The Chairman of the Scottish Ambulance Service, David Garbutt, unveiled a plaque dedicated to Walter and Effie Kerr, who donated a new state of the art helipad on the Isle of Cumbrae.
Thanks to their generous bequest the islanders now benefit from a facility that allows 24/7 access by air ambulance helicopters without the need for assistance to activate landing lights.
Extensive engineering work was undertaken to create a purpose built landing area and access path for transfer of patients from ambulance to waiting aircraft. Incoming helicopters can activate the landing lights remotely and no longer require the Coastguard to be called out for assistance.
Walter and Effie Kerr lived all of their lives on Millport. Walter was a photographer and supplied national and local papers with pictures from Millport. He was a prisoner of war during World War II and was very active in the community for all of his life. Effie also took photographs and was a Justice of the Peace on the island. Like Water, she was very involved in the community. Walter had been transferred to hospital by the air ambulance helicopter as a patient.
David Garbutt, said: “Walter and Effie supported the community throughout their lives on the island and we are extremely grateful to them for their bequest. It is fitting that their generosity has created a lasting memory for a facility that is so important to the Cumbrae. This new helipad will benefit islanders for many years to come, allowing rapid emergency medical evacuations.
“Our air ambulance helicopters operate 24/7, providing an essential clinical service to islanders, quickly bringing additional emergency care and transferring patients to specialist hospital treatment centres.”
Friend George Beagrie, who was the Cumbrae local officer in the Town Council days on the island, said: "I knew Walter and Effie very well over many years. We learned when Walter died from Effie that during the war that Walter was a prisoner of war for many years. And Walter did state if it wasn't for the red cross parcels, he wouldn't have survived the war, and it was a very important charity in his life, and nearer the end with Walter when he was unwell, he was twice taken off the island by the air ambulance, and because of that, this was another charity which was close to his belief, and between Walter and Effie, they bequeathed that their estate was shared between The Red Cross and the Air Ambulance.
"I believe that Walter was made to march from St Valery on the French coast, they were made to route march all the way over to Germany to the Prisoner of War camp, along with several other Millport lads. They were all on the same battalion, and sadly I don't think there are any left, but they were a camaraderie group from Millport who survived the war and the prisoner of war camp.
"Walter was a character, and he was never happier than when he had a camera in his hand, and he was out. From the early days of street photography on the beach, and his photographic studio, Walter was the local professional photographer. Effie was similarly never happier than when she was running her china and hardware shop, and when Effie gave up the shop business, she slotted in with Walter and helped with the photography, and in fact when Walter died, Effie carried on the trend of taking photos locally and carried on the trend of taking photos locally, and for the Wee Paper.
"Effie was involved in a lot of women's organisations from the Rural to the Curling Club, tennis, badminton and the church choir."
Following the plaque presentation, the air ambulance NHS helicopter arrived on demonstration, and trustees, and friends of Walter and Effie, were given a tour of the helicopter.
Photos by Karen Brodie.