Chorley
Historical and Archaeological Society
News and Views |
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Mar 2023 |
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Tue 14th Mar 2023. |
Sarah’s presentation covered the history of the organisation
and their activities that continue to save lives in areas not
covered by the normal emergency services.
The
North West Air Ambulance is the helicopter emergency medical
service (HEMS) that covers the North West England region,
consisting of the counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire,
Greater Manchester and Merseyside. It was set up in 1999 with a
single aircraft based at Blackpool. |
North West Air Ambulance.
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Donations required. |
Sarah Horne. |
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They receive no government or NHS funding and it is thanks to
public donations that they are able to operate. Their motto is
to bring the hospital to the patient then take the patient to
the hospital. They operate with three EC135 aircraft. Each has a
crew of three, one pilot, and either one doctor and a Critical
Care or HEMS paramedic, or two Critical Care or HEMS paramedics.
One aircraft is based at Blackpool Airport the other two at City
Airport Manchester (Barton). |
One of the NWAA teams. |
North West Air Ambulance. |
Eurocopter EC135 |
Four BMW X5 air Ambulance Response Unit cars are used for nearby
incidents, or where it is not suitable for an aircraft to land,
such as city centres. In addition daily motorbike deliveries of
blood are made to the bases.
It is interesting to note that
the most rescued age group is around 50.
The early history
goes back to April 1987 when Cornwall became the first place in
the UK to launch an air ambulance helicopter service.
The
aircraft usually make a direct line to the incident and cruising
at 150mph they can reach most of the north west in minutes.
The first helicopters were funded by a donation from the AA
(Automobile Association) adn inherited the AA’s colour of
yellow. The NWAA started with one helicopter and the 2nd was
obtained after they received a generous donation from a lady's
will. Donations are needed desperately as over £9 million pounds
a year is needed. The fuel costs alone are over £25,000/month.
Sarah explained the advantage of being a 100% charity funded
organisation as they can operate totally free of the National
health and take patients directly to the most suitable hospital
unit.
Thanks to Sarah for explaining the valuable work done
by the organisation that most people take for granted.
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B.H.
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| Boyd Harris ‘Denham Springs
Printworks, Lower Copthurst, Brindle'. |
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Mar 2023. |
Walking along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal from Town Lane
to the Top Lock it is possible to see a stone chimney emerging
from the trees in the valley to the left. Along it runs the
River Lostock and this was the original power source and water
supply for the long abandoned Denham Springs Print Works. A few
piles of stones and low crumbling walls are all that remain of
the buildings but the chimney still stands majestic above the
ruins. The remains are behind the private buildings of Denham
Springs Farm and not accessible. However, the chimney can be
seen from many vantage points and marks the location of a
troubled industry over 200 years ago. |
Paul O'Gorman.
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Denham Springs Printworks Chimney. |
Denham Springs Printworks ruins
c1920. |
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Location of lady Hall Farm. |
The mill began printing around 1783 and was run by
Bennett and Ware. Bennett died and Ware left and the mill
remained empty. A man called Dickinson eventually tried again
but he also went bankrupt leaving the mill empty once more. The
last named manager was Charles Barber who ran the mill with two
machines, 20 tables and a 24 horsepower steam engine. He didn't
last long and went bust in 1845. |
The arch in its new location. |
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The last substantial part of the ruins was a stone arched
doorway by the waterwheel site. In May 2022 I was interviewed
there by Paul O’Gorman of Radio Lancashire. The arch was
subsequently removed by the estate owner and rebuilt into a
stone barn at Lady Hall Farm off Marsh Lane, Brindle. It is now
adjacent to a public footpath so can be seen by passers-by. |
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