Beeline Autumn 2016

Beeline
FEATURE
BeelineRegistered Charity
1078685
The Official Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Magazine
1
WE HELP SAVE LIVES, ONE DAY IT COULD BE YOURS
Autumn 2016 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
01 DSAA Cover_Autumn_16.indd 1 11/08/2016 11:24

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FOREWORD
Welcome
t’s hard to believe that summer is
I
nearly over and that we are closing
in on some of the most exciting
months the Charity has seen for a number
of years. Summer is always a busy time, both
operationally and administratively. Our
fundraising team and volunteer network have
been inundated with requests for attendance
at events and activities across the two counties.
It’s not always possible for us to give the level of
support we would like, but we continue to do
everything we can to help you in your quest to
support us.
Things have been pretty busy on the
operational front too. Having established
Critical Care Teams for every shift in April, and
started carrying blood products, we are now
delivering the highest level of pre-hospital care
currently possible. With blood being high on
the agenda over the last few months, the team
were also keen to make sure that they played
a part in promoting the need for more blood
donors in our region when they supported
the #Missing Type campaign. You can read
more on these topics within our ‘What We Do’
section on pages 11-18.
As well as dealing with the here and now, we
are working hard to bring together a number
of initiatives aimed at ensuring we stay at the
forefront of what we do.
We are now in the process of building up
the number of doctors and paramedics in
anticipation of extending our helicopter’s
hours of operation from 12 hours to 19 in
January 2017, meaning that we can deliver
care to even more people in need. Work on
the remodelling of the inside of our airbase,
including the creation of a modern clinical
training facility and significant enhancements
to existing facilities, has also begun and will be
complete in October.
This is a necessary prelude to the arrival of
our new helicopter in November. The aircraft
is now off the main assembly line and about
to be painted before the fitting of electronic
components and basic internal fittings. The
aircraft will then be handed over to our new
operator, Specialist Aviation Services, and the
medical interior will be fitted before final
delivery to us.
Since our last magazine, we have seen
two of our long-serving Trustees step down
from their posts. Roger Morgan, Chairman of
Trustees, explains more about this on page 10.
However, I would like to take the opportunity
to personally thank Roger Ferre and Robbie
Drewett for their dedication, commitment and
many years of service.
It has been six years (nearly to the day) since I
first joined the Charity. There have been plenty
of challenges and many highlights along the
way. Some of these, together with my views on a
number of topics, are included in an interview
I gave for this edition of Beeline on pages 16-18.
Although trying to forecast the future is often a
fool’s errand, one thing is certain, we have much
to look forward to. Many great ideas and plans
are already in the pipeline but some we have yet
to even think about!
I would like to thank everyone who has
provided content for this issue. It really is
packed full of articles covering a range of
topics; some you will find informative, many
you will find inspirational.
Finally, the biggest thank you of all must go
to our supporters. It is the generosity of the
people of Dorset and Somerset that is enabling
us to continue improving and delivering an air
ambulance service we can all be proud of!
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: Dr Phil Hyde
© 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
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CONTENTS
Contents
3 Welcome
A letter from the Chief Executive
19
WHO WE ARE
7 Your helicopter heroes
Pictures of our crew
8 Behind the scenes with…
... four of our crew members
10 A word from our Trustees
Fond farewells and warm welcomes
WHAT WE DO
11 Statistics
Essential facts and figures on the vital work
of the air ambulance
12 Clinical update
The last six months have been another extremely
busy and productive period for the DSAA crew
14 The power of collaboration
Our Critical Care capability has been enhanced
with the carriage of blood products
16 An interview with Bill Sivewright,
DSAA Chief Executive Officer
After almost six years at the helm, our CEO reflects
on the changes he has seen and looks to the future
WHY WE DO IT
19 “You’ll always be our heroes”
A thank you from the family of Gavin White, who
DSAA airlifted to hospital
20 “These unsung heroes were
absolute legends”
When nine-year-old Jaimee Whiston-McAnulty
suffered a seizure, DSAA were on hand to help
21 “You guys are amazing”
Sarah Vaughan-Powell thanks us for coming to the
aid of her father
4 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
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CONTENTS
38
30
22 “I defied all odds”
Despite suffering severe injuries in an accident,
John Loader managed to walk out of hospital
23 Help for a Lion
Warminster Lion and keen paraglider Ken Lang
found himself flying in an air ambulance
15
24 “Faultless service”
After suffering a heart attack, Paul Dyer was
airlifted to Musgrove Park Hospital
LOTTERY
25 Flight for Life Lottery
The easiest and most sustainable way to keep
us flying
HOW PEOPLE HELP
30 Simply the best Coast to
Coast Cycle Challenge yet
On 15 May, hundreds of cyclists assembled at
Watchet Harbour on the Somerset coast…
32 Ella Fest held in memory of
beautiful teenager
Ella Pallister’s family and friends organised a
festival to commemorate what would have
been her 21st birthday
33 AgustaWestland graduates
raise £1,174
Ryan Humphries, Alistair Montgomery and
Ollie Zaccaria take part in the Yeovil Half Marathon
33 Sky’s the limit for Riders In
The Sky
This year’s Ride Out and Family Fun Day raised
more than £10,000 for DSAA
34 Fundraising family
Rebecca Chubb’s family has organised a number of
fundraising events since her airlift in 2014
34 Scrummy Sconathon
Fifteen bakers managed to produce 1,143 scones and
raise more than £7,000 for two charities
35 Our volunteers
Husband and wife team Derek and Diane Albutt
IN THE COMMUNITY
37 In the community
Fundraising stories from across the two counties
HOW YOU CAN HELP
45 Ways to support us
There are many different ways you can help us
46 Fundraising frenzy
Join our team, fundraise at work, visit a restaurant,
jump from a plane, recycle your items… it all helps!
48 Other ways to help us
Gift aid, leave a legacy or simply spread the word
50 Postbag
A selection of readers’ letters
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 5
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About us
The Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance is YOUR service –
provided for people in YOUR
area – with YOUR support
WHO WE ARE
Your helicopter heroes
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 and the average cost per
mission is approximately £2,500.
Operations
Since our launch in 2000, we have flown more than
11,500 missions. 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.
Providing critical care
Our Critical Care Paramedics are employed by the South
Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
(SWASFT). Our doctors are a mixture of senior emergency
physicians, intensive care consultants and anaesthetists
from hospitals across our region. All the paramedics and
doctors are highly qualified and as part of their role also
assist the pilot with navigation and operation of some of
the aircraft systems.
Pilots
Our pilots are provided by Babcock MCS Onshore
(formerly Bond Air Services), who operate our aircraft.
They are carefully selected because air ambulance
flights are typically more challenging than regular nonemergency
flight services. They will have a great deal of
experience in low-level operations and instrument flying.
Operational hours
Between September 2016 and January 2017 our
operational hours will steadily increase to 19 hours a day
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
(07.00am – 02.00am). During this time and in the hours
of darkness, we will be tasked on our Critical Care Car
(CCC) until January 2017, when our Night HEMS service
will begin.
Code of conduct
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a member of the
Association of Air Ambulances. We also adhere to the
standards set by the Fundraising Regulator.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 7
07 DSAA About us-Heli Heroes.indd 7 12/08/2016 08:45

WHO WE ARE
Behind the scenes with…
LEONIE GERMAN (CCP)
I joined the South Western
Ambulance Service Trust in 1996,
qualified as a technician in 1999
and became a qualified paramedic
in 2002. I have been working on the
air ambulance full time since 2009
and it’s been incredible. I knew
that I wanted a challenging career
within the medical profession. It was in my early days
as a technician that I knew I wanted to work on the air
ambulance, but I was very aware that it would be a long
and hard journey to get here, which it has been.
The best part of my job is being able to reach critically
unwell people and provide life-saving, high-quality
treatment and care. It’s also amazing to be able to
appreciate from the air the beautiful coastline of Dorset
and Somerset.
I am engaged to Andy and have a gorgeous 17-monthold
daughter called Eva. On my time off I like to go
exploring the coastal paths, horse riding, skiing, diving
and travelling. I also like to go to music festivals and
spend time with my friends/family.
Fun stuff
Favourite colour: Dusky pink
Favourite flavour ice-cream: Honeycomb
If I won the Lottery I would… Buy a super yacht
and sail around the world!
I’d like to be stuck in a lift with… Robert Downey
Junior, so we could talk about flying!
Favourite movie or TV show: Game of Thrones
and Dexter
What I’ve learnt in the last week: Time is precious
DR DAVID MARTIN
I qualified as a doctor in 2001 at
Imperial College, based at St Mary’s
Hospital in London. I held a variety
of medical, anaesthetic, surgical
and critical care jobs in London and
Cornwall before moving to Dorset
in 2006, where I took up a training
rotation in Emergency Medicine.
I was later accepted to train in Intensive Care Medicine
in the Wessex Region and worked at Basingstoke, Poole,
Southampton and Portsmouth Hospitals before being
appointed as a Consultant at Royal Bournemouth
Hospital in 2011. I have particular interests in delivering
Critical Care outside of the ICU, and improving the
quality and consistency of Emergency Assessment and
Care for sepsis. I have been lucky enough to have worked
with Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance since 2013.
8 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
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WHO WE ARE
max hoskins Photo: Milly Pilkington
The best part of my job is being able to
directly and positively influence so many
people’s lives. Emergency Medicine has
been said, at least in part, to be the business
of managing chaos. To be able to use my
knowledge and skills to create order and
calm in a chaotic environment, to relieve
pain and distress and help people when
they need it most is fulfilling, a privilege
and undoubtedly my vocation.
I live in Poole with my wife, a nurse who I met
in Basingstoke as a Registrar, and our two children.
We love the outdoors, and as a keen photographer
I take my camera everywhere we go. I’m trying to
become a decent cyclist, but it’s not easy fitting
that in around my work, two children and the air
ambulance!
Fun stuff
Favourite colour: Blue, although most of my
favourite clothes seem to be grey!
Favourite flavour ice-cream: Difficult… Purbeck
Chocolate perhaps, but you can’t go far wrong
with a Kelly’s Cornish Clotted Cream. Then there’s
Giggi’s Gelateria… I could go on
If I won the Lottery I would… I would like to say
I’d do something charitable first, but to be honest,
that Jaguar F-type keeps calling…
I’d like to be stuck in a lift with: My wife thinks I’d
like to be there with Michel Roux Junior. I have to
admit I do find him quite inspirational!
Favourite movie or TV show: Silent Witness
What I’ve learnt in the last week: How good
Swedish food is. It’s unique and totally delicious
NEIL BIZZELL (CCP)
I first became interested in the work
of the ambulance service when my
Dad joined the London Ambulance
Service (LAS) as a second career and
my neighbour at the time was one
of the first paramedics on London’s
Helicopter Emergency Service
(HEMS). I joined LAS in 1996 as a
999 call taker and dispatcher in the Central Ambulance
Control, Waterloo. I spent a couple of years out of the
service before re-joining LAS in 1999 as an Emergency
Medical Technician. I then qualified as a paramedic in
2002 and was posted to Westminster Ambulance Station
where I stayed for 10 years.
During this time, I was seconded to the West End
Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV), completed a BSc (Hons)
Paramedic Science with Emergency Care Practice and
achieved my ambition of a secondment with London
Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).
In 2010 we decided to move out of London and we came
to Dorset and I began working for the South Western
Ambulance Service. I joined Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance in 2015, making me the newest member of
the team. I feel extremely privileged in many ways:
I work with a fantastic and supportive team, I am
fortunate enough to see the wonderful counties
of Dorset and Somerset from the air and I get to
help people who are in need.
I am married to a paediatric nurse and we
have an eight-year-old son. I enjoy going to the
gym and have tried my hand at a few sprint
triathlons. I like reading crime/thriller novels and
I have a very broad range of musical taste. I also like
Lego, Scalextrics and building dens (and sometimes my
son gets to join in too).
Fun stuff
Favourite colour: Orange
Favourite flavour ice-cream: Rum and raisin
If I won the Lottery I would… Buy an Around the
World ticket so I could show my son what an
amazing planet we live on
I’d like to be stuck in a lift with… Peter Kaye so he
could try and teach me some jokes (and work on
my delivery and timing!)
Favourite movie or TV show: James Bond, Skyfall
What I’ve learnt in the last week: Cooking times
are in recipes for a reason
MAX HOSKINS (PILOT)
I have been a helicopter pilot for
28 years. I gained a RAF flying
scholarship and qualified for my
private pilot’s licence in 1986.
Subsequently I was sponsored
by Bristow Helicopters for my
commercial licence and flew in
various countries around the world.
I also flew to and from North Sea oil platforms before
realising that I wanted to fly HEMS (Helicopter Emergency
Medical Service). I started working for Midlands Air
Ambulance before being offered the chance to join Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance in 2004 and have been here
ever since.
The best part of my job is definitely meeting the public.
When the helicopter lands at the scene of an incident it
can draw a crowd. If time permits, I am happy to chat to
the public and answer any questions people may have. It’s
the least I can do. The public deserve an opportunity to
find out more because it is they who keep us flying.
I live in Marnhull with my wife and we have six (yes six)
cats! I play the drums in two local bands and have started
to play golf badly!
Fun stuff
Favourite colour: Dollar green
Favourite flavour ice-cream: Vanilla
If I won the Lottery I would… Buy a holiday
I’d like to be stuck in a lift with… A lift repair man!
Favourite movie or TV show: Local Hero
What I’ve learnt in the last week: I don’t like filling
out questionnaires!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 9
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WHO WE ARE
Roger (above) and Robbie (above right) are prime
examples of the large number of volunteers who operate
quietly in the background, never seeking the limelight,
but providing a fantastic service to the Charity, so in
expressing my thanks publicly to them for their service to
the Charity over the years, I would also like to express my
thanks to all the other unnamed volunteers who support
us in so many ways.
From those who service our collection boxes, attend
events, give talks and those who organise the wide
range of fundraising events on our behalf, to the hardworking
team of Trustees who share their professional
skills to guide the Charity through the operational, legal
and financial challenges of delivering our service… Thank
you! We simply could not achieve what we do without
your support.
A word from
our Trustees
Roger Morgan, Chairman of our
Trustees, bids fond farewells and
extends warm welcomes
uring the past quarter we have seen some
D
changes to our Trustee Board. The maximum
term a Trustee may serve on the board is
nine years; this is to ensure that fresh ideas and new
perspectives are brought in at regular intervals. It also
ensures that as a Board we never become complacent.
It is therefore with great pleasure that I would like
to welcome David Senior and Richard Kennedy (both
profiled on the right) as our newest Trustees.
The downside to having a maximum term that
Trustees may serve on the Board is that, from time to
time, we lose long-term supporters who have helped
shape and develop the Charity. In the last quarter we have
said goodbye to Roger Ferre and Robbie Drewett, who
have both provided us with their wit and wisdom in huge
measures. They have helped to ensure that we never lose
focus on successful patient outcomes and have provided
legal expertise on a number of fronts.
DAVID SENIOR
David has been involved in aviation
throughout his career. Initially an
Army helicopter pilot and later
an instructor, examiner and CFS
Tri-Service Agent, he amassed over
6,000 hours flight time in 20 years
of operational flying around the
world. After leaving the Army, David
worked in the civilian aviation world for nearly 20 years
at Board and Ministerial level, only recently retiring.
David has been a sitting Dorset magistrate for over 10
years and presently sits as the Bench Chairman in the
Bournemouth Adult Magistrate Court. He lives with his
wife Liz and their 13-year-old Springer Spaniel in a small
Purbeck village on the south coast of Dorset and has two
children and four grandchildren.
RICHARD KENNEDY
Richard is a Chartered Accountant
and is a partner with PFK Francis
Clark LLP, the largest firm of
accountants in the South West. He
grew up in Taunton and studied law
at Southampton University before
training as an accountant with a
national firm in London. He then
spent a few years working in Richmond, Surrey before
returning to work in Somerset. Richard works in Taunton
and advises owner managed businesses, charities and
professional practices. He lives nearly in the countryside
with his wife Julia and they have two grown up children
and one grandson. Outside work, Richard enjoys sailing
and is a sporadic and very average golf and tennis player.
10 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
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Facts
More facts and statistics are available on
our website: www.dsairambulance.org.uk
We currently have 48 ‘Charity of the Year’ relationships
with businesses, groups and clubs. Contact our
fundraising team on: 01823 669604 to find out how you can
help in this way.
Our Flight for Life Lottery
costs £1 a week to join with
a weekly Jackpot of £1,000. You
can join today by completing
the direct debit form on p28.
what we do
Since our
formation we have
been tasked to more
than 11,500 missions.
Every one of these is
the result of somebody
suffering a potentially
life-threatening injury or
accident and it
is not a number
that we celebrate.
Our number of missions during the last financial year
(1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016) totalled 675. This is an
increase of 11% on the previous year. Of these, 326 took place
in Somerset and 302 in Dorset. The outstanding number took
place on the borders of our neighbouring counties: Devon,
Hampshire, North Somerset and Wiltshire.
Our busiest days
of the week are
Saturday and Sunday
and the busiest time
of the year is normally
during the summer
months (July and
August).
During March, April and
May 2016 we attended
228 incidents. Our team carried
out four inter-hospital transfers
of critically unwell patients
from district general hospitals
to the regional centres in
Southampton and Bristol.
60% of our missions were to patients suffering from trauma,
39% of our patients had symptoms of a medical nature and
we provided seven hospital transfers. Some of these patients have
kindly shared their stories with us. You can read these on pages
19-24.
We have a total of 119 volunteers who help us in so many ways. If you
could donate the ‘gift of time’ we would be delighted to hear from you!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 11
11_DSAA_Stats.indd 11 12/08/2016 08:47

WHAT WE DO
Clinical update
The last six months have been another extremely busy and productive
period for the crew of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Training
Our Critical Care Team has had an extremely busy time
over the last year, both operationally and in training.
Training plays an integral part in ensuring that we are
prepared for all eventualities and that we keep up to date
with any advances in pre-hospital emergency medicine.
Some of the more recent training topics have
included:
the care of critically ill pregnant patients;
improving team cohesion;
the management of bleeding patients;
inter-hospital transfer of critically ill/injured adult
and children.
Joint training exercises have also taken place with
HM Coastguard, Dorset Police Tactical Response Unit,
Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and Dorset and
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Technical Rescue Team. These
simulated sessions continue to be extremely beneficial
in improving inter-agency co-operation, knowledge
and skills.
12 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
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WHAT WE DO
The training calendar for the coming months is
jam-packed. We will be continuing the work with
our Emergency Services colleagues as well as our
neighbouring air ambulances. Additionally, with
the arrival of our new aircraft in November and the
extension in the number of hours we operate, our
training will also focus on additional equipment
and night-time operations.
Outreach
Neil Bizzell continues to lead the extremely
important work of engaging our SWASFT
colleagues and improving knowledge of how
DSAA can support patient care. This has been
well supported by other members of our team
who have been busy providing education to our
Ambulance Service colleagues at local ambulance
stations across the two counties.
Instructors, representation and exams
Mark Williams and Claire Baker have been
recommended as instructors for the Advanced Life
Support Course.
Mark and Owen Hammett have been invited to
represent DSAA in the joint Search and Rescue Group
and four of our clinical team (Leonie German, Neil
Bizzell, Mark Williams and Tony Doyle) sat the
National Diploma of Immediate Medical Care
in July.
Baby news!
We are delighted to announce the arrival of
our newest crew member!
Jack Walker was born on 10 June
2016 weighing a very healthy 9lb 2oz.
Congratulations to Michelle and Rob Walker, he is
absolutely gorgeous!
Crew back Missing
Type campaign for
new blood donors
Many of our Critical Care Team regularly donate
blood, so it was no surprise that they were keen
to get behind this year’s Missing Type campaign
organised by NHS Blood and Transplant. The
initiative brings together 25 blood services from
21 countries in a bid to call for blood donors of
the future.
Our team played its part by donating blood
at a session held in Weymouth on Wednesday
10 August and then subsequently took part in
a photo shoot to further promote the Missing
Type campaign.
NHS Blood and Transplant need to collect 1.6
million units of blood each year to meet the
needs of patients across England alone.
By omitting the letters of the main blood
groups (A, O and B) from the Charity’s logo, we
hope that the people of Dorset and Somerset
will help ‘fill in the gaps’ by registering as new
donors. Every donation could help or save up to
three people.
Mike Stredder, Director of Blood Donation
at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Blood
donation is an amazing gift and we are really
grateful to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
for their support. Thanks to the generosity of
our current donors, hospitals have the blood
needed to treat patients and there is not a crisis
in blood stocks. Despite overall blood use in
hospitals declining, we need more people to
start giving blood to replace those who can no
longer donate and to ensure we have the right
mix of blood groups to match patient needs in
the future.
The NHS Missing
Type campaign
is to encourage
people to
donate blood
“We are in need of more young donors to
help ensure the future of blood donation and
also more donors from Black African, Black
Caribbean, mixed race, Arab and South Asian
heritage to reflect the ethnic diversity of
patients.”
You can sign up to become a donor today by
visiting: www.blood.co.uk or by calling: 0300
123 23 (24 hours a day, seven days a week, with
all calls charged at the standard local rate, even
from mobile phones).
You can also support the campaign on Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram - #MissingType
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 13
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WHAT WE DO
The power of collaboration
Thanks to meticulous planning and strong teamwork, there has been an
enhancement in our Critical Care capability with the carriage of blood products
n 9 June 2016 we officially announced that
O
a collaboration between the Charity, Dorset
County Hospital, Devon Freewheelers, the
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation
Trust (SWASFT) and the Henry Surtees Foundation, had
resulted in patients now being able to receive blood
products at the scene of an incident.
An official launch took place at Henstridge, where
all parties involved in the project heard how their
contribution was already making a difference to so
many people’s lives.
Emergency blood transfusions are usually given to
patients who suffer life-threatening bleeding caused
by major trauma or acute medical conditions. 40% of
trauma deaths are due to bleeding, so being able to
carry and administer blood products to these patients
before they get to hospital could be a matter of life or
death.
After months of research and a dedicated
commitment to patient benefit, the Charity’s Critical
Care Team worked extremely hard on identifying the
best way to deliver, implement and fund this project.
Special recognition was given to the work of Critical
Care Paramedic Michelle Walker and Air Ambulance
Intensive Care Consultant Dr Ian Mew in bringing the
project to fruition.
Of the 20 air ambulance charities across the UK,
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance joins nine others
who now carry blood products. In a bid to ensure that
patients in extremis have enough blood to keep them
alive until they reach hospital, we carry four units of
O-type red blood cells, unlike many others who only
carry two.
A further significant development is that freeze-dried
plasma will also be carried by Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance in the near future.
Experience from the military suggests that if a
patient is bleeding to death, they should receive both
packed red cells (which carry oxygen) and plasma
(which carries the clotting factors to help stop the
bleeding). Freeze-dried plasma was selected as the
preferred option to fresh frozen plasma as it has a shelflife
of approximately 18 months and can be made up
when needed, unlike fresh frozen plasma, which has a
five-day shelf-life after being thawed. The Charity will
become one of four air ambulance charities in the UK to
carry a combination of blood and plasma and the only
air ambulance charity in the South West to do so.
Developing the blood service is an expense. It requires
equipment within the hospital to pre-condition the
blood, transportation to and from hospital to the
airbase and a dedicated place of storage. It also requires
equipment to keep the blood cold on the aircraft and
further specialist equipment that warms the blood as it
is being transfused to the patient.
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance team built
key relationships with a number of different parties
who have played a key role in the facilitation and
funding of the project.
The Transfusion Laboratory at Dorset County Hospital
(DCH) has been extremely supportive of the project,
providing four units of O-type blood to the Charity every
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WHAT WE DO
48 hours. The blood is stored in temperature regulated
‘Golden Hour’ boxes, which keep the blood under 6°C
for up to 72 hours. These boxes require conditioning
in order to function (a process of freezing and partial
thawing) using -30°C freezers provided specifically for
this purpose. The boxes are packed and sealed prior to
dispatch by the DCH Transfusion Team and contain
a temperature logging device that ensures the blood
temperature is monitored for the duration that it is out
of the hospital environment.
Motorcycle charity Devon Freewheelers delivers the
blood to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance on blood
bikes and in a newly sponsored car. This team of around
50 volunteer emergency vehicle drivers is dedicated to
providing a weekday out of hours and 24/7 weekend
service supporting the NHS by delivering essential
blood, samples, medication and donor breast milk to
and from hospitals across the South West.
If the ‘Golden Hour’ box is unopened at the end of
the 48-hour period, it will be collected by the Devon
Freewheelers and returned to DCH, where it will be
reissued and utilised within the hospital. Similarly, if
blood is used during a shift, the Helicopter Emergency
Medical Service Desk (HEMS) contacts the DCH
Top: Dr Ian Mew
pictured during
a simulated
exercise, which
took place on
the day
Above: members
of DCH and Devon
Freewheelers
who attended the
official launch
Transfusion Laboratory and the Devon Freewheelers
deliver additional stocks within a matter of hours.
An application for funding of the project was
submitted to the Henry Surtees Foundation, which
concluded that the set up costs of being fully funded
by the foundation totalled nearly £18,000. Further
logistical support was shown when the Henry Surtees
Foundation also agreed to cover the leasing costs of a
Vauxhall Mokka 4x4, which is being used by the Devon
Freewheelers as an additional resource to deliver and
collect the blood.
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust (SWASFT) has also been extremely
supportive of the project. The Trust is fortunate to be
supported by five air ambulance charities – the largest
number of charities of any UK ambulance service – and
is responsible for tasking all the air ambulances, clinical
governance and employment of the paramedics.
Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Chief Executive Officer, said: “To the lay person, the
decision to carry blood in the air ambulance seems
very straightforward. However, in reality, it takes an
enormous amount of careful consideration and detailed
planning by a number of organisations to make it
happen. Bringing together the experience and expertise
of DSAA, Dorset County Hospital, SWASFT and Devon
Freewheelers and the generous support of the Henry
Surtees Foundation, epitomises what can be achieved
through good collaboration. The whole really is much
more than the sum of its parts and our patients will
bear witness to that in the years to come.”
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 15
14-15 DSAA_What we do.indd 15 12/08/2016 08:48

WHAT WE DO
An interview with
Bill Sivewright,
DSAA Chief
Executive Officer
ill Sivewright joined the Dorset and
B
Somerset Air Ambulance as Chief
Executive Officer in September 2010
following a 34-year career with the British Army.
Most of his Army life was spent in aviation,
having become an Army Pilot in 1982. Since then,
he has flown a number of different types of fixedwing
aircraft and helicopters and his last flying
job was commanding the UK’s Joint Helicopter
Force in Iraq in 2004/5. Along the way, he served
in a wide variety of roles on the staff and in
command, including a number of overseas tours
in Bosnia Herzegovina, Germany, Italy, Iraq and
New Zealand. His final appointment in uniform
was that of Regimental Colonel running the
Headquarters of the Army Air Corps. In that role
he had a key role in the management of the Army
Air Corps Association, a charity that supports
current and former members of the Corps and
their families. It was this that led to his decision
to leave the Army early and seek a career in the
charity sector.
What attracted you to the post of Chief
Executive and what changes have you
seen during your time with the Charity?
I would like to think that the things that attracted
me to the Charity in the first place are still the same;
the friendly ethos of a small organisation determined
to do the best it can for the people it serves. This was
something I felt immediately among our crew, staff,
trustees and volunteers alike. It is that focus on our
patients that has resulted in the biggest changes since I
arrived. We have moved from a twin paramedic model
of delivery to that of a Critical Care Team approach.
That is a huge change in the level of life-saving support
we can give.
Can you give us some of the highlights
or achievements the Charity has made
during this time?
That’s quite a difficult one to answer because I tend
to focus on those we are aiming for, rather than those
in the past. That being said, there is no doubt that
establishing a Post Graduate Education Programme for
our paramedics has been the most significant step in our
clinical development and has set the scene for all future
enhancements.
The next major milestone was the creation of
the Critical Care Teams themselves and seeing the
significant benefit this is bringing to our patients on a
daily basis.
On the fundraising side, I have to point to our
fantastically successful Flight for Life Lottery. This
provides the Charity with a really effective way of
encouraging people to give a small amount on a
regular basis. The possibility that they might win
something seems to be the last thing on most
people’s minds and they refer to themselves as donors,
not players.
I would have to say that I am particularly pleased
with our annual Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge. It
has certainly proved to be a successful fundraiser but
it is the friendly and enthusiastic response of the
cyclists who can’t wait for the next event that is
most gratifying.
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WHAT WE DO
Finally, I would have to say that the re-generation of
our Beeline magazine five years ago was an important
milestone. It has proven to be very popular and gives
us an excellent way of keeping people informed of
what we are up to.
The Charity is obviously well supported,
why do you think this is?
I think the main reason for the amazing support we
receive is that we keep our focus on the service we
deliver and have demonstrated that we continually
strive for improvement. In some aspects of our
clinical development we are actually leading the way.
Importantly, we recognise that we cannot serve our
patients best by trying to do everything ourselves.
That is why we place such great store on the
relationships that we have fostered with our sister air
ambulance charities, the Ambulance Service and the
NHS Hospital Trusts. We are fully committed to working
together for the benefit of all our patients, even if that
means someone else gets the recognition. That goes back
to why I joined the Charity in the first place.
What challenges do you think the
Charity will face over the coming year?
Gosh, where do I begin? The main challenge for the year
ahead will be ensuring that a number of key projects all
come together successfully.
Firstly, there is the remodelling of the inside of
our airbase. Thanks to a grant from the Banking
Fines Fund (LIBOR), we are building and equipping a
modern clinical training facility, a day/night aviation
“We recognise that we
cannot serve our patients
best by trying to do
everything ourselves”
planning facility, providing technical storage space
and improved crew rest facilities. The training facility
was planned in order to continue the fantastic
education and training developments we have made,
which were recognised at the National Health Service
Journal Awards last year.
All that work has to be complete so that the hangar
is ready to receive our new AW169 helicopter, which is
due to be delivered in November and will represent a
huge step up in our clinical and flight capabilities. At
the same time we will be recruiting new paramedics
and doctors so that we can extend our operating hours
from 12 to 19 hours per day. So, by around February
2017, I’ll know if it’s all worked!
You mention that plans are on track for
the new helicopter – what is your role
with regards to this?
Everyone should be glad to hear that my role in making
sure the new helicopter arrives on time does not require
me to wield a spanner at any point! My job is to make
sure that all those with a part to play in the build,
procurement, operation and staffing do their part.
This means that I work with expert advisers to negotiate
the best deal we can and ensure that the appropriate
contracts are put in place. I also co-ordinate all the
proposals from our crew for internal modifications so
that when our new aircraft arrives, it meets all of their
requirements.
What about the colour of the new
helicopter; will it still be yellow?
I can assure everyone that yes, it will be yellow. In fact,
only the other day one of the jobs I had to do was to
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 17
16-18 DSAA_What we do.indd 17 12/08/2016 08:49

what we do
compare a paint sample from Italy with our current
aircraft to make sure that we get just the right shade
(that certainly was not in my original job description).
The question of whether it will ever change is, of
course, not really for me to answer. There was an
overwhelming cry for the aircraft to stay the same colour
this time around but who knows, that could change in
10 years’ time.
As the AW169 is approximately a third
larger than the current EC135, does
this prove problematic in any way
operationally?
Having a larger aircraft does mean that we have to
think carefully about all aspects of our operations. That
includes the suitability of the hangar and helipad at our
airbase, the helipads at the various hospitals we visit and
of course our ability to land at incident sites. I am pleased
to say that the size of the aircraft has not required
significant adjustments at any of the fixed sites. However,
some are now making adjustments to cater for our plans
for night operations. These demand a larger helipad than
daylight operations and also adjustments to lighting.
It’s this aspect that has prompted Royal Bournemouth
Hospital to make changes to its existing helipad.
Will the Charity be purchasing the
AW169?
The new aircraft will not be owned by the Charity.
Instead, we will be investing in the aircraft. This was
considered to be the most cost-effective way to procure
such an expensive asset. If we owned the aircraft and for
whatever reason it needed a major component replaced,
the Charity would have to meet the full cost of repair.
With aircraft spares often costing in excess of £250,000,
that is a risk that the Trustees felt was not justified.
Under our arrangement, we would only have to find part
of that cost.
Will there be more medical equipment
on the AW169 than the EC135?
The medical equipment in the new aircraft will not be
hugely different to that currently carried on our trusty
EC135. The main difference is that the space in the cabin
means that the crew have complete access to the patient,
head to toe. That means that they are in a much better
position to help a patient if there is a problem en route
to hospital.
“The standard of clinical
provision delivered by our
team is arguably the best
available anywhere”
Is the Charity still planning on flying
Night HEMS missions from January 2017
and what implications does that have?
Absolutely, we hope to begin Night HEMS in January
2017 and part of the preparations for that change is the
recruitment of new doctors and paramedics as I have
mentioned previously. Also, our current pilots will begin
their conversion training to the new aircraft in November
and this will include training for Night HEMS. While
they are away, we will have two new pilots join us who
will have already converted and be qualified to undertake
night missions. That means that by January 2017 we will
have a team of doctors, paramedics and pilots almost
twice the size of the current team.
All this sounds expensive? Does this
mean that the operational costs will rise?
It is inevitable that our operating costs will rise
significantly in the coming year. Given that the team
will almost double in size, the new aircraft is bigger
and uses more fuel per hour and that we will be flying
more hours, that is hardly surprising. The cost is likely
to be well in excess of £3 million a year. Fortunately, due
to the incredible support we receive from the general
public, this is something we know we can meet. We will
continue to examine every penny of our expenditure
to ensure that we keep our focus on delivering the best
possible service for our patients.
Thank you Bill, is there anything further
you would like to add?
I would just like to say that the Charity continues to
deliver the very best service to patients in Dorset and
Somerset. The standard of clinical provision delivered
by our Critical Care Team is arguably the best available
anywhere. That is a bold claim but one that I make quite
confidently. But that does not mean that we can rest on
our laurels; our crews strive continuously to develop their
knowledge and skills to ensure that the patients they
attend receive the most appropriate treatment currently
available. Their challenge to the Charity is to provide
them with the right tools for the job.
I am proud to say that we can meet that challenge
head on because of the incredible support of the people
of Dorset and Somerset. Through their support, as
members of our Flight for Life Lottery, individual or
group donations from events and even by remembering
us in their wills, they enable us to be everything that they
want from their air ambulance.
I consider myself to be very lucky to find myself part of
such a successful and forward-thinking organisation that
has already achieved so much and that is poised to do
even more!
18 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
16-18 DSAA_What we do.indd 18 12/08/2016 08:49

WHY WE DO IT
“You’ll always
be our heroes”
feel the need to contact you to thank those
I
who attended to my son-in-law Gavin White
on 1 May 2016. His motorbike crashed into
a car between Beaminster and Mosterton during the
afternoon and you airlifted him to Southmead Hospital
in Bristol with serious head injuries and broken bones.
Basically if it wasn’t for you, he probably would not
be with us now. I would like those who treated him
to know how grateful we are and that Gavin has now
woken up, eyes open and responding to commands. He
cannot talk yet due to having a swollen windpipe and
there is still swelling to the brain. He has undergone
an operation on his broken leg and the tear to his liver
seems to be ok. He has a long road to recovery but these
small positive moves mean so much to us all, especially
his wife (my daughter), his two girls aged 7 and 11 and
all our family and friends.
Gavin’s eldest daughter has completed a 20-mile
sponsored bike ride and when all of the money is
collected, she wants to donate it to you because, as she
said: “If it wasn’t for DSAA, I may not have my daddy.”
Thank you seems such a meagre word for what you
did on that day but we cannot thank you enough. You
do an amazing job – you will always be our heroes,
whoever you are!
The crew who attended this incident were:
Dr Jeremy Reid, CCP Paul Owen and pilot
Mario Carretta.
Kaitlyn White
raised a brilliant
£276 on her bike
ride. She and her
sister Charley
both wrote to us
separately to say
thank you
Dr Jeremy Reid
receiving the
funds raised from
Kaitlyn’s bike ride
Please share your story
Our readers 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. Capturing the outcome
and experiences of our patients helps to
support and improve our clinical service. A
secondary benefit is with the permission of the
patient, we are able to share their story and
experiences with others.
If you have experienced the work of Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance please contact
our Communications Department on: 01823
669604 or email: info@dsairambulance.org.
uk. Alternatively you can write to: DSAA,
Landacre House, Castle Road, Chelston
Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21
9JQ. Thank you!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 19
19-24 DSAA_Why we do it.indd 19 12/08/2016 08:50

WHY WE DO IT
“These unsung heroes
were absolute legends”
Joanne Whiston-McAnulty dialled 999
on 10 March 2016, when her nine-year-old
daughter Jaimee became seriously unwell.
In her own words, she kindly shares an
account of what happened that day…
y daughter Jaimee is disabled and has special
M
needs. Unfortunately she has several
health problems, one of them being
epilepsy, and also an underlying syndrome
which to this day is undiagnosed.
Jaimee had been unwell for the previous
couple of days, showing signs of a cough and
common cold. During the morning of 10
March her cough began getting progressively
worse and she had a slight fever of about 38
degrees, which I had been treating with regular
Calpol. I had made the decision to take her to my
local hospital as she has ‘open access’ to the Children’s
Ward due to her complex health needs. At approximately
2.00pm she spiked a severe fever and started to have
a seizure, which I knew from its nature wasn’t like
those she suffers normally. This was more intense and
she needed her rescue medication straight away so I
subsequently dialled 999. An ambulance was deployed,
however, Jaimee’s breathing started to labour, so I called
them back and they assured me a blue-light vehicle was
on its way.
I heard the ambulance arrive and led them to Jaimee,
who at this stage was still seizing as the rescue medicines
hadn’t really done anything as yet. I knew she was very
poorly as she had now been seizing for approximately 10
minutes. The paramedics took over and started checking
her sats, which is something that we are quite familiar
with as we have had to call an ambulance on a
number of occasions before.
I was then shocked to hear them say that the
air ambulance had arrived and that they were
going to airlift Jaimee to the Royal Children’s
Hospital in Bristol. I then realised that this
was ever more serious. At this point, the crew
of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance took
control. They were so calm and further assessed
Jaimee before explaining to me that they needed
to put her to sleep and on a ventilator to ensure she
had a safe flight to hospital.
Unfortunately gaining intravenous access was difficult
(a common problem for Jaimee) so the crew explained
that they would have to inject directly into her bone. I
know at this stage, that I should have been a total wreck
with worry and anxiety, but I had total confidence in
them and at no time was concerned – they were simply
20 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
19-24 DSAA_Why we do it.indd 20 12/08/2016 08:50

DSAA airlifted
young Jaimee
to the Royal
Children’s Hospital
in Bristol
why we do it
brilliant! The helicopter had landed close by and as I
made my way towards it, the pilot escorted me inside. He
was so lovely, very reassuring and went through all the
safety details and procedures with me while they were
getting Jaimee ready to come on board. As they loaded
her beside me, my heart sank. It was then that it hit me
how seriously ill she was and I wondered if she was going
to make it.
The crew once again kept me strong. They updated me
on her condition and assured me she was stable, before
explaining what would happen when we landed. Not
only were they taking care of my little girl, they were also
taking care of me. After we arrived at hospital, Jaimee
was taken to A&E Resus and I was told she would be going
straight to Intensive Care.
She stayed in the Intensive Care Unit for two days
before being transferred back to our local hospital
in Yeovil, where she spent a further four days on the
Children’s Ward.
I am now delighted to say that Jaimee is feeling much
better and I truly believe this is because of the fabulous
care we received from the crew of Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance. From the minute they arrived, to the
minute they left the hospital, they were professional,
caring and had a magical way of keeping me calm and
assured. These unsung heroes were absolute legends and
we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you
for caring for my gorgeous, special girl and I hope that by
sharing my story, it will help promote the fantastic work
you do and encourage others to support you!
The crew who attended this incident were:
Dr Ian Mew, CCP Neil Bizzell and pilot Phil
Merritt.
“You guys are amazing”
“Eleven years ago this month you saved my
dad’s life after a motorcycle accident along
the coast road in Dorset. You flew him to
Dorset County Hospital to undergo emergency
surgery where he died three times while on
the operating table. If it were not for the speed
that you got him to the hospital and into that
operating theatre, I would not have my dad,
my children would not have their papa and my
mum would have lost her soul mate.
Nothing I can say will ever be enough for
what you and your team did for my family that
day. From the bottom of my heart and soul,
thank you so much for the work you do in our
community. You guys are absolutely amazing
and will always be supported by our family.
I hope that anyone reading this realises how
important this charity is to our community.
Please dig deep and help fund this great
cause. Thank you!
Sarah Vaughan Powell
Get in touch
If you have experienced the work of our
team and would like to provide us with your
feedback, we would be pleased to hear from
you. All thank you letters that we receive are
passed to our crew, so please continue to
write, email, telephone or contact us via our
social media pages. Thank you!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 21
19-24 DSAA_Why we do it.indd 21 12/08/2016 08:50

WHY WE DO IT
Despite his
extensive injuries,
John managed
to leave hospital
using only
walking sticks
“I defied all odds”
On the afternoon of Saturday 13 June 2015, John Loader (now 73) was crushed
by his tractor at his farm in Henley, Somerset. His injuries were so severe that
multiple emergency services were called to the scene. John and his daughter
Marie tell us more…
was in the yard stood by my tractor while
“I
talking to my son Craig at the same time.
As I went to start the tractor, I turned
the ignition key and it shot backwards. The rear
wheel ran over me and the tractor continued on
until it hit a wall. I was crushed by the side of the
wheel before going underneath the tractor and
becoming trapped in the yard scraper.
“During this time, Craig was frantically trying
to get onto the tractor to stop it and when he finally
did he called 999. The call handler said that they were
dispatching an ambulance, fire engine and the police.
When they realised the severity of my injuries, they also
dispatched the air ambulance. My daughter Marie was on
her way to Cornwall on holiday at the time so Craig sent
her a text to inform her of what had happened while he
was waiting for the emergency services.
“All I can remember was calling for help. I could feel
myself drifting in and out of consciousness, hearing
voices and then the sound of the helicopter above. This
is all I remember but Craig told me that when the air
ambulance arrived on scene, Critical Care Paramedic
Claire Baker disconnected the yard scraper from the
tractor and then the fire brigade lifted it off my body.”
John’s daughter Marie gives her side of the story: “As
soon as Craig called me, I started to make my way back to
the farm. Craig and a local farmer kept me updated on
dad’s progress and the air ambulance crew were really
reassuring. They explained how serious the incident was,
but sounded extremely calm at the same time.
“Dad was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol
and taken to the Trauma Unit. They confirmed that he
had broken his back in six places; one of these was an
unstable fracture. He suffered splay fractures to his ribs,
which were all broken in two or three places; punctured
his lungs in several places; and lacerated his spleen
and liver. He also broke his collarbone and wrist and
had extensive bruising, which included a tyre mark
from the tractor on his chest.
“The hospital put dad on a ventilator to help
him breathe. His blood pressure then dropped
due to internal bleeding and he was put into an
induced coma, which lasted four weeks. He then
underwent a six-hour operation on his back and we
were told he had a 50% chance of survival due to his
overwhelming injuries. Following a successful operation,
the neurosurgeon said that he expected him to spend
months in hospital and possibly years in rehabilitation.
When dad woke up, he believed it was 20 years prior
to the present day and as a family we found this very
emotional. Having to explain to him that mum was
no longer with us and also having to relive many past
experiences was really hard for us all.”
John is extremely keen to praise the work of the
air ambulance and all those who helped with his
rehabilitation. He said: “The treatment that I received at
Southmead Hospital was excellent. The staff could not
do enough for me and they really helped me keep my
dignity at a time when I was unable to care for myself.
After six weeks and four days, I defied all odds to walk
out of hospital using walking sticks. I am truly grateful
for everything that the crew of Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance did for me that day. They were absolutely
fantastic and without them, I probably would not be here
to share my story with others.”
The crew who attended this incident were:
CCP Claire Baker, Steve Freeman and pilot
Max Hoskins.
22 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
19-24 DSAA_Why we do it.indd 22 12/08/2016 08:51

why we do it
Help for a Lion
Warminster Lion and keen paraglider Ken
Lang would never have guessed that his
next flight would be in an air ambulance
en Lang always had a passion for hang-gliding
and in 1974, together with a couple of friends,
K he founded what became the Western Counties
Hang Gliding Club. Ken continued to fly for 11
years before retiring from the sport, however, the urge
for free flight never really left him and at 63 years young,
Ken felt the time had come to start again, albeit with
paragliders this time.
On 8 October 2015, Ken joined his friends at
Kimmeridge, near Swanage for what should have been
a good day’s soaring. When he arrived at the take-off
point and after taking in the amazing view, he was keen
to get airborne on his first flight. This lasted a total of 15
minutes before he descended, had a quick cup of coffee
and got ready for the next flight, which would last a total
of 1 hour 15 minutes.
Ken recalls: “It was about 1pm when I took off, climbing
to about 200 feet. I continued to fly for about another
hour before I decided to land. I needed to execute a steep
approach, but had picked a spot and hit it within a foot
or so. A perfect landing! I turned my back to the wind and
my paraglider began to collapse and fall to the ground.
Suddenly, a vicious mini thermal whipped past me. It
jerked the glider back into the air and took me vertically
about 8-10 feet high. I dropped back into my harness, but
as quickly as it arrived the thermal passed through and
dumped me unceremoniously onto my backside.
“The glider then pulled me along to the ground,
rolling me over so my entire body weight was taken on
my head at which point I thought, this might not work
out well. Eventually the glider collapsed. As I reached over
with my left hand to untangle my arm, I felt a massive
Eight months
after the accident,
DSAA volunteer
Helen Jefferis
was delighted to
be invited to the
Warminster Lions
Club to receive
a cheque on the
Charity’s behalf.
Ken presented
her with a £200
donation, which
was generously
matched by the
Lions Club pound
for pound
pain in my groin. Moving either leg caused the same pain
and being aware that the glider might drag me along
again, I rapidly undid all the harness buckles. I then
became aware of other symptoms and started to find it
hard to breathe.”
High above him, Julie, one of Ken’s flight buddies, had
become aware that he was in trouble and had radioed
their other friends John and Joe to try and find him. By
the time Julie landed, John and Joe were at the scene.
John promptly left again to find a signal for his phone to
call the emergency services. He emphasised that the air
ambulance was going to be needed.
Quickly on scene were two members of the
Kimmeridge first response team. They gathered
information and ensured Ken’s head and neck were
stabilised. Next the land-based ambulance team arrived.
Two of the paramedics immediately started to cut away
Ken’s clothes. It soon became clear that Ken had also
damaged his ribs and left lung.
Ken continues: “When the air ambulance arrived, all
loose clothes and my glider were placed on top of me as
protection from any downdraught, but mainly to ensure
the paraglider did not get drawn into the rotor blades.
The paramedics were such a well co-ordinated team.
I soon became increasingly unaware of events as the
Ketamine that had now been administered started to take
effect. Once satisfied that I was stable enough to move,
it was all hands to the stretcher and into the waiting
helicopter.
“The flight to Southampton Hospital took about 15
minutes and I was soon in the hands of the Trauma
Team in ICU. There, I was diagnosed with a fractured
pelvis (in three places), six broken ribs and had suffered a
traumatic pneumothorax. This is when part of your lung
collapses. I spent five days in ICU to stabilise my pelvic
area before I could be operated on. This was followed by
a further five days on the HDU and then an additional 18
days before being able to come home. By the New Year, I
took my first steps without crutches and I am now well
on my well to a full recovery. Sadly the prospect of further
heavy landings means that paragliding is no longer on
my bucket list.
“I would like to thank all those who helped me on
that day, including my pals, the unknown and unsung
members of the Kimmeridge first response team, the three
land-based Ambulance Service team members, everyone at
Southampton Hospital and obviously DSAA for their work
both on the ground and in the air. I genuinely believe that
you may all have helped save my life.”
The crew who attended this incident were:
CCP Paul Owen and pilot Chris Witt.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 23
19-24 DSAA_Why we do it.indd 23 12/08/2016 08:51

WHY WE DO IT
“The service that I received from
start to finish was faultless”
After suffering a heart attack, Paul Dyer was airlifted to Musgrove Park Hospital
Paul Dyer (67) was enjoying a social event at Yeovil
Squash and Bowls Club when he suddenly
became unwell. At approximately 1.45pm, Paul
started to feel tightness in his chest and after
a short while, he needed to lie down.
A club employee called 999, and a rapid
response vehicle (RRV) and the Dorset and
Somerset Air Ambulance were dispatched.
The RRV arrived on scene first and the
paramedics began to assess Paul’s symptoms.
Paul was diagnosed as suffering from a heart
attack and needed to get to hospital as quickly
as possible.
Paul said: “When the RRV arrived, the paramedics
checked me over and said that I was suffering a heart
attack. I was transported a short distance by land
ambulance to meet the air ambulance, which had
landed and was waiting for me. As we took off, I was
semi-conscious and remember one of the paramedics
administering morphine and telling me that we would
be at Musgrove Park Hospital in seven minutes.
“When I arrived at hospital, there was a team of staff
waiting for me. I was rushed to theatre and had two
stents fitted. I was awake during the whole procedure
and felt immediate relief within minutes. I spent
the following two weeks recovering in hospital
before being discharged in time to celebrate my
birthday with family and friends.
“I have always wanted to fly in a helicopter
but I never imagined that it would be in these
circumstances. The crew of the air ambulance
were excellent and the service that I received
from start to finish was faultless.
“The whole process happened so quickly; it
took under an hour from the moment that the RRV
arrived to the time that my second stent was fitted. I’ve
since had a follow up at the hospital and an echo scan
to check everything is ok.
“The consultant told me that I have no muscle
damage from the heart attack, which I have put down
as a result of the quick response I received from the
emergency services that day.”
The crew who attended this incident were:
CCP Paul Owen, CCP Leonie German and pilot
Max Hoskins.
PHOTO: PICTURE KINDLY PROVIDED BY RICHARD PRESTON
24 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
19-24 DSAA_Why we do it.indd 24 12/08/2016 08:51

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
25-28 Lottery.indd 25 12/08/2016 08:51

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.
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
Christine and Ian
were Jackpot
Winners and
celebrated with a
little boat trip!
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.
HANDHELD DEVICES
NOW BEING USED TO
ENHANCE SECURITY
The Lottery Canvassing Team
began using handheld devices
at the end of April. The most
obvious benefit for using these
devices is the enhanced security
it offers to those who provide
their bank or personal details
when signing up to the Lottery. As
soon as the data is input and stored,
it is encrypted to a very high level. It
is not decrypted until the very last stage
of importing into the lottery database. This
represents a significant security improvement
over canvassers having paper mandates out in
the field, while reducing the amount of paper
used in the activity.
26 Lottery Tel: 01202 849530 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
25-28 Lottery.indd 26 12/08/2016 08:51

Thank you so much for my prize-winner’s cheque of £250. This
is the first time I have won anything like this – a wonderful
surprise! I am so pleased the draw generated such a great
amount and I am pleased to support the air ambulance – a
wonderful cause. In fact, it’s the only direct debit that goes out
from me! Thank you once again.
Yours sincerely, Eunice Howard
(Winner of 2nd Prize in our Grand Summer Draw 2016)
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 2016 Summer Draw took
place on Thursday 14 July. Once again, the
amount of support we received was amazing
with a total of 96,501 tickets being sold! Our
congratulations go to all the winners and a big
thank you goes to everyone who took part!
GRAND SUMMER DRAW 2016 winners
£1,000 W Watton, Bournemouth
(Ticket 637259)
£250 Mrs M Howard, Bournemouth
(Ticket 5379525)
£150 Mr H Hemmens, Highbridge
(Ticket 50663)
£125 Mrs P Coulstock, St. Leonards
(Ticket 553733)
£100 Mr R Burgess, Winscombe
(Ticket 178024)
The date for our Grand Christmas Draw is
Thursday 22 December 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
Thank you so very much for the
cheque, which arrived this morning.
At 96 (in October), my funds are
getting low, so this will be a great
help – again, very many thanks
indeed. I do enjoy reading your
magazine and will continue to
support the wonderful work you do.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Ruth Griggs,
winner of £1,000 Jackpot!
Thank you very much for your
excellent service. You saved my wife’s
life after she suffered a seizure and
massive heart attack on 10 January.
But for you, I wouldn’t have her
with me now. Once again, thank you.
G.R.Harris (New Lottery Member)
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 27
25-28 Lottery.indd 27 12/08/2016 08:52

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
25-28 Lottery.indd 28 12/08/2016 08:52

Death
& Taxes.
Unfortunately
we are not in a
position to help
you with the
former...
But when you make a Will with us (at a cost that may
pleasantly surprise you), our Wills, Probate and Tax
Planning Team may well be able to help you with the latter.
Call us now on 01761 414 646 for a FREE confidential chat.
Thatcher & Hallam LLP, Island House,
Midsomer Norton, Bath BA3 2HJ
A private car park is situated adjacent to
our offices, available to all our visitors.
www.th-law.co.uk
Untitled-2
T&H Death
13
& Taxes ad update for The Journal 196x280 for print 3.indd 1
21/05/2015
10/08/2016
11:59AM
17:42

how people help
Simply the best Coast to
Coast Cycle Challenge yet
On 15 May, hundreds of cyclists assembled at Watchet Harbour on the Somerset
coast to take part in the sixth annual DSAA Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge
he event, which is not a race, saw a total of
T
539 cyclists turn out on the day, in what has
become an annual spectacular. 525 cyclists took
part in the gruelling but glorious 54-mile ride to West Bay
in Dorset and a further 14 cyclists completed the shorter
11-mile route, which began at Drimpton and also ended
at West Bay.
Watchet Town Crier David Milton once again brought
a local, personal element to the starting line. He
motivated the cyclists with humour and enthusiasm
and after encouraging the cyclists to visit one or all of
our four pit stops en-route, they were set on their way.
Of those taking part, there were former patients who
had experienced the work of the air ambulance firsthand.
Others cycled in memory of loved ones, as part of
a team, or simply as a personal challenge to show their
support for the life-saving Charity.
Crowds were seen gathering at various points along
the route; cheering and clapping as the cyclists rode
past. An electric atmosphere began building at West Bay
as families, friends and colleagues began arriving in
support of those taking part.
Chris Priddle (Minehead), Andrew Leach (Weymouth)
and Michael Walkey (Bridport) were the first three
cyclists to cross the finish line. Chris, who works for the
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service said: “It was
my fourth year taking part raising funds for Dorset and
Somerset Air Ambulance. The atmosphere at the start is
fantastic and the route is simply brilliant.”
It took 15-year-old Jack Courtney three hours and ten
minutes to cycle the 54-mile route. He was delighted to
be the first under-16 to arrive, as was the first woman,
Rosalind Willicombe. At 78 years young, Brian Pursall
was the oldest participant of the day, and cycled the full
54 miles. The youngest cyclists were Eva Ellis, Freddie
Griffiths and Olivia Reid, all aged 10, who completed the
11-mile route.
Sue Maynard cycled in memory of her 25-year-old son
Anthony, who lost his life after a road traffic incident. In
2008, Anthony was on a training ride when he was hit
by a van. Sue’s husband Dave was unfortunately unable
to join her on the day due to illness, but said: “It’s
amazing that a mother who loses her son while cycling
decides to get on a bike herself and ride in his memory.
If that’s not courage, then what is?”
30 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
30-31 DSAA_How People Help_C2C.indd 30 12/08/2016 08:52

how people help
David Cooke took on the 54-mile challenge riding
a handbike. Attending around five sportive events a
year and keen to support local charity events, he was
delighted to gain a place after missing out last year.
“This was a really good hilly event supporting a great
cause. The pit stops were really good and the people I
was riding with were great. The second half of the route
was really challenging, in particular the hills after the
30-mile point. The downhill parts of the route were
fantastic.”
Brian Ramsay took part with his two brothers, Derek
and Keith. “In 2009, following a mountain bike accident
on the Quantock Hills, I was airlifted to Musgrove Park
Hospital. I suffered a couple of broken vertebrae in
my neck and, due to my location, the land ambulance
couldn’t reach me. Thanks to the Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance’s fast response I fully recovered, so after
seven years I decided it was time to repay the debt and
raise some money.”
Team spirit
Twenty five teams entered the event this year. The biggest
group by far were Team o’ Tumblers who once again
came out in force and have already raised thousands of
pounds in sponsorship.
The team’s organiser, Rupert Rees, said: “We were
delighted to be able to take part and support this
wonderful event for the third year running. Our team of
38, many of whom are not regular cyclists, are supporters
of hunting and racing. Everyone involved is extremely
committed to not only completing the challenge, but
also raising as much as we can for the Charity, which
ultimately saves lives. So far this year, our total raised is
over £26,000 and we expect more sponsorship to come in.
We would like to thank all the organisers and volunteers
for making the day very enjoyable. We’re already looking
forward to 2017”.
A large gathering of friends and family were
seen on the bank of the finishing line holding a
Some of those
who took part in
this year’s Coast
to Coast Cycle
Challenge
banner in support of three participants. The youngsters
were awaiting the arrival of their Grandad (Jamie
Grant), Dad (Vick Jones) and ‘Chiken’ (Ian Hoskins).
The banner praised each of them individually: “Well
done to Grandad for giving up smoking”, “Dad for
getting over 20mph in training” and to “Chiken for
finishing the race!”
Representatives from DSAA also set themselves
challenges this year. Chairman of Trustees Roger
Morgan, Chief Executive Officer Bill Sivewright and
Pilot Phil Merrit completed the 54-mile event. Medical
Lead Dr Phil Hyde cycled the 11-mile route with his wife
Hannah and their children George (3) and Emily (5) on a
tandem bike with a tag-along and a front seat.
Bill Sivewright said: “After every year, I seem to say
that it was the best Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge yet
and I am delighted to be able to say it again this year.
Listening to feedback from those taking part enables us
to make any improvements if needed. An added bonus
this year was the weather, which really boosted people’s
spirits at the start line and along the route. The reasons
why people enter the event are many and varied and
I must say that completion is often such a relief for
riders, families and friends that the finish line can be
quite an emotional place to be.
“I am particularly proud of the staff and army of
volunteers who did such a fantastic job in making sure
that the cyclists were directed safely, fed and watered.
Their enthusiastic support was a huge lift for those
taking part.
“As ever, we are incredibly grateful to all the riders
who took on the challenge and to those who sponsored
them on their quest. A final thank you goes to the event
sponsors, pit stop locations, local councils and the Police
and Ambulance Service for their support in helping to
make the day such a success.”
At the time of printing this issue of Beeline, our 2016
Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge has raised a staggering
£77,255.07. Wow!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 31
30-31 DSAA_How People Help_C2C.indd 31 12/08/2016 08:53

HOW PEOPLE HELP
Ella Fest held in memory
of beautiful teenager
t the age of 17, Ella Pallister tragically lost her
A
life when she was involved in a horse-riding
incident. The talented teenager was taking
part in a British Show Jumping Association contest at
Kingston Maurward College on Sunday 27 January
2013 when she fell from her horse in the warm-up
arena. She was taken to Dorset County Hospital and
then subsequently flown to Southampton Hospital.
Sadly, Ella died of her injuries three days later.
Described by her parents Ted and Karen as their
‘shining star’, Ella had a love of riding and winning
competitions. She was studying PE and business A levels
at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester as well as a
BTEC in animal science at Kingston Maurward College.
Now over three years on, Ella’s family and friends
continue to remember her in the best possible way and in
the last three years they have raised tens of thousands of
pounds for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
On 22 June 2016, Ella would have been 21 years old, so
her parents and Team Ella P decided to organise a music
festival to commemorate this occasion. Ella Fest 2016 was
held on Saturday 25 June and although the weather was
Ella would have
been 21 this year,
so her family and
friends organised
the festival to
commemorate the
occasion
a little temperamental, it wasn’t bad enough to
stop people from turning out in their masses to have
a good time.
The mini-Glastonbury type event saw
performances by The Leggomen, Ansell and Gretal,
Wilson, Hustle, Till There was Uke, George & The
Red Rangers (Minus George!!), Slipstream & The
WTF Band who kept the crowd well entertained
through the afternoon and evening. It also included a
bar (sponsored by Freshwater Holiday Park and Palmers
Brewery), stalls, food and refreshments, together with
children’s entertainment on the day. All the food outlets
and entertainments donated to the fund.
The event was hailed a huge success and, as Ella always
loved a party, she would certainly have enjoyed herself.
The total amount raised from this year’s Ella Fest has
not yet been finalised but expected to be over £11,000.
Everyone at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance wanted
to take this opportunity to thank ‘Team Ella P’ and
everyone who made the day so special. Our love and
best wishes are sent to Ella’s family and friends; she will
certainly always be in our hearts.
PHOTO: DORSET ECHO
32 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
32-35 DSAA_How People Help.indd 32 12/08/2016 08:53

how people help
AgustaWestland graduates raise £1,174
hree engineering graduates from helicopter
T
manufacturer AgustaWestland raised £1,174 for
the Charity after taking part in the Yeovil Half
Marathon. Ryan Humphries, Alistair Montgomery and
Ollie Zaccaria, all 22 years old, started training in January
in preparation for the half marathon, which took place
on 20 March. With an initial fundraising target of £500,
the guys were amazed that within a couple of days they
had already reached £150, so they decided to increase
their target.
Ryan said: “I wanted to support the Dorset and
Somerset Air Ambulance personally, as a friend of
mine was electrocuted and taken to hospital by an air
ambulance. I believe that without their help, he would
have died.”
All three were in good form on the day of the event.
However, they found the first mile and the hill by
Montecute House quite challenging due to the narrow
Ryan, Alistair and
Ollie more than
doubled their
original target
of raising £500
roads and sheer volume of people running in one
direction. Ryan and Ollie finished with a time of
2 hours and 20 minutes, while Alistair stormed
on ahead of the others and finished in 2 hours and
5 minutes.
Alistair said: “The level of support from start to
finish was fantastic! The crowds could see that we were
running in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
because we were wearing branded t-shirts and they
cheered us on even more!”
After recovering from the run and giving their
sore and blistered feet a rest, the trio paid a visit
to the Charity’s head office to present the funds
raised to Charity Manager Charlotte Routley and
Administration Assistant Alana Hardy. Ollie concluded
by saying: “Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a
great charity that we wanted to support as they help
to save lives and, one day, it could be one of ours.”
Sky’s the limit for Riders In
The Sky
iders In The Sky is a local fundraising group
R
from Glastonbury that raises money for Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance in memory of Lee
Baker, an avid motorcyclist and charity worker who lost
his life on 8 November 2010 in a motorcycle accident.
The group holds an annual Ride Out and Family Fun
Day, which has become a huge success over the years. The
event last year raised a total of £10,348, which is amazing.
This year’s Ride Out and Family Fun Day took place on
29 May 2016 at Tor Leisure in Glastonbury. The weather
was absolutely glorious. There were 345 bikes who took
part in the 60-mile ride out, an auction, raffle, live music,
children’s entertainment – something for the whole
family to enjoy.
Lee’s sister, Nikki Lamb, who helps organise the event,
said: “We are truly grateful for the wonderful support we
receive from the community in helping us raise funds for
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. This year’s turnout
was amazing; the streets were full of people waving and
cheering on the bikers. Once again, it was fantastic to see
the local community supporting our event. A very big
thank you from us all.” The total amount raised from this
year’s event is still to be confirmed.
More information about the event can be found
by visiting the ‘Riders In The Sky’ Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/ritsday
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 33
32-35 DSAA_How People Help.indd 33 12/08/2016 08:53

HOW PEOPLE HELP
Fundraising family
ack in 2014, Jennie and John Cooper’s
B granddaughter, Rebecca Chubb, was
a passenger in a fatal car accident
and she was critically injured. Rebecca was
airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol
where her parents were told that she was
not expected to live. Thankfully, after a long
period in hospital and a lengthy rehabilitation,
which still continues, Rebecca has been able
to take up her university place and is courageously
battling to carry on with leading as full a life as possible.
During the year of the incident, the family held a
very special coffee morning, which raised an incredible
£4,600. These proceeds were shared between DSAA and
Great Western Air Ambulance.
In 2015, Jennie’s niece Vanessa Marchmont took on
the post of Joint-President of the Inner Wheel (Taunton)
who nominated the Charity as their charity of the year.
During her presidential year, £2,000 was raised for the
Charity and this was presented to Fundraising Coordinator
Debbie Birtwisle on 6 July 2016.
In 2016, Jennie began discussions with others who
lived in her village about holding an event to celebrate
the Queen’s 90th birthday. She and John agreed to host
an afternoon tea party at their home in West Lydford.
Members of the church and a number of local villagers
helped set up the event and planned the seating and
table arrangements for around 100 people. Pippa Wynn
manned a stall that sold the Charity’s merchandise and
Vanessa sold raffle tickets on the day.
A magnificent spread of food and cakes was cooked
by Jennie and her sister Ann Humphries and a band
of volunteers helped out in the kitchen. During the
afternoon, Rebecca cut the birthday cake and a loyal
toast was proposed by Captain Patrick Harland. The party
was rounded off with a short Songs of Praise service in
the garden, which concluded with the National Anthem
being sung. The total amount raised on the day was
£1,400 through donations (entry was free of charge)
and proceeds from the raffle. This was split between the
Charity and the Parish Church.
Scrummy Sconathon
n gratitude for his airlift last July after a
I
paragliding accident, John Milner set up an
event to raise funds for Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust
“The Lopen Sconathon was held on 12 March and was
run by volunteers from the Devon and Somerset Condors
Hang Gliding and Paragliding club, Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance and many friends and local villagers.
The idea was to bake and sell as many scones as
possible over the course of 10 hours and keep a record
of how many were baked and consumed. Fifteen bakers
headed up by Chef Aaron Layton, volunteered their
time to bake for two hours each. All the ingredients
were donated by local suppliers. The clotted cream was
provided by Blackmore Vale Dairy, the jam by Cherry
Tree Preserves, organic flour by Stoate and Sons, free
range eggs by Blackacre Farm, ingredients for the savoury
scones by Ceres Natural Foods of Yeovil and DJ Miles
from Minehead provided the tea and coffee. People were
encouraged to give a donation for their cream tea and
entry was free.
We had musicians and performers who kept everyone
entertained and a scone short story book written by David
Mathews called “The Bakers Dozen” was sold on the day.
As David had found sponsors to cover the publishing
costs, all proceeds from the book went to both charities.
Fifteen bakers
managed to
produce 1,143
scones and raise
more than £7,000
for two charities
Yellow ‘Sconathon’ tee shirts donated by The Devon
and Somerset Condors Hang Gliding and Paragliding
Club also raised a substantial sum, as did the raffle run
by John Wreford. Having started selling tickets a few
weeks before the event, he raised close to £1,000.
In total, over 600 people attended the event. We baked
1,143 scones and raised £7,364 which was equally divided
between both Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and
the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.”
34 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
32-35 DSAA_How People Help.indd 34 12/08/2016 08:53

how people help
Our volunteers
We rely so much on our wonderful team of volunteers – their dedication to
the Charity is amazing! Below we find out more about husband and wife team
Derek and Diane Albutt
erek and Diane Albutt have been Dorset and
D
Somerset Air Ambulance volunteers for about
six years. The couple are both highly respected
within and beyond the Minehead area, dedicating much
of their time to a number of causes.
Diane (aged 69) is actively involved with the local
Women’s Institute and a dedicated volunteer on the
Minehead committee for McMillan. Derek (aged 71)
is a member of the Minehead Probus Group and Local
41 Club.
After hearing a talk about the work of DSAA, Diane
was enthused to get involved and shortly after, the pair
became valuable members of our volunteer team. Their
commitment to the Charity is commendable and since
joining, their endeavours have gone above and beyond
the roles for which they enlisted.
Together, the pair service and source new sites for our
collection boxes across the remote area of Exmoor and
attend a multitude of cheque presentations and events
throughout the year. Well-known and well-respected
within the local community, the couple’s representation
of the Charity brings many other additional benefits.
With sheer determination and the ability to use
their own initiatives, Diane and Derek have generated a
number of new opportunities for the Charity.
Derek and Diane
Albutt are two
members of our
wonderful team
of volunteers
They pro-actively source key contacts and fundraising
leads, which have brought many financial benefits. These
include Butlins Minehead and Watchet Carnival, to name
just two.
Derek and Diane have two grandchildren who play
an active role in their lives. Given the amount of time
their grandparents donate in support of the Charity, it is
therefore no surprise that they are often seen helping at
events throughout the year. Ever seizing an opportunity,
this has had a knock-on effect, as their granddaughter’s
Sea Scout Group is now actively involved with bucket
collections at one of the biggest events in West Somerset,
Dunster Fair.
Diane and Derek are enormously passionate about
the role they play in support of the Charity. They are
extremely modest and do not expect any recognition for
their efforts. They excel in all levels of administration
and communication and have a willingness to help no
matter the location. They ooze positive energy, which has
an effect on all those around them and makes them true
examples of the ‘perfect volunteer’.
For more details on how to become a volunteer,
please visit: www.dsairambulance.org.uk or
simply call: 01823 669604 or email:
info@dsairambulance.org.uk
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 35
32-35 DSAA_How People Help.indd 35 12/08/2016 08:53

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

In the Community
Planes
and trains
Bob Walden from Milborne Port raised £500
for the Charity by holding a ‘Flying Planes and
Steaming Trains’ event. A model of the Charity’s
very first helicopter, the Bolkow 105, made an
appearance along with other flying models,
lineside activity, competitions, stalls, raffle and a
scrummy cream tea. Sounds fabulous!
Moose International
Our thanks go to Moose International Winton
181 and Bournemouth 23 lodges for their kind
donations to the Charity this year.
DSAA Volunteer John Hoyle was delighted
to be presented with two cheques, one for
£200 from John Robins of Winton 181 lodge
and another for £1,500 from Terry Ewels of
Bournemouth 23 lodge. Over £1,000 of the
£1,500 donated was raised by the band of the
Combined Cadet Force at Bournemouth School
for Boys. Thank you!
A Rock Solid
performance
Chartered Accountants firm Francis
Clark has raised £3,324 for DSAA.
The Taunton-based firm selected
the air ambulance as its chosen
charity for 2015 and decided to raise
the funds by taking part in various
challenge events.
Eighteen staff members from
different offices undertook a
gruelling cycle hill climb event
called the Haytor Climb. The riders
completed the 3.6-mile route from
bottom to top 65 times, covering
a combined total of 216 miles and
climbing 70,000ft.
If that wasn’t challenging
enough, 17 staff members and
partners also took part in the South
West’s largest mud run and obstacle
course race, Rock Solid. The Rock
Solid race is a formidable 5km,
10km or 15km cross-country team
event where competitors face up to
50 all-terrain obstacles designed to
test stamina, power, endurance and
mental strength. Challenges along
the way included water, climbing,
crawling and ‘x-rated’ obstacles
with intimidating names such as
the ‘Muddy Dunk’, ‘Tunnel Rats’,
‘Hurdles from Hell’ and ‘Shiver Me
Trainers’.
Francis Clark also raised funds
for the Charity from selling yummy
cakes and sweet treats at its tuck
shop. Fundraising Co-ordinator
Debbie Birtwisle enjoyed meeting
representatives of the firm at its
Taunton offices and received the
funds raised.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 37
37-42_DSAA_In the Community.indd 37 12/08/2016 08:54

In the Community
Apple County
Quilters
Burtle Silver Band
Jonathan Gillams and Sandra
Healey from the Burtle Silver
Band were joined by Roz Dolding
of the Edington Village Voices
choir to present Colin Thomas,
DSAA Volunteer, with a cheque for
£668.45. Colin was also treated to a
‘behind the scenes view’ of a brass
band going through the rigours of
a rehearsal.
Almost a year ago the Burtle
Silver Band chose to support DSAA
through collections made at fêtes,
bandstands, seaside promenades
and concerts that they played
around the region. One of the
stand-out concerts of the year was
a joint event with Roz Dolding’s
Village Voices choir at the Edington
Village Hall. That event was a sell
out and also raised £355 for the
Charity. Another successful event
was the Sing Sankey held at the
Westfield Church in Bridgwater,
raising £360. This collection had
already been given to the Charity,
bringing the total annual donation
to more than £1,000.
The Apple County Quilters exhibition was held
at the Orangery, Nynehead Court. The group’s
work was exhibited and the event also saw a
quilt raffle, tombola and stalls containing homemade
gifts and prizes. Ann Eckley, the group’s
Chairperson, was delighted to present a cheque
for £1,425 to DSAA volunteer Linda Battle.
Freemasonry in
the community
Our thanks go to the Bournemouth
Freemasons who selected
DSAA as beneficiaries for their
Freemasonry in the Community
Project again this year. Volunteer
Joy Whittingham attended a
celebration evening at the Masonic
Centre in Bournemouth. Joy was
delighted to accept the £750
fundraising cheque on behalf of the
Charity and to give an update on
the work of the air ambulance.
Royal Clarence Masonic
Lodge No. 976, Bruton
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Pilot Phil
Merritt was delighted to attend a meeting at
the Royal Clarence Masonic Lodge No.976 in
Bruton. Doug Stembridge, Master of the Lodge,
presented Phil with a cheque for £610!
38 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
37-42_DSAA_In the Community.indd 38 12/08/2016 08:55

Let’s celebrate
Sandy and Robin Cuff from Iwerne Minster have
been supporters of the Charity for many years.
The couple recently celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary and asked for donations
instead of gifts, which raised a magnificent £808.
The couple celebrated in style with a fabulous
purple and gold decorated party for 126 guests at
the Royal Chase Hotel in Shaftesbury. Everyone
was treated to a scrumptious buffet. Close friend
and singer Colin Stevens made a special trip from
Tenerife to provide the entertainment on the
evening. Volunteer Hannah Nobbs was honoured
to be invited to attend on the night. What a lovely
gesture. Congratulations and a big thank you
from us all.
Generosity at its finest
Volunteer Linda Battle received a cheque on
behalf of the Charity from Quantock Trekking.
The company launched its ‘Quantock Trekking
Riding Holidays’ earlier this year and invited the
John Lewis Riding Club to be the first guests to
stay at its luxury holiday chalet Bashford Lodge,
located in the heart of the picturesque village of
West Bagborough on the Quantock Hills.
After a wonderful weekend away, the Riding
Club was delighted to find out that Quantock
Trekking would cover the cost of its stay. As a
thank you for the hospitality, they offered to make
a donation back to Quantock Trekking, which was
subsequently donated to DSAA.
Santa Striders
Over 400 entrants took part in the
Sturminster Newton Santa Stride
last year, raising £4,000 for DSAA.
The top striders met with members
of Sturminster Newton Rotary at
Henstridge Airfield to present the
cheque but just as they approached
the helicopter, the crew was called
to an incident. The cheque was
quickly handed over before the crew
set off on its latest mission. The
striders didn’t even have time to get
into their Santa costumes.
While the helicopter flew off
to attend to a patient, Vanessa
Dawson presented trophies to top
striders the Hancock family – Mel,
Rex, Owen and Eddie – who raised
almost £200; individual strider
Brenda Stables who took part
following a hip replacement and
raised nearly £250; and the top
company-sponsored strider Nicky
Dimmer and Lloyds Bank. Nicky
had matched funding from her
employers and raised over £1,000.
This year’s Santa Stride will take
place on Sunday 4 December 2016.
Help from Medtek Healthcare
Medtek Healthcare Ltd offers its clients ten free sessions to
experience the health benefits of its specialist beds. In this simple
but effective way to support the Charity, the company has raised
£414 by charging clients £3 if they were late or did not turn up for
their appointments.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
@dsairambulance
39
37-42_DSAA_In the Community.indd 39 12/08/2016 08:55

In the Community
Thanks, Taunton
Rotary Club
Egg-cellent
Rumwell Farm
Rumwell Farm Shop and Café in
Somerset has selected DSAA as one
of its chosen charities for 2016.
It has set itself a target of raising
£2,000 and is well on its way to
achieving that figure.
A charity quiz night and supper
evening gave customers the
opportunity to get together with
their friends, sample the shop’s
scrumptious produce, test their
general knowledge and be in with
a chance of winning the Rumwell
Cup. A raffle on the evening saw a
selection of prizes on offer from the
shop and local suppliers. A total of
£335 was raised.
Further fundraising included a
Charity Car Wash, which was held
in aid of Wellington Scouts and
DSAA. Although the weather was
poor on the day, an amazing £428
was raised and split between both
causes.
With further events already
scheduled, the shop has also
pledged to donate 10p from each
sale of its dozen large free-range
eggs and 10p per bag of sherbert
lemons – YUM!
Taunton Rotary Club President Rachel Davies
selected DSAA as her chosen charity throughout
her presidential year. The rotary club raised
£4,500 for the Charity at a Golf Day and meal,
which was held at Taunton Vale Golf Club.
Pictured is Debbie Birtwisle (DSAA Fundraising
Co-ordinator) receiving the cheque from Rachel
and Vice President Ian Ramus.
Freemasons
Grand Charity
A party from the Province of Dorset was
thrilled to be able to visit our airbase and
present a cheque for £4,000 from The
Freemasons’ Grand Charity. This marks the
start of a long-term project of support leading
to the Freemason’s Tercentenary celebrations
in 2017.
The Provincial Grand Master, Richard Merritt,
along with the Provincial Charity Steward, Matt
Devereux, and the Provincial Communications
Officer, Brian Chidgey, were given a detailed
presentation before handing over the cheque
to Bill Sivewright, DSAA Chief Executive.
40 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
37-42_DSAA_In the Community.indd 40 12/08/2016 08:55

Swanage Lions
Preceding an afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel
in Swanage, Tim Mersey (the then President
of Swanage Lions) presented DSAA volunteer
Lorraine Otterwill with a cheque for £1,500. This
was the second year that Tim had organised
this event. The Lions Club of Swanage has held
Easter egg raffles in aid of the Charity for many
years. Thank you to Vicki and Roy who spend
a lot of time taking eggs to various venues
including shops, pubs and hotels. After 50
raffle tickets per egg have been sold, the raffle
is held.
Shooting stars
The tenth Annual Inter Pub Clay
Shoot took place on 11 June. Once
again the event was well supported
by regulars of the Bull Tavern, Baker
Arms, the Antelope, the Royal Oak
and the Cricketers. The Plough,
the White Horse at Stourpaine and
Olives Et Al also contributed to the
raffle. The day was great fun and
raised over £1,400, bringing the total
amount raised since the event began
to more than £35,000. The Tony Foot
memorial shield was given to the
Bull, as it has been an avid supporter
of the event. Tony, who is very much
missed, was a regular there. The
Antelope once again proved the best
guns on the day.
Meyrick Park Golf Club
Meyrick Park Golf Club held its
Seniors Captains Day on June 13.
The day kicked off with a mixed
‘Texas Scramble’, followed by a
barbeque before the traditional
lottery ticket draw and auction took
place, enthusiastically hosted by
Steve Carter. Seniors Captain this
year Mike Lines chose DSAA as his
charity. DSAA’s Leanne Colverson
was delighted to attend. The event
was well supported by the Club,
Seniors, Ladies and Dorset League
Captains and Vices. A big thank you
goes to all who helped organise the
event and to everyone who donated
items for the raffle and auction. The
sum raised was an amazing £940!
In memory of Janet Davies
Sending our warmest thanks to Louise
Richards-Jones and her family who kindly
thought of our Charity at such a difficult
time. Louise’s mum Janet Davies sadly
passed away recently and to honour her love
of helicopters and the Charity, friends and
family held a collection in aid of DSAA, which
raised more than £300. Sending our love and
best wishes to you all.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
@dsairambulance
41
37-42_DSAA_In the Community.indd 41 12/08/2016 08:55

In the Community
Playing our tune
Heather Pugh organised another brilliant charity music night for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. The evening
was held at the Trinity Club in Dorchester and raised a total of £1,807. Heather would like to thank everyone for
donating more than 100 raffle prizes. She would also like to thank her helpers on the day: Sharon, Jen, Ang, Chantel,
Mat and Martin and everyone who supported her throughout the evening.
Pancake success
Members of Somerset Advanced
Motorcyclists (SAM) paid a visit to the
Charity’s head office to present the
proceeds from this year’s Pancake
Express, which totalled £200.
Now in its fourth year, the event
has become a real favourite for
those who take part. Following an
early morning start from Langport,
the riders enjoy a two-hour
motorcycle ride on Somerset’s
beautiful and varied roads, before
returning for a hearty pancake
breakfast.
The group also provides a range
of technical training, host various
bike-related events and organises
more than 50 rides for its members
and guests throughout the year.
Sam Smith, Fundraising Support
Administrator, was thrilled to
meet members of the group and to
receive the funds raised.
Sounds yummy!
Pictured from left to right: Dave
Watson, Sam Smith, Gina Bromage,
Paul Dyer, Andy Spiers and Graham
Tulloch
Talk support by
Freemasons
Gail Everett is a relatively new volunteer to the
Charity. One of her key roles is to deliver talks
and presentations that highlight the work we do
in the local community. There are often times
when equipment needs to be shared to fulfil
this role. Facilitating this can sometimes be
complex and there are times when a number of
talks take place on the same day. Gail’s husband
Tony is a member of the Somerset Freemasons
(Exmoor Lodge) and mentioned the possibility
of purchasing a projector to donate to the
Charity to help. Without hesitation, Gary agreed
and the projector was presented to Gail at the
lodge. She is now fully equipped and taking on
more and more talk bookings!
42Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk 42
37-42_DSAA_In the Community.indd 42 12/08/2016 08:55

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Untitled-1 13 18/03/2014 09:19

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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 45
45_DSAA_Ways to support us.indd 45 12/08/2016 08:55

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Fundraising frenzy
Join our team, fundraise at work, visit a restaurant, jump out of a plane or
recycle your items… it all helps!
s you will have read within this issue of Beeline,
A
2016 is a very exciting year for the Charity. Our
fundraising team has been extremely busy
updating people on the developments and engaging with
them on ways in which they can show their support.
Hopefully you will have already read about this year’s
fantastic Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge on pages
30-31. We would like to personally thank all
of our volunteers, staff and supporters who
helped make this event so successful.
This year we saw a record number of
helpers, which meant that everyone had a
chance to enjoy the day as well as putting
in the hard graft. It really was a true team
effort. To the cyclists who took part on the
day… you were fantastic! A very big thank
you for raising such a phenomenal amount
in sponsorship!
Our Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge 2017 will
take place on Sunday 14 May. If you could donate
any time in helping us on the day, whether with
marshalling, assisting at a pit stop, helping with car
parking or aiding riders with queries, please contact the
office or email: c2c@dsairambulance.org.uk
We would also like to thank the 48 ‘Charity of the
Year’ partnerships that are currently raising funds for
the Charity. We are really enjoying working with these
businesses, groups and clubs who are being creative in
so many different ways. Please continue to highlight
the work of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance if your
workplace or group support charities in this way.
A team from
Bluebird Care
went skydiving
as part of their
Charity of The
Year activities
Our volunteer team continues to grow and now
stands at a total of 121 fabulous people who willingly
give up their time to help us. These wonderful people
have attended 162 supporter-led events and talks in the
first half of this year alone and we thank them once
again for everything they do.
We are still looking for additional volunteers in
the Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester areas
to attend events on our behalf. If you feel you
could help, please call: 01823 669604 or
email: info@dsairambulance.org.uk
While talking of volunteers, we would
like to send our congratulations to Stuart
Bagg and his new wife Tanith, who were
married on Saturday 2 July. Stuart is a
much-loved member of the Somerset
volunteer team and we wish them both a
long and happy marriage.
Finally, we would like to highlight that the
Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) was replaced
by the Fundraising Regulator on 7 July 2016. This is the
regulatory organisation that promotes and issues codes
of fundraising practice and investigates and adjudicates
those which cause significant concern. They set and
maintain the standards for charitable fundraising in
the United Kingdom and ensure that fundraising is
respectful, open, honest and accountable to the public.
Further information can be found by visiting:
www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk
Oh, and a quick reminder… Don’t forget to tell us if
you are raising funds for the Charity. This enables us to
46 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
46-47_DSAA_Fundraising.indd 46 12/08/2016 08:56

support you every step of the way. Thank you all so much,
for everything you do to support us!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Other ways of getting involved
Our website highlights some of the great ways that you
can fundraise in support of the Charity. Our Fundraising
Pack also provides key information and hints and tips. If
you’re looking for some inspiration, why not try one of
the following:
Easy Fundraising
One way you can help is by signing up to Easy
Fundraising and logging in whenever you buy online.
There are nearly 3,000 retailers who make a donation
when you shop this way, including Amazon, John Lewis,
Aviva, Trainline 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/
Glastonbury
Spring Water
provides the water
for our C2C Cycle
Challenge
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.
ChariTablebookings.com
Dine out and support the Charity with the ChariTable
Bookings app. Whether you’re hungry for a burger, or
looking to reserve that special romantic evening, there
are thousands of participating restaurants across the UK
to choose from. At no cost to the customer, £1 for EVERY
diner will be donated by the restaurant, to a charity of
their choice. Download the App for free from iTunes or
find out more by visiting: www.charitablebookings.com
Business partnership opportunities
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.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 47
46-47_DSAA_Fundraising.indd 47 12/08/2016 08:56

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Spread the word
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. Thank you!
An enduring gift
We are extremely grateful for every legacy we receive, be it
large or small. These are special gifts that help us secure the
Charity’s future – each and every one is a lasting memory of
someone special. 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 and how their gift
will make a difference.
If you would like more information on leaving a gift in
your will or would like to tell us why you’ve decided to do so,
we would be delighted to hear from you. Simply contact Julie
Plowden or Charlotte Routley by post: Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance, Landacre House, Chelston Business Park,
Castle Road, Wellington, TA21 9JQ, by phone: 01823 669604
or by email: julie.plowden@dsairambulance.org.uk or
charlotte.routley@dsairambulance.org.uk
Support us during NAAW
Air ambulances across the country come together every
September to promote National Air Ambulance Week
(NAAW).This initiative, created by the Association of
Air Ambulances (AAA) celebrates the work of local air
ambulance charities across the UK. It is the ideal time to
show your support for your local air ambulance, no matter
where you live.
Many of our air ambulance colleagues hold fundraising
events during this period and others use the date to
highlight and promote the work we do in the community.
Please keep an eye on our website and social media
channels to find out what we are planning and how
you can get involved in supporting NAAW.
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.
48 01823 669604 | www.dsairambulance.org.uk
48_DSAA_Other ways to support.indd 48 12/08/2016 08:56

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LETTERS
Postbag
2017 diaries
now in stock!
Our 2017 pocket diaries
have now arrived. They are
burgundy in colour and
priced at £4 each. Make
sure you get yours today
before they sell out!
www.dsairambulance.org.
uk/how-to-help/shop/
What a diamond
Please find enclosed a
cheque for £500, being
donations received from our
Diamond Wedding celebrations. You do
a great job; a few years back you airlifted
my husband to Bath and he is still with
us today.
Pat Higgs
Fear of flying
I just want to say thank you so much for
coming to my aid on Sunday, you were
amazing! To have got me into the chopper
at all was a feat as I have a fear of flying. I
will definitely be doing some fundraising
soon – glad to say I’m now home, very sore
but recovering well.
Pat Coles
Birthday gift
On 11 June we had a family celebration to
mark some significant birthdays. We had
a wonderful time with family and friends,
who kindly donated to our two nominated
charities on the evening. We chose you as
one of them as we feel you provide such
a valuable service to everyone in the area.
We are pleased to enclose a total of £535.
Timothy Gibbins
Top talk
Thanks Joy for your fantastic talk at Canford
Cliffs Library – a real eye opener – keep up
the good work!
Jane Fearn
Please donate
I just want to say how amazing you were
today. You came to our farm to airlift
someone that unfortunately fell through
an asbestos roof onto concrete. You were
absolutely incredible from start to finish. If
anyone ever has any spare money to donate,
please donate to this amazing charity, they
deserve every penny and you never know
KIDS’ CORNER
Dasher to the rescue
‘Dasher’ and Debbie Birtwisle paid a visit to St Dubricius School in Porlock
while they were learning all about the emergency services. The children
took on the roles of a pilot, paramedic, doctor and patient during simulated
exercises and Debbie talked them through the process of dialling 999,
explaining how the air ambulance is dispatched. Everyone had a really good
time, especially ‘Dasher’. Thank you!
when you may need them. Thank you from
everyone at Home Farm.
Charlotte Brunt
Heartfelt thanks
Thank you so much for trying to save
my treasured Dad on Thursday at
Monkton Wylde campsite in Lyme Regis.
Unfortunately he passed, but I’m assured
you did everything you could do and you
provided my mother with wonderful
support immediately after. God bless you
all. My husband and I vow to do some
fundraising once the dust has settled.
Lisa Paterson
Thank you guys for the care and attention
you gave to me following a road traffic
incident on Saturday. Without the prompt
action of all the emergency services my
injuries could have been far more severe. I
have just made a donation by way of thanks
– keep up the good work.
Teresa Beccles
Just can’t thank you enough, together with
the land ambulance and local fire rescue
brigade you saved my daughter’s life just
over a year ago. Brave, kind, special and
skilled people. Thank you x
Liz Raikes
Thank all your team, volunteers, marshals
& food providers for a fantastically
organised C2C event and for arranging
perfect weather conditions! Regards
Simon & son George (11 yrs old)
@DorsetDawn A fantastic Cycle Challenge
completed with my #cyclebuddy @
Dustbin77 for @dsairambulance #dsaac2c
feeling proud!
@LeeLouPhotos Awesome
experience tonight watching
@dsairambulance in action
#keepairambulancesflying
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
50_DSAA_Postbag.indd 50 12/08/2016 08:57

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