’.
Mobile phone recycling
Your old phone could raise
funds for the Charity. Don’t
just put it in the kitchen
drawer and never think of it
again; visit our website: www.
dsairambulance.org.uk for
more information or call:
01823 669604.
The sky’s the limit
when it comes to
fundraising ideas
Business partnerships are a great way
of demonstrating your corporate social
responsibility and motivating employees
through fundraising activities. There are a
number of benefits for both the business and
the employee and a variety of ways in which
you can get involved, including:
Adopting us as your Charity of the Year
Holding a fundraising event
Offering match funding opportunities
Payroll giving
Project funding, either by donating an
employee’s time and skills, or funding
Implementing one of our recycling initiatives
at your workplace
Sponsoring our Coast to Coast Cycle
Challenge
Hosting an information stand in your staff
room
Employee promotion and multiple
subscription to our Flight for Life Lottery
Providing Gifts in Kind, such as surplus
equipment or supply of goods or vouchers
Gift Aid reminder
Gift Aid is one of the easiest ways to make
your donation tax-effective. If you are a UK
taxpayer and are fundraising for DSAA, we
can claim an additional 25% on your donation;
that’s 25p in every £1 donated. Simply
download a copy of the form, which can be
found on our website, or ask our office to send
you a copy in the post. For those who are
taking part in sponsored events, please ensure
that all those who tick the Gift Aid box enter
their full name, home address and postcode;
we are unable to process claims if they are not
complete or show a business address.
Finally, our sincere thanks go to everyone
who supports us, you really are making
a difference! Please remember, if there is
anything our team can do to help or support
you in return, simply call: 01823 669604 or
email: info@dsairambulance.org.uk
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 45

Westons Visitor Centre
Westons Cider has been making cider in the Herefordshire
village of Much Marcle, since 1880. Join a mill tour and
go behind the scenes to discover how your favourite cider
is produced. Sample cider and perry in the shop or enjoy
homemade food in the Scrumpy House Restaurant.
• Cider Mill Tours - 11.00am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm
• Cider Shop and FREE Tasting (over 18’s only)
• Scrumpy House Restaurant and Bottle Museum Tea Room
• Located on the A449 between Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye
• Open 7 days a week
Westons Cider, The Bounds, Much Marcle,
Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2NQ
T: 01531 660108
E: enquiries@westons-cider.co.uk
A GREAT
DAY OUT
Call 01531 660108 or visit www.westons-cider.co.uk
for further information and to arrange your visit.
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Spread the word
how you can help
National Air
Ambulance Week
There are a number of ways you can
get involved and help raise money
for DSAA during this busy week
ational Air Ambulance Week (NAAW) 2016
N
takes place between Monday 19 and Sunday
25 September. The initiative, created by the
Association of Air Ambulances, celebrates the work of
local air ambulance charities and has become a regular
feature on event calendars across the UK.
This is an opportunity for you to show your support for
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and forward plan
an event or activity during NAAW. There are so many
ways that you can get involved. Why not hold a mufti/
dress down day at school or within your workplace? Even
better, give it a yellow theme, as this is the colour of our
helicopter. You could bake cakes, have a coffee morning,
organise an event or set yourselves a challenge and ask
people to sponsor you.
Our website, Facebook and Twitter pages will keep
you up to date of our plans for the week, but in the
meantime we hope you will speak to your school, group
or workplace and get behind NAAW 2016. Remember to
let us know what you are planning so that we can give
you all the support you need. Simply call: 01823 669604
or email: info@dsairambulance.org.uk
Follow us on Facebook
Help us increase our following by
visiting our Facebook page.
You can do this by logging into Facebook
and searching for ‘Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance’, or alternatively you can go to
our website www.dsairambulance.org.uk and
click on the Facebook logo at the top right of
the page.
Tweet!
Follow us on Twitter:
@dsairambulance
Scan it!
Our QR code (left) will direct
you to the home page of
the Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance website.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 47

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For more information please call or email us on:
Tel: 01202 590 800 Email: info@bourne2fly.co.uk
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Untitled-1 13 18/03/2014 09:19

Kids’ page
how you can help
Young
fundraiser
extraordinaire!
Eleven-year-old Caitlin Else, from Stalbridge School,
decided to fundraise for the Charity after she was
inspired by a customer fundraising at her parents’
restaurant. At the event, Caitlin drew a picture of the
EC135 helicopter, which was raffled off and raised £20.
The lucky new owner of the picture decided to donate it
back to the Charity where it proudly hangs at the airbase
in Henstridge.
That day sparked Caitlin’s interest in the air
ambulance so much that she decided to support the
Charity with a fundraising event at her school. With
help from her mum and pupils at the school, Caitlin
organised a pop-up café, which had a selection of
scrumptious homemade cakes and a raffle with prizes
donated by local businesses.
Caitlin’s mum Nicki Else said: “The event was a real
success! Everyone had such a brilliant time and the
turnout was fantastic. Caitlin wanted to raise £200
for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance so she was
absolutely delighted to raise £480.” Definitely a young
fundraiser in the making!
Goodies travel 6,054
miles to Bolivia
Ronal is nearly 6 years old and lives in Bolivia with his
parents, brothers and sisters. He walks to pre-school
every day, which takes him about 30 minutes. Ronal is
sponsored through World Vision by a man called Neil
Herbert who we met at an event recently. Neil told us
that, as part of Ronal’s birthday present, he sent him a
Dorset and Somerset Air ambulance notebook and pen
together with a Union Jack. In return, Neil has received a
translated letter and photo of Ronal bearing the goodies.
Thanks for flying our flag Ronal and we hope they help
you with your studies!
Making a difference
1st Fosseway Beaver Scouts in Martock have been
collecting stamps for months to help raise money for
DSAA. This was for their Community Impact badge.
Making a difference is such an important part of being
a Beaver Scout. This badge gave them the chance to help
other people in their local community and make the
world a better place. Volunteers Jacky and John Crew are
pictured with the scouts, after telling them more about
the work of our air ambulance.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 49

letters
Postbag
Wedding present
Please find enclosed cheques that were
donated to us on the occasion of our
diamond wedding anniversary. We hope
this small amount will help a little with the
wonderful work that you do.
Yours sincerely,
Mr & Mrs GL Sollis
Amazing!
You took me to Salisbury Hospital in 1998. I
would not be here today if it was not for the
air ambulance. Thank you a million times.
Amazing job you do!
James Fowler
@pow_rebecca Proud to support invaluable
work of @dsairambulance.
Rebecca Pow MP
Christmas spirit
Please find enclosed a cheque for £200
for a Christmas donation on behalf of
Smith and Williamson. I nominated your
Charity for one of our Christmas donations,
having been rescued by your incredible
team several years ago after suffering a
head trauma as a result of a horse-riding
accident. Without the help of your team, I
may well not be here today. Many thanks for
all of the great work you do.
Yours faithfully,
Amber Burridge
Festive cheer
Each Christmas here in the villages of
Coleford, Holcombe, Leigh on Mendip and
Chantry, the Phillips family and friends
have been visiting with their Christmas
float, giving out chocolates to the children.
We do not knock on doors, but if parents
wish to donate then all donations received
are given to various charities. This year
we decided to include your Charity as one
of the recipients of any donations. I am
pleased to be able to include with this
letter a cheque for £350.
Yours sincerely,
E W Phillip (for the Phillips family and
friends)
Respect
Fantastic, without doubt you saved my
husband’s life after a serious paragliding
accident in 2012. Much respect x
Lindsey Jolliffe
Please find enclosed a cheque for £130. My
wife and I have just celebrated our 25th
wedding anniversary, we had a collection
for the Charity instead of presents. I
hope that you can put it to good use and
continue saving lives.
Best wishes,
Jeff and Anna Davis
If it wasn’t for the air ambulance’s speedy
response and treatment, my dad wouldn’t
be here today!
Natalie Haimes
The Phillips family’s
float helped to raise
£350 for DSAA
My family can’t thank you enough for
saving my brother!
Aaron Barclay
We’d love to hear from you!
Please send your letters to:
DSAA, Landacre House, Castle Road,
Chelston Business Park, Wellington TA21 9JQ,
or email: info@dsairambulance.org.uk
50 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk

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Untitled-4 13 20/03/2014 11:05

Untitled-3 13 02/09/2013 16:27