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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE October 2021 12

Air ambulance fund raising was badly hit during Covid Council workers stepped

helicopter ambulance service to be forced to close temporarily. critical care paramedic as well as a
A missed out on £2.2million Kerry Wilson, community pilot of course.” up during difficult time
income when its charity shops fund-raising executive for the In July, one emergency flight land-
were forced to shut in the pan- charity, said they have two heli- ed in the car park behind St Thom- in crews have been praised he added.
demic. copters based at the East Midlands as of Hereford Catholic Church on The executive approved spending
The Air Ambulance Service, which Airport covering five counties. Nottingham Road, Ilkeston. The Bfor maintaining services in of £2.9million, a drop of 9per cent
flies to seriously ill people in They aim to reach every 999 call crew treated a patient who was Erewash when other council ar- against the budget. Income is also
Erewash, receives no state funding within eight minutes. then taken by land ambulance to eas suffered disruption through down, largely due to covid.
and had to rely on online events She said: “Every mission costs hospital. Covid and worker shortages. An officers’ report said that utility
when Covid bit. £1,700 and we carry out ten a day. The pilot’s skills were applauded The backing came from council costs had dropped by £10,000 in
Financial details emerged when We rely solely on funding from the by many onlookers because he leader Carol Hart when the execu- council premises. This was a sign
the charity received a £1,125 public. We do not get any govern- landed in a tight spot and had to tive discussed the performance of of the number of staff working
cheque from a cafe which organ- ment funding. reverse away after the patient had services from April to June. at home as well as the closure of
ised a raffle with 100 prizes, only “Each flight has a doctor and a been treated. She told the meeting: “Refuse community centres.
crews have really managed and Savings
all our staff have stepped up to the
Police plea for help after man is plate.” In the last financial year, there had
been a £40,000 drop in income
Cllr Hart said one business chief
attacked by occupants of two cars had made contact to thank the from car parks. Recycling costs
were also lower by £40,000.
council staff efforts in providing
And there had been an underspend
floral displays in parks and on
traffic islands. of £13,734 in the budget covering
She said that the man said people the role of mayor. This was mainly
gang is being hunted before getting out of the cars and “We are keen to hear from anyone benefited from “seeing colour at a the result of savings in transport
A after leaping from two assaulting him. who may have been in the area and trying time.” and hospitality because civic
cars and stabbing a man on “They were then seen to drive off noticed anything suspicious. Environment spokesman cllr Garry events halted in the pandemic.
an Ilkeston street. towards Awsworth,” the statement “We’d particularly like to hear Hickton said: “Bin crews and war- Ian Sankey, director of resources,
said.
The victim suffered wounds to Officers are keen to receive any from anyone who saw the white dens have done an excellent job, told councillors: “Covid is still
having an impact and we are not
Corsa and black Mercedes travel-
putting themselves at risk tackling
his body and on one hand but is footage from dashboard cameras ling in the area around this time.” anti-social behaviour. surprised.”
expected to make a good recov- on vehicles in the area, in the hope The crime reference number is “Anti-social behaviour carries on,”
ery after a hospital stay. that this will identify the two cars. 21*532845.
The attack took place on Ebenezer ‘UNSETTLING’ The force can be contacted Death of decorated ex-Army man
Street just before 7.50pm on Mon- Detective inspector Tom Wagg through Facebook, Twitter or its
day 13th September. said: “We understand that reports website. Phone calls can be made
Derbyshire Police said: “A group of this nature can be unsettling by dialling 101 or anonymously by 99-year-old war veteran 70 years together.
of around eight men are said to but would like to reassure local contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 A died two weeks shy of his Dennis worked for East Midlands
have driven past the man in a residents that we are treating this 555 111. 100th birthday. Electricity Board for 37 years until
white Corsa and black Mercedes, as an isolated incident. Dennis James Lovatt’s funeral he retired in 1986.
took place at Bramcote Crematori- He enjoyed playing cricket, and
there is to be an annual match for
Stuntman John is um on Friday 10th September. the Dennis Lovatt Memorial Cup
He was born on 3rd September
warmly received 1921 in Stanley village. He was played in his honour at Nutbrook
Cricket Club.
called up for national service aged
19 in 1941 and spent five years in Dennis was a grandfather,
ensioner John Evans surprised the British Army Artillery Reg- great-grandfather and great-great
Pcrowds by balancing a smoke- iment, serving in Italy, Africa, grandfather. He lived inde-
filled oil drum on his head - then Germany and France, for which he pendently until his death on 21st
telling everyone he’s 74. received several medals. August.
The Ilkeston weightlifter staged He married his wife Dorothy in The Royal British Legion was in
two demonstrations in front of 1942 and they had two children, attendance at his funeral where he
5,000 people at Verwood, near Maureen and Karen. They lived received full military honours.
Bournemouth. for 53 years on Beauvale Drive, Photo: Nutbrook Cricket Club’s
As well as holding the drum on top Cotmanhay. Dorothy passed tribute to Dennis.
of his head, he did the same with away in 2012 after they had spent
16 kitchen tables, a flagpole and a
quad bike.
After returning home, he said:
“There was a lot of people and
I told them ‘I bet I’m older than
you.’ I told them I am a diabetic
and I am 74. I got clapped and a lot
came up and said they could not
believe the age I was.”
It was only John’s second show
since the pandemic put a stop to
many public events.
The South coast event also in-
cluded a flypast from a Spitfire.
John has 97 world records from his
skill, which has helped raise over
£200,000 charity money.

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