Fundraiser for air ambulance after great grandad's life was saved

Mr Marshall, 81, suffered a heart attack on the day he and his wife June moved into Crammer Court, Devizes, back in February but within minutes a medical team from Wiltshire Air Ambulance arrived at his home and then the Great Western Air Ambulance landed on The Green.

When paramedics and a doctor arrived at his home he was collapsed on the floor and had to be resuscitated before being flown to hospital in Bristol.

At the time his daughter Janet Holmes said her father owed his life to the air ambulance and pledged the family would raise money for the cause.

Now they have organised a fete at Crammer Court on July 8 from 2pm.

She said: "We hope quite a few people will turn up. My dad is still quite well known in the town from when he ran a café called Griddle Grill in the Market Place and a sweet shop called Marshalls Stores in Southbroom Road.

"We don't have a target for how much we want to raise. Even if it is not a huge amount we know it is going to a good cause. My mum and dad are being supported by the rest of the family and a lot of the other residents in Crammer Court are making cakes.

"We are making scones for cream teas and there will be stalls and sideshows, a raffle and a tombola. We are hoping some of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance people will be there as well."

Mr Marshall, who has three children, 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, recovered well in hospital and managed to be back home at Crammer Court to celebrate his 81st birthday a couple of weeks after he was taken ill. The couple have since also celebrated 59 years of marriage.

They met when Mr Marshall returned to Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, from National Service in Hong Kong and started working at the same flax factory as his wife-to-be in Devizes.

Mrs Holmes said: "We will always be so grateful to the air ambulance. If it hadn't been for them we don't think he would be here today."