RICHARD Lappas of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust gave a very interesting talk to the members of Shobrooke Friendly Club on the workings of the Trust on Wednesday, April 19. This was accompanied by slides.

He went on to explain that the need for an air ambulance was highlighted in the late 1980’s when a young boy was seriously injured in a road accident, and on arrival at hospital the doctors told the parents that only an air ambulance could have probably saved him, as the quicker a casualty gets to hospital, the greater the chances of survival.

This prompted the parents to start raising funds for one. In 1992 the first air ambulance for Devon arrived.

In such a large county as Devon, the helicopter can reach outlying rural areas such as Dartmoor much quicker than a land ambulance, where it could take a couple of hours to reach a casualty in the heart of the Moor.

The helicopter can be there in minutes. In fact the helicopters can reach about 50 per cent of the county within 10 minutes flying time from their bases, and practically all of the county in about half-an-hour.

The trained paramedics on board are then able to give a life saving assessment and decide if the casualty should be taken to a specialist hospital, sometimes to Bristol.

It was explained to the Club, that most of the Trust’s income came from legacies. Donations, and the Trust’s lottery and other fundraising events making up the rest of the £5 million or so required to keep the aircraft flying.

The helicopter based at Middlemoor in Exeter is equipped so as to enable it to fly at night, the second helicopter, based at Eaglescott in North Devon, is in the process of being so equipped, and it is hoped that this will soon be able to carry out night time flying.

To enable this, many villages were designating areas where the helicopters might land at night.

This would require a suitable lighting system to be installed. We were told that the lighting system looks like a large cupboard, with two powerful lights on a mast, only one such system is required for a landing site, and when not in use is fairly unobtrusive.

What is more, the system is remotely controlled by the pilot of the helicopter, and can be deployed by him as the machine nears the landing site.

More and more villages in Devon are being equipped to enable night landing, with help from various bodies and Local Authorities, maybe one can hope that one day Shobrooke will be counted amongst those villages.

The Club gave a donation to the Trust, and a collecting box was also available, and it is thought that the club members contributed handsomely. Everyone agreed that the Trust was a cause well worth supporting.

Richard was thanked for giving such an interesting talk.

There then followed the usual tea and biscuits, brewed and served by Dave and Clifford, and also the usual monthly draw, the prizes this month having been given by Jack and Stevie Fey and Diane Tutton.

Margaret outlined the club’s next outing, which would be to Rosemoor and Atlantic Village on May 17.

A group entrance fee could be obtained at Rosemoor of £9 per person instead of the usual £11. The cost of the bus fare would depend on the numbers going.

If anyone is interested in going on this outing they can contact Margaret Gale on 01363 773282, as there are still a few places available. Please note that there is a £5 per person deposit payable, which of course is allowed against the final cost.

Norman Gale