A CHIPPENHAM woman who died last year has left £80,000 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance in her estate.

Doreen Hayward died on June 22, 2015, aged 76, and had been a supporter of the WAA for much of her life.

A family member was airlifted by the WAA in the 1990s and when her husband, John, died a few years ago donations were made in his memory.

Mrs Hayward’s sister-in-law, Carole Richardson, and her nephew David Richardson, of Plymouth, Devon, visited the WAA’s Operations Centre in Devizes recently to present the £80,000 donation.

Mr Richardson, 43, and a full-time carer, said: “My auntie was the most kind, giving person alive.

“Her appreciation for Wiltshire Air Ambulance stemmed from a family member being airlifted by it.

“She thought a lot of the air ambulance and the work it carries out.

“She was well-known in Chippenham, she knew all the local kids who walked by her house and gave them birthday cards.

“She would say hello to anybody. Her main hobby was her garden, it was full of flowers.”

Karen Gambrell, WAA’s legacies manager, said: “We’re so grateful and humbled that Doreen Hayward left a gift in her will to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

“Her legacy of £80,000 is very generous and will go a long way to help keeping our helicopter and crew flying and saving lives.

“Our aircrew and charity team members enjoyed meeting Carole and David Richardson and hearing about Doreen. She was a special lady.”