Ex patient Norman and Freda Wellard celebrate 50 years together

Added on: 17 December 2009

Norman and Freda celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary thanks to the Devon Air Ambulance
 
On 1st August this year, Freda and Norman Wellard, who own and manage Forest Glade Holiday Park, Cullompton, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Instead of receiving gifts they asked friends, family and holiday guests who have had a long association with the park to make a donation to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.
 
However things could have been so much different if Norman hadn’t had a lifesaving encounter with the Devon Air Ambulance some 14 years earlier.
Norman explained:-
 
‘On the 15th June 1995 I was involved in a light aircraft crash, in which 2 people were killed. 
 
‘I was flown by Air Ambulance to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Wonford, Exeter in just 4 minutes, where surgeons worked until 3am the next morning to put me back together.
 
‘I spent 14 days in intensive care, followed by a further 8 weeks in hospital, plus a further number of months recovering at home to full health.
 
‘Without the air support from the Devon Air Ambulance, I wouldn’t have made it to the next day, let alone to celebrating our Golden Wedding Anniversary.’
 
Norman and Freda will be visiting the Devon Air Ambulance’s airbase on Wednesday 18th November at 11am, to present a cheque for £1,000 to Senior Pilot Rob Mackie, the pilot who flew Norman’s life saving mission some 14 years ago.
 
Caroline Creer, Fundraising Director of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust said ‘We have known Norman for many years, but up until now didn’t really know the full story of his airlift.  We are very much looking forward to welcoming him and Freda to the airbase on 18th November.  We wish them a belated happy anniversary, and may there be many more of them.’
 
She added ‘Patient stories just like Norman’s really do make a difference to helping us to raise our profile in local and national media.  Being 100% charity funded, it is essential that we keep what we do in the forefront of the minds of the people in the community and businesses across Devon and further afield.’

 Forest Glade Holiday Park continues to support Devon Air Ambulance Trust each year through park activities and also sponsors the Kentisbeare Youth cricket and football teams.
 

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