Regulars at the Six Bells pub in Abertillery wanted to do something special in tribute to Craig Hayes.
Craig suffered a severe stroke whilst at home in Brynithel in March 2025. Both the ambulance service and Wales Air Ambulance attended.
56-year-old, Jeanette Gilson, says ‘everyone was inspired to raise as much as they could’.
The grandmother of one continued: “Craig, was a wonderful man. I’d known him since he was a little boy, I remember him growing up. He was so outgoing, the life and soul of the party.
“His family are all the same. You meet them as a stranger and come away a friend. They are so lovely and welcoming of everyone they encounter.
“They are a proper village family and are all very close. When Craig died, his family asked at his funeral for donations to be made to Wales Air Ambulance.”
Jeanette, who used to work at the Love Food cake factory at Pen-y-van pond said: “When I found out that the Charity purely relies on supporters to raise the money it needs to keep the service going, I thought all the locals must do something to help.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Jeanette said: “If every community raised a thousand pounds each, can you imagine the difference it could make? It got me thinking about what we could do to help.
“So, the next time our group of friends had a meeting at the pub, I said why don’t I sit in a bath of beans, which made them laugh, they thought I was joking.
“Fortunately, the idea got everyone talking, once we got the bath and the beans were donated, that was that.
“Local businesses got involved too sponsoring and offering prizes for the raffle.”
On the 20th of July 2025, a mammoth baked bean operation was launched.
Jeanette said: “It took ages to prepare. We were a right sight, there was a group of us huddled around the bath in the beer garden with our tin openers, getting it ready.
“I think we had about six catering size tins and well over 150 normal size tins were donated, we also added water, to top up the levels.”
Once it was dipping time, Jeanette, kept her sense of humour, even wearing a toast fancy dress outfit.
She said: “When I got in, I didn’t expect it to be so cold. I was so glad when the sun would break through the clouds to warm me up a bit.
“The worst thing was the wasps”, she laughed. She added: “They just would not leave me alone; they wanted tended to want to eat me as well.”
The Six Bells team were keen to raise as much money as they could, so for a £3.00 donation, supporters could pour a bucket of beans over Jeanette’s head.
She said: “My skin was fine afterwards, but by my hairdresser told me I was lucky that my hair didn’t go orange.
“I think if you are going to do something, you might as well go all in and do it.”
Jeanette says ‘the whole event couldn’t have happened without the support of Martin and Alex’ who run the Six Bells pub.
She said: “They are a brilliant couple, what they have done for our community, is amazing. They are the heart of our village, and we are all so grateful.
“I’ve also got to say my gang of girlfriends, are the best too, they were running their legs off advertising the day, selling tickets and encouraging people to donate. It was a real team effort!”
Due to the number of tins of beans and spaghetti donated, there was surplus left over, so any unopened items were donated to the local food bank in Abertillery.
Jeannette said: “It’s been special to be part of a fundraiser in memory of Craig. I am sure he would have been proud of everyone, for helping raise over £1,000.
“It still amazes me that the Charity relies on fundraisers like this, you never know when you or a loved one might need it. I hope you don’t. But we all have a responsibility to do our bit to ensure it keeps going.”
Christian Sullivan, Regional Fundraising Manager said: “Congratulations to all those who helped turn Jeanette into beans on toast! I think that could be a first for Wales Air Ambulance.
“We are always moved by what inspires our fundraisers to do what they do in aid of our Charity.
“It is truly touching that the whole community came out to support this tribute to Craig, he sounds like a wonderful character.
“You should all be very proud of your efforts. Every pound raised will make such a big difference and save lives. Diolch yn pawb!”
