A long-time supporter of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance left a special gift of £15,000 in his will.

The charity (DSAA) was delighted with the contribution made by Jeremy Connell.

His widow, Anna, was a volunteer for DSAA for 15 years, managing a collection of box sites scattered across Exmoor's villages.

Upon Mr Connell's retirement in 2017, he joined Anna and became actively involved in the charity's outreach.

Impressively, the couple managed to raise over £30,000 and considerably escalated the charity's visibility in Somerset's remote areas.

In March, Anna and her late husband's relatives visited the DSAA team at their Henstridge Airbase.

They were there not only to commemorate Mr Connell, but also his generous £15,000 bequest.

Somerset County Gazette: Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was delighted with the contribution made by the late Jeremy

Opening up about her experiences, Anna said: "DSAA was so very close to our hearts.

"Jeremy and I felt proud to be able to do what we could to support them."

Anna continued to share how recognised they became in local shops and pubs due to their charity work, and how counting the money was a joint effort, highlighting the number of pennies and small 5p coins.

She said: "Volunteering for the air ambulance was something special that we could do together, something that we cared about".

Anna's involvement with DSAA has continued, following her husband's passing.

Although she retired from regular charity work, as it wasn’t the same without her husband, she continues to hold an annual village plant sale and a Christmas Fayre in aid of DSAA.

In fact, she mentioned: "I have just finished planting 600 tiny plants in the greenhouse, waiting for them to grow to sell at this year’s plant sale in May."

Tracy Bartram, DSAA communications manager, expressed gratitude for the legacy left behind by Jeremy Connell.

She said: "Thank you never seems enough when we receive legacy gifts such as this from Jeremy.

"The bequest of £15,045.21 will help our life-saving crew continue their work and be there for patients when they need us the most".

Note: It should be highlighted that Jeremy’s legacy also included a generous bequest to the RNLI.

More information about DSAA and its activities can be found by visiting www.dsairambulance.org.uk.