CREDITON lawyer David Charlesworth is one of three new members of Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) Board of Trustees.

He has been appointed, together with Paul Persey, a director of clothing wholesalers Pencarrie Limited and Philip Roberts, owner of Exeter Quayside cafe business, Mangos.

Mr Persey (61) is Devon born, has been involved in clothing retail, wholesale, manufacture and distribution for 40 years. He established Pencarrie Limited in 1991.

Mr Roberts (54) moved to rural Devon in 1996 and had a highly successful career in the financial sector before buying and transforming a prominent Exeter takeaway business, then establishing Mangos.

Mr Charlesworth (55) is a partner at Michelmores LLP in the private client department, where he heads the Agriculture and Rural Business team.

He is responsible for all the firm's farming and landed estate clients. He focuses on property, tax and business succession planning, and co-ordinating other lawyers in the firm providing specialist support to landed businesses and their increasingly varied and complex needs.

He also deals with the affairs of the elderly and all property-related matters. Previously Mr Charlesworth was senior partner of a firm he set up in Crediton.

He says the air ambulance is one of the most important and worthwhile enterprises he has ever been associated with a major responsibility.