Ray Winstone donates his talents to Essex & Herts Air Ambulance

Ray Winstone, Patron of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT), demonstrated his talents as an actor during a day of volunteering for the Charity.

The screen and TV star donated a day of his time to film videos and record messages that will be used over the coming year to boost support for the life-saving Charity across Essex and Hertfordshire.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to volunteer with Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, they always make me feel welcome with a bacon sandwich on arrival!”

During his time with the Charity, Ray expressed surprise how much money the people of the two counties donate each year in order to keep the service operational.

“This Charity needs over £6 million a year, unbelievable - I don’t think many people realise they don’t receive central Government funding”.

During the day Ray met EHAAT staff including Jane Gurney, Chief Executive.

Jane said: “Ray is a huge star, so we are incredibly grateful that he continues to find time in his busy schedule to help us.

It’s been amazing to see such a talented actor at work at close hand, and I look forward to sharing the results with our Staff, Volunteers and Supporters over the coming year.”

Over the next twelve months videos, voice recordings and photographs featuring Ray will be used by Essex & Herts Air Ambulance to raise awareness of the Charity, which receives no funding from central Government.

If, like Ray, you would like to support your local life-saving charity you can do so at ehaat.org/donate

-ENDS-

Photograph: Ray Winstone

For more information please contact the Communications Team on 0345 2417 690.

Notes to Editor:

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is a Charity that provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas.

The service is provided free of charge but, unlike NHS emergency services, the Charity receives no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery. It costs £500,000 every month to keep the service operational and saving lives, and this would not be possible without the generosity and goodwill of people and businesses of Essex, Hertfordshire and beyond.

Each of the Charity’s HEMS teams consist of two Pilots, a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and a Critical Care Paramedic.

These teams, made up of highly-skilled individuals, tended to 1077 patients in 2016 and are the backbone of your local life-saving Charity.

The fleet, consisting of two Air Ambulances, and four Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs - cars) operates seven days a week from 7am to 9pm. After sunset, the Critical Care Team continues to provide the service using Rapid Response Vehicles.

In addition, a Rapid Response Vehicle is operational on a Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm until 2am with a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic.