Meet Our Volunteers
Everyone has a different reason for volunteering, together our volunteers offer a range of diverse skills whilst also getting a lot back from donating their time.
Lynne Press
On June 21 2022 Lynne Press’s world changed forever.
It was on that day that her grandson, Ethan, suffered a serious crash. He was driving near Pen Y Fan with his then girlfriend in the car.
He hit an ash cart and, in an instant, was left with life-threatening injuries.
Luckily, two paramedics happened to be travelling in the opposite direction and soon the experts from the Wales Air Ambulance were on hand to provide vital care.
Despite that, at one point Ethan was given a 70/30 chance of not pulling through from the accident.
After being transferred to hospital Ethan needed emergency surgery after his bowel ruptured. Sepsis then developed and he needed further vital treatment.
Ethan was in intensive care for two weeks, but he has made a miraculous recovery and is now gradually returning to life as normal.
For Lynne, the life-changing incident led her to consider volunteering.
After taking early retirement, Lynne decided to pay back for the help given to Ethan when it mattered.
She said: “I do think if it wasn’t for the air ambulance he wouldn’t have made it. This is my way of saying thank-you.”
But she also gets a lot of satisfaction from volunteering, she said:
“I really enjoy it. I have met some lovely people. It’s great here. At the moment I’m doing stuff in the warehouse, and we’re having fun.”
Everyone has a different reason for volunteering, but for Lynne it was a very personal decision.
Graham Hirst
Graham Hirst is a stalwart of volunteering at Wales Air Ambulance.
Notching up over 15 years of volunteering this month (January), Graham is a well-known face at our Dafen headquarters.
In his trademark Cowboy-style hats, he always has a smile, a wave and a “hello” for everyone he meets.
But it was early retirement at 54 that first sparked Graham, of Treboeth, to join our volunteering team.
Seeking a new challenge, Graham spotted an advert in the Evening Post for volunteers.
He started at our then warehouse in Llansamlet and also helped to fit out our first shop in Cwmdu.
A lot has changed since Graham first turned his hand to volunteering. At the time, at our base in Fairwood, Swansea, there were just two portable buildings and one helicopter.
What hasn’t changed is Graham’s total dedication to the cause. He can always be relied upon to help where he can, and now does various talks to groups, sorts cash boxes and regularly helps out with campaigns among his many tasks.
He has advice for anyone considering volunteering: “Come and join us and see if you like it.
“I work with a great bunch of people. They’re very dedicated. I feel – when I see that helicopter go up – that’s lovely! We are part of that. People’s lives are being saved because of our volunteers.”
Volunteering is not just a one-way street. Graham sadly lost his wife of 55 years three years ago, and volunteering helped him through this difficult period.
His gift of time to the charity keeps him occupied and gets him out of the house.
We at Wales Air Ambulance believe we gain so much more from Graham’s volunteering.
He is simply irreplaceable.
Charlotte Merrigan
Charlotte Merrigan is younger than the usual volunteer.
Helping out at our Cwmdu store and warehouse since last September, Charlotte has tried her hand at a number of tasks.
She has been invaluable at the donation drop-off section, sorting through bric-a-brac, clothes, DVDs and games. She has also joined the team in the warehouse – sorting through donated stock.
For Charlotte, her shifts are carried out twice a week, but volunteering at Wales Air Ambulance is very flexible, and can be organised to suit people’s available hours.
Before joining the team at Cwmdu, Charlotte was at college, learning independent living skills.
The knowledge she has gained during her volunteering has been invaluable to giving her transferable skills. Managers will even offer a reference to volunteers seeking work.
But her tasks have also benefited Charlotte personally, she says: “When I was at college the teachers always used to say ‘volunteer – it will boost your career when you are ready to work.’
“Volunteering has been described as fulfilling, so I thought I would give it a go and see how it works out. I’m pleased to say it’s gone very well for me.”
One of the key advantages for Charlotte, though, is the wonderful friends she’s met. She said she gets on very well with all the team and her advice to any prospective volunteer is: “Give it a go!”
Linda Jones
When Linda Jones started volunteering with us Gareth Gates topped the charts and an average house in Wales would set you back £78,000.
Now, more than 20 years later, Linda is still donating her precious time to us and recently received a special award to mark her incredible length of service.
Starting with us just two years after the Charity was launched, Linda was still working as a receptionist in a high school at the time.
The stalwart of our volunteering family is still to be found helping out around her hometown of Corwen.
Linda’s volunteering journey with Wales Air Ambulance began when she spotted a chance column in the Liverpool Daily Post. A ‘volunteers wanted’ article sparked Linda’s interest and she applied to join the team.
At first Linda gave talks to various groups, but recently she has mostly picked up collection boxes in her area.
She explained why she has devoted so much of her time to her role: “It’s just a fantastic charity. If I can be of any help I will volunteer.”
Now a mother and grandmother to six children, Linda shows no signs of slowing down.
She added: “I am a very active person and don’t like to not be doing anything. I’m also a member of the Women’s Institute (WI).
“We need the charity in Wales. It’s so rural everywhere. I always watch the programmes on the telly about air ambulances – and I was thrilled to see the new helicopter at the volunteer conference.”
