New Milton Town Mayor, Councillor Alvin Reid, was delighted to welcome over 90 guests to the Mayor’s Afternoon Tea Party in support of his nominated charity Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
The fund-raising event was held at Barton on Sea Golf Club on Saturday 21 February, realised £800 from the raffle. A broad selection of raffle prizes, donated by local businesses and individuals, were on offer, with the selection including a table-top pizza oven, bottles of locally produced sparkling Pig Beer, 820 Spirits cocktail making course, and hampers filled with treats. View the list of donors
Councillor Alvin Reid said “It’s really important to highlight the work of the charity, it’s been truly lifesaving to many in critical need, offering advanced critical care and the best chance of survival and recovery.”
He continued “If we all do a little, collectively we can achieve a lot, and that’s my mantra when fund-raising. Today’s successful event has been a pleasure, especially spending time with so many guests, who have been very generous with their donations. And we all enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea superbly presented by the Barton on Sea Golf Club hospitality team”.
Two volunteers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance attended the event sharing information about the work of the charity. Of particular interest was that doctors, dispatchers, pilots and paramedics from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance responded to a record 2,593 emergencies across the region in 2025.
Using both a helicopter and emergency road response vehicle, the charity brings a team of highly skilled pre-hospital emergency doctors, and specialist paramedics to the scene of incidents, effectively bringing the hospital to the patient when time is critical.
Called out to an average of seven incidents every day, including cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, falls and assaults, the life-saving service is operational 365 days a year, both day and night.
In September 2024, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance launched its biggest ever fundraising appeal, ‘Operation Airbase – Save Time, Save Lives’, to raise £3.6million for its new airbase relocating from Thruxton to a new, central base near Southampton Airport. This move will significantly reduce response times, providing critical care faster to patients in the southern region and in so doing bring the service closer to 70% of its missions and more locations like the New Forest within a ten-minute flight time.
So far, some remarkable support has helped raise £2.6 million towards the ‘Operation Airbase’ appeal. They now need the final £1 million to get their new home ready for its first flight.
Operation Airbase: £1 million to go | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance
Councillor Alvin Reid will host the Mayor’s Fun Quiz and Raffle event on Saturday 7 March 2026 at Bashley Village Hall, hoping to raise more funds for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.