“Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is extremely important to agricultural workers in the county, the helicopter a welcome sight as it appears like a yellow knight in shining armour flying across the fields to help a farmer in distress. This is why I am leaving a gift in my Will to LNAA”

Lincoln-born Malcolm Haywood comes from a farming family, ever since the 1700s his family on his mother’s side has been involved in arable farming in rural Lincolnshire. And over the years Mike can recall many instances of farmworkers being injured in agricultural accidents and needing the support of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA).

He says: “One time, a farmer friend of mine got caught in a potato machine. But the Air Ambulance got there just in time, treated him at the farm and transported him to hospital. It could have been such a different outcome had it not been for the LNAA”

Incidents like that are why Malcolm believes so strongly in the importance of LNAA and being able to fly to those isolated farms swiftly and tend to the most horrific of farming injuries, to save precious time and then get people quickly to the hospital.

Malcolm’s father was in the RAF and so it was natural that he grew up with an interest in aircraft. It is perhaps not surprising that after he got his pilot’s licence, he combined his love of flying with his agricultural roots and became involved in aerial crop spraying operating across the Boston fenlands.

His growing knowledge of the industry spurred Malcolm to write a book. Entitled ‘Under the Wire’, it is a fascinating record of the life of Digby Goss, a crop spraying pilot, and is dedicated to the crop spraying operators of yesteryear.  Malcolm also produces a calendar each year that features delightful images from his extensive photo library of the light aircraft used in the crop spraying industry.

In 2014, a crop spraying event was organised at Boston Aerodrome and Malcolm was asked to “go and do his bit!!”  He invited crop-spraying aircraft to take part in a static display.

Malcolm generously donates all profits from the sales of books and calendars to LNAA and to date has raised over £2,000.  Both are available from his website: https://malcolmhaywood.wixsite.com/underthewire

Malcolm and his wife Pat have decided to leave a gift to Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance in their Wills so that the charity can continue to save lives in the future.

Malcolm says: “Once we have looked after our family and loved ones, there will be some money left over. We want to know where our money is going and that it will make a difference to someone, somewhere in the county. LNAA is so worthwhile in rural Lincolnshire, and the work it does means a lot to us both because we have been involved in aviation and farming all our lives. What better cause to leave a legacy to, than to something so worthwhile that is on your doorstep.”

“Over a quarter of LNAA work is funded by people who, like Malcolm, have left a gift in their Will and in the last year alone, donations of this kind have paid for over 350 life-saving missions. By remembering Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance in your Will, you will be helping to ensure that we can be there for critically ill and injured people when they need us most. Whatever size of the gift, your donation will make a difference to someone’s life. So after you have taken care of your loved ones, please consider leaving a gift to LNAA and leave a lifesaving legacy.