Only fools star backs Air Ambulance 

Sir David Jason has just become patron of the Association of Air Ambulances. 

We asked him about his interest in the air ambulance service and his passion for flying:

Q:   What prompted your interest in the UK’s air ambulance service?

A:  It started with a charity day at Norwich Airport with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).  I was helping to launch a special piece of equipment which detects overhead cables for helicopter pilots.  On chatting further to the helicopter crews I became aware of just how valuable their work is and, in a small way, wondered if I could raise awareness of and interest in their fund-raising campaigns.

Q:   What impressed you most when you started to learn more about the air ambulance service?

A:  I couldn’t believe that the EAAA – like the other 17 air ambulance charities in England and Wales - is entirely funded by charitable donations and yet they perform such a valuable, life-saving service for everyone in the country.  The crews have to be so skilled and brave to take on a new location and situation on every flight and not always in the best of weather conditions.  With growing road traffic, sometimes a helicopter is the only form of transport which can quickly reach an accident scene.

Q:   When did you first become interested in flying?

A:  I’ve been interested in flying since being a little boy and have a keen interest in space exploration and all things aero-nautical.  I started out my own flying experience in gliders and then, more recently, in helicopters.  I relish the challenge of flying a helicopter as it is notoriously difficult and it is a total distraction from everything else.

 The  strange thing about flying is that when you’re on the ground, the skies seem so busy, yet when you’re in the air, because pilots are slotted into their own airspace and have to keep a very safe distance, it’s remarkably peaceful and an escape from real life.

Q:   What’s your message to those who don’t know about the air ambulance service?

A:  One of my chief aims in being involved with the AAA is to highlight the fact that all the air ambulance crews around the UK are solely dependent upon donations and could not survive without them.  I know that everyone is constantly being asked to dig deep into their pockets for so many charities but this one really does help to save lives on a daily basis.  They get no financial help either from the Government or the National Lottery – not even for fuel.  As with so many causes, it’s down to the great, British public to fund it in its entirety.

If everyone gave just as much as they could spare, it would make a huge difference to the upkeep of this critical life-saving service. 

Jodie Marsh

I'm a biker and I first got involved with the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance because I heard about the bike run they organise. Every year 5,000 motorbikes or more ride together from Dunton to Harwich - it's AMAZING! I have since become a patron of the Charity and I am proud to be a part of such a worthy and fantastic cause. The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance don't get any Government or National Lottery help, they rely totally on donations from the public. They need to raise £380,000 a MONTH just to keep the helicopters in the air in order to keep saving lives. I think this is not only an amazing cause but a VITAL one. Without the Air Ambulance I dread to think how many lives would otherwise have been lost. They are crucial in those live-saving first few minutes following an accident, for example, where a normal ambulance might not get there in time. The crew and the staff at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance work tirelessly to keep the helicopters flying and I am grateful to help wherever I can; after all, you never know when you or someone you know or love, might just need the Air Ambulance! Please help us to help keep saving lives!

John Bardon

John, Probably best known to the millions of viewers of Eastenders as Jim Branning (husband of Dot Cotton), has been involved with the charity since 2006 and became our celebrity patron since 2007. He regularly turns out to Support the charity at events throughout the year when his health allows. If you have attended the bike fun over the past couple of years up in Harwich you would have seen him there, he also attended the celebrations for the charity’s 10th anniversary in 2008 in Chelmsford.

John, who lives in Hertfordshire with his wife Enda, is passionate about the air ambulance service we provide, and we regularly keep him up to date with the charities news.

June Brown

June (otherwise known as the legendary Dot Cotton from Eastenders, a role she has played for nearly 25 years) is John’s close friend and became involved with the charity after he had his stroke taking his place at charity functions and speaking for him at events. 

Due to her popularity June is in great demand for charity work all over the country and she works very hard at it. In recent years she has also attended the Bike run in Harwich, and was at our 10th anniversary celebrations with John.

And as if 82 year old June wasn't busy enough she is currently taking 2 months out of her TV role to star in the West End play Calendar Girls – getting her kit off!!

She is one of the most entertaining and lovable people you could ever share a fag with! And we are privileged to have her involved.

Ray Parlour

Ex England and Arsenal footballer, Ray Parlour will be taking up the role of celebrity patron for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust

Essex born Ray kicked off his support for the Trust at ICAP’s Charity Day in December 2009, along with other celebrity supporters; Jodie Marsh and Graham Cole. Their presence helped the charity secure vital funds and the whole event raised a staggering £11.5 million globally which was split amongst different charities across the World.

Jane Gurney, Executive Director for EHAAT said, “We are really excited about having Ray join us as a new celebrity patron, we can’t wait to get him involved in some of our upcoming events! Ray has often been described as an ‘unsung hero’ in the world of football, which is fitting since his involvement with the Charity will help raise awareness of the life-saving work of our Doctor/Paramedic teams – our very own unsung heroes.”   

Ray Parlour adds, “It is an absolute pleasure to be a Patron to such an essential and worthwhile Charity. I really hope my association with the Trust helps raise awareness that they rely solely on charitable donations to keep both helicopters flying and the highly skilled Crews of Doctors and Paramedics saving lives across Essex and Hertfordshire. As a Director of Spirit Events we aim to promote the work of the Charity and help to raise funds as we have chosen the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust as our recognized Charity.”