The Wiltshire Air Ambulance. This is a very deserving charity which does sterling work. I have paid a visit to their operational headquarters in Devizes where I met the flight crew which consists of three members, a pilot, usually ex services, a paramedic and a police observer. I had the opportunity of questioning the crew and I was deeply impressed by their dedication and professionalism. Living in a semi rural county we have a great need for the air ambulance, consider a farm worker whose tractor over turns whilst working in a field far from roads and as such inaccessible by road; by the time the injured person has reached the road ambulance he could be dead but using the air ambulance ten minutes could see him in hospital. I like to think of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance as the inland version of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Elizabeth Hodges Charity. This arose from the 1723 will of Elizabeth Hodges from Shipton Moyne. Elizabeth Hodges left £30 per annum to establish a school for boys in Malmesbury. In 1730 a charity was created which in turn established a school for fifteen poor but honest boys at 40 Gloucester Road. In 1880 with the provision of free government funded education the free poor school closed. From 1880 to 1990 the Elizabeth Hodges Charity “ slept “. In 1990 the trustees, Malmesbury Town Council opened a tin box containing Elizabeth Hodges Charity papers, it was discovered that there was about £2,500 in the charities’ funds. The charity was bought up to date with donations being made for school trips, piano lessons, assistance with exam fees and a whole range of educational support for deserving cases in Malmesbury not covered by statutory educational loans and grants, as such it provides a vital support for students who are in need.
If you feel you can help, please send a cheque made payable to The Mayoral Appeal and send it to:
The Mayoral Appeal
Malmesbury Town Hall
Cross Hayes
Malmesbury
WIltshire
SN16 9BZ
