Grahame hands in his wings after 20 years

A lifesaving charity in the North East has said farewell to the man who founded it.

Gr a ha me Pickering M BE, who started the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), has left the organisation due to health issues after more than 20 years of dedicated service.

Mr Pickering built GNAAS from the ground up and introduceda series of initiatives in the region that have gone on to become commonplace throughout the UK - including carrying doctors on air ambulance missions.

Brian Jobling, chairman at GNAAS, said the charity simply would not exist if not for Mr Pickering.

He said: “Without any meaningful resources, working entirely on his own and from home, Grahame achieved his vision of providing the people of the region with a world class pre-hospital care service.

“In spite of significant obstructions and difficulties in the early days, Grahame’s determination and fight for independence finally won through.”

Last year the service attended over 1,200 incidents. Mr Jobling added: “Thanks to the support of people in the North East, the charity has prevented many unnecessary deaths and relieved serious suffering throughout our region.” “Gr ah ame’ s achievements can be seen all around us. In the latest in medical equipment, advanced medical practices, helicopters and a new centre of medical excellence near Eaglescliffe.

“He leaves GNAAS with the charity in good health and we thank him sincerely for everything he has done, not just for GNAAS, but for the region as a whole.”