It was a real privilege to welcome The Duchess of Edinburgh HQ of Thames Valley Air Ambulance on this important visit. She praised the service that helped save her life more than twenty years ago. The Duchess, accompanied by Chief Executive Amanda McLean, Assistant Director of Operations Chris Burgon, and Clinical Informatics Lead Kurtis Poole, took part in several activities. They all reiterated the critical need for pre-hospital care.
As part of her visit, the Duchess revealed a special commemorative plaque. She was accompanied by Consultant Paramedic Mark Hodkinson and Chair of the Board of Trustees Chris Bannister. Even if symbolic, this gesture underscored her commitment to the success of this service. It represented her personal stake, after having been airlifted to a hospital in 2001 for an ectopic pregnancy that threatened her life. She was transported for an emergency procedure to London’s King Edward VII hospital. This experience truly brought home the importance and value of Thames Valley Air Ambulance in critical situations.
During this visit, the Duchess toured the facilities at Saferworld’s headquarters and had the chance to meet with Doctor Asher Lewinsohn. She got a chance to interact with the training equipment used to prepare crew members for complex procedures. Impressively, she practiced a lifesaving intervention herself, showcasing her commitment to understanding the work that these professionals do daily.
While on engagement, the Duchess observed intensive care paramedics and doctors conduct a training simulation. This was held at the Pre-hospital Education Centre. Her visit comes after a record year for Thames Valley Air Ambulance. In 2025, they logged a mind-numbing 3,302 callouts for their critical care team.
Amanda McLean thanked the public for their support during the event, saying,
“We never forget that every single mission we attend is funded by the generosity of our supporters. So, as we release our 2025 statistics, I’d like to say a big thank you to the public for keeping us on the frontline of saving lives for another year.” – Amanda McLean
The Duchess of Edinburgh, who recently celebrated her 61st birthday, was born in Germany. Since 2019, she has become known as the proudly outspoken patron of Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Her steadfast support demonstrates how essential air ambulance services are. These services are an immensely effective and immediate tool in saving lives throughout the complex, vibrant community.
“It was an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness back to Thames Valley Air Ambulance headquarters.” – Amanda McLean
The Duchess of Edinburgh, who recently celebrated her 61st birthday, has served as the patron of Thames Valley Air Ambulance since 2019. Her ongoing support emphasizes the critical nature of air ambulance services and their impact on saving lives throughout the community.
