EVERYONE from Lapford Primary School plus friends and parents stood in the sun at the top of the hill on the school field to see the 44th night landing light go “live” for Devon Air Ambulance.

It was not quite a year ago that Lapford Parish Council agreed to support the plan to create a night landing site in the village. Members of Bow YFC had said they would help to clear the site.

On Thursday the tall light received a blessing from Team Vicar, the Rev Lindsey Starrs, with the audience including Cllr Peter Heal, local parish council member and chairman Mid Devon District Council, Cllr Clive Eginton, Leader, Mid Devon District Council, Lapford Parish Council members and people from Devon Air Ambulance Trust including Toby Russell Community Helipad Development Officer.

Also present was Michael Johnson, headteacher, Chulmleigh Academy Trust of which Lapford Primary is part.

Cllr Ian Hemsworth, chairman Lapford Parish Council, welcomed everyone. Toby Russell told the schoolchildren that flying at night was riskier and the new light was there as much to help the paramedics with loading a patient into the air ambulance as to help the helicopter pilot. “You are helping us deliver this service,” he said.

This was very much a parish council led initiative with most of the money coming from an anonymous donation. The total cost was more than £7,000 and there was some fundraising in the village as well.

It was a good week for Lapford because the defibrillator was delivered which will go on the wall at the Orchard Centre. Funding was raised with the British Heart Foundation.

There is to be a Ground Force Day at the school on the last day before half term when parents and villagers are invited to help at the school site.

Toby will be talking to the school soon about how their new light will help the air ambulance and how it works. Another 140 sites are in various stages of development around Devon.

He added that the air ambulance has responded to 60 HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) calls at the 44 sites with the new lights.

Tony said that DAAT is working to create a network of surveyed floodlit landing sites in Devon.

If there is not one being developed in your community, you can find out more by contacting Toby by email ([email protected]) or telephone 01392 466 666.

You can see where lights are working and where in planning stages on the DAAT website.

Sue Read