New fundraiser for air ambulance

Paul, who owns Southill Village Stores and Post Office in partnership with his wife, has been an agent for the Friends of the EAAA Lottery and sold the charity’s merchandise since it started fundraising in Bedfordshire in mid 2007.

As Fundraiser for the county, Paul now steps up into a full time role managing and coordinating all the charity’s fundraising activities across Bedfordshire.   He replaces Kelly Cooke.

Paul is already well known in Southill as the village correspondent for the local newspaper and for his keen interest in history.  During 2007 he was involved with the organisation of numerous events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the execution of Admiral John Byng, formerly of Southill.

In early 2007, Bedfordshire was still one of a handful of counties in the UK which didn’t have access to an air ambulance service.   But, following a fundraising appeal, supported generously by people in the county, a new state-of-the-art air ambulance, Anglia Two, is now on active service across both Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The aircraft is a BK 117, one of the most widely used helicopters for air ambulance work in the world.  Equipped with the latest medical equipment and with a top speed of 155 miles per hour, it is also spacious enough to convey a family member with a patient when necessary, for instance, in the case of an injured child.  Anglia Two is currently operating a five day service and will move up to seven days as funds permit.  Its daytime base is RAF Wyton near St Ives in Cambridgeshire.

The EAAA also operates Anglia One, the air ambulance for Norfolk and Suffolk, 365 days a year, and maintains a back up aircraft.  But it costs the charity £3 million per year to run its three helicopters, to provide the ancilliary operations and supply the advanced medical equipment they carry.  The charity receives no NHS, government or National Lottery funding so is entirely dependent on fundraising and contributions from members of the public.  

Paul Airton commented:  “I’m a huge supporter of the fantastic work of the air ambulance and when the opportunity arose for me to help keep this superb service flying in Bedfordshire, I went for it!”

“I really hope the people of Bedfordshire will get behind me and I’m looking forward to getting to know our great team of volunteers.  One simple thing people can do to help us is to join the Friends of EAAA Lottery.  It costs just £1 a week to take part and offers 18 guaranteed prizes, ranging from £50 to £1,000 each week – plus the chance to win an accumulator prize which increases by £500 every week and can be worth up to £25,000.”  Coincidentally, Paul’s wife, an EAAA Lottery member, won £50 in late 2007!”

Paul Airton can be contacted on 07894 475 018 or by email at paul.airton@eaaa.org.uk.    Further information on the EAAA and the Friends of EAAA Lottery are available on its website (www.eastanglianairambulance.org.uk) or by phone on 0845 1309977.