Devon Air Ambulance Trust officially opens Steve Ford Airbase

Devon Air Ambulance Trust officially opens Steve Ford Airbase

26-Jan-2010 Source: Devon Air Ambulance

The new Devon Air Ambulance Trust ‘Steve Ford’ Airbase at Eaglescott Airfield, Umberleigh opens its hangar doors for the first time on Thursday 21st January, when it will be officially opened by BBC Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers.  Judi will be joined by the family of pilot Steve Ford, who the base is named after.  Steve Ford tragically died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday 18th October in the Teign Valley area of Devon.
Speaking on behalf of the family wife Julia said ‘We have been touched by the many tributes paid to Steve following his death in October 2008.  We are immensely proud that he has been recognised in this way. It’s a wonderful lasting tribute to a great man whose life we were privileged to share’.
The airbase took just 5 months to build, and the crew managed to move in just before the snow and cold spell arrived!
Heléna Holt, Chief Executive of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust said ‘There are so many people to thank, without whom this project wouldn’t even have taken off the ground.  Rok our builders have been great all the way through in keeping us involved and informed re their weekly newsletter, which in turn meant that we could engage and involve our staff and aircrew in the progress.’
She added ‘We would also like to thank the following for supporting this project – Burdens Building Supplies, Bluegrass IT, Fifields and, of course, Barry  Pearson of Eaglescott Airfield, who kindly gifted a long lease of the land.’
NOTES
Steve Ford
Born in Heavitree, Exeter, Steve joined the Army in 1971 taking an apprenticeship with the Royal Engineers
Although he trained as an engineer plant operator he became a weapons and explosives search team commander serving two tours in Northern Ireland at the height of troubles.
During his career in the forces, he was mentioned in dispatches for his heroism for his work as a bomb disposal expert, helping save lives during the 1979 Warrenpoint bombings by the IRA in Northern Ireland in which 18 people died.
His love of flying, originally discovered through gliding led him to train as a helicopter navigator and air-gunner and he finally achieved his aim as an Army helicopter pilot in 1984.
In 1991 he was selected for additional training and became a qualified helicopter instructor and it is in this role that he excelled throughout the remainder of his army career.
Steve left the army for a short period in the 1980s serving as a policeman in Exeter but rejoined after 2 years, although he was invited to remain with the Army to continue to instruct after the normal retirement age of 40.  He left in 1998 to take up the one post which he confessed could lure him from the Army – flying the Devon Air Ambulance.
Steve flew the Devon Air Ambulance for more than 10 years, then in 2006 became Deputy Head of Training for Bond Air Services(the company who the Devon Air Ambulance leased their helicopter from at that time).
He had more than 2,000 flying hours logged with the Air Ambulance, and during his career had more than 13,000 flying hours.
He is much missed by wife Julia, and four children, Tony, Clare, Emma and Katy, as well as by his work colleagues and friends.

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