Pilot Terry doing his bit helping to deliver jabs
JET2 CAPTAIN VOLUNTEERING WHILE PLANES ARE GROUNDED
A JET2.com pilot who found himself grounded by the pandemic is helping in the battle against the virus at a vaccination centre.
Captain Terry Nicholson, 52, from Loughborough, was recently accepted as a St John Ambulance vaccination volunteer and is now helping administer the jabs in Leicester.
He has worked for the holiday firm for seven years, based at East Midlands Airport.
But now Captain Nicholson is one of more than 30,000 volunteers recruited and trained by the charity to support the national vaccination programme.
He said his skills as a pilot, such as helping people feel at ease and that they are in good hands, have been very useful as a vaccination volunteer.
“People can be a little nervous when getting a vaccine, especially the older generation who may have been shielding for the last 12 months and have had little or no contact with the outside world,” he said.
“As a vaccination volunteer, it is my job to make them feel comfortable and to assure them they are in safe hands, while giving them the vaccine.
“I think my time as a pilot has definitely made me even more suitable in helping to deliver the vaccines.”
At the start of the pandemic, Terry signed up to the Royal Voluntary Service and worked as a Check in and Chat volunteer, providing telephone advice to people feeling lonely.
He said: “My wife has had to shield, so I understand how isolating and lonely it must be for people who are living alone.
“This was the reason why I first wanted to get involved with the service.
“Then, when I heard they were looking for people to come forward and administer the vaccine, I knew I had to apply.
“I wanted to help out in any way, learn new skills and do something that felt constructive and positive.
“Like everyone else, I’m looking forward to putting these difficult times behind us and returning to what I love doing best – taking to the skies and jetting people away on their much-loved holidays.
“I can’t wait to put my pilot’s uniform back on and wish everyone a happy holiday.”
Captain Nicholson is one of four Jet2. com pilots based at East Midlands Airport who have come forward to help support the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Also volunteering with the NHS are First Officer Thomas Milne, Senior First Officer Justin Helliwell and Captain Craig Strickland.