On Thursday, May 15, Roos & South Holderness Singers welcomed Kevin Hutchinson (community fundraiser for East and North Yorkshire Air Ambulance) to their rehearsal.
He was presented with a cheque for £600 in memory of David Wright (beloved husband of Lynne Wright in the soprano section and a long-serving member in the bass section).
Every year, the choir nominates a charity to receive a donation. This year’s chosen recipient was Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which had come to the aid of David and his family when he was taken ill while walking through woodland on a family holiday in Ampleforth.
Kevin explained how the air ambulance took off from their Nostell Priory site, directed by Fiona who was on duty that day. The crew comprised the pilot (Colin), assistant pilot (Tom) and paramedics (Andy and Jemma).
A first responder was the first person to arrive on the scene with a defibrillator. Despite all his efforts, he was devastated to find that he couldn’t restart David’s heart. Meanwhile, other emergency services had been mobilised (police, ambulance and mountain rescue) and were also making their way to the incident site.
When the air ambulance arrived, the team (directed by Jemma) took over from the family who had been performing CPR. On their arrival, the ambulance crew relieved the air ambulance personnel.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, David died, and the mountain rescue team stretchered his body to the waiting ambulance.
The choir was both surprised and delighted to find that, although Kevin had travelled all the way from Malton, he stayed for the remainder of the rehearsal instead of leaving after the presentation.
He videoed the choir singing one of the songs they are learning by heart (Sing Cantate Domino!) and was very impressed by a new piece they have just started to rehearse (Razzle Dazzle from Chicago), prompting him to suggest that they have a go at something from Soul Sisters, which Sally Roper (musical director) thought was a great idea.
So, watch this space!