Charity supporters enjoy Brew with Air Ambulance crew

Visitors to the charity’s airbase in Semington were able to enjoy afternoon tea with the charity’s pilots, critical care paramedics and doctors.

There was also the opportunity to purchase merchandise, Christmas cards and find out about supporting Wiltshire Air Ambulance through its Gifts in Wills programme with Parker Bullen solicitors.

Brew with the Crew was one of many events organised by the lifesaving charity to mark Air Ambulance Week 2023, which runs from 4-10 September.

The week began with a book reading on Monday; on Tuesday and Thursday the charity ran guided tours of the airbase, which also sold out. Then on Friday the charity will hold their first-ever Market Day, featuring specially invited local sellers.

In addition, charity volunteers will be present at a variety of locations across the county: at Waitrose in Salisbury, Melksham Market Place, Marlborough Market, Bradford-on-Avon Market, Goatfest in Calne, Uniform Services Day in Trowbridge and Corsham Street Fair.

Melksham Town Hall also supported the special week by lighting up their building in Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s yellow and green colours in honour of the charity.

WAA senior community engagement manager Cas Loudon said: “The Brew with the Crew event is fast becoming the highlight of Air Ambulance Week; this was our third one and it has sold out every time. It was lovely seeing so many smiling faces and everyone enjoyed engaging with our aircrew in person.

“It has been fantastic to see how much the whole county has got involved in Air Ambulance Week 2023, both here at our airbase or out and about in the community, and we can’t thank everyone enough for their ongoing support.”

Air Ambulance Week is a national campaign to highlight the importance of the 21 air ambulances operating across the UK.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance provides helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) across Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas. It costs £4 million to operate the service, which receives no regular direct Government funding or National Lottery grants.