Wiltshire Air Ambulance has been gifted a Kubota L1-452 HST tractor by local dealer Howard & Sons, who have given the brand-new machine for the next two years.
Jason Howard (right) from Howard & Sons hands over the keys to Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s Neil Freegard
The 45hp tractor will be used to transport the fuel bowser around the base for refuelling the helicopter and will also aid the upkeep of the charity’s land.
Devizes-based Howard & Sons is a family company which has been involved in the agricultural industry for three generations. The business sells farm machinery and tractors across the UK and exports worldwide and have been preferred Kubota suppliers for the past three years.
Sales manager Jason Howard said, “Wiltshire is an extremely rural area and we know the air ambulance is regularly called out to incidents on remote farm land and involving machinery.
“We wanted to play our small part and, having spoken to the staff at the airbase, it was felt this new Kubota tractor will be important for their work.”
Wiltshire Air Ambulance ground base manager Richard Miller said, “We can’t thank Howard & Sons enough for their support with the gifting of this tractor, as well as taking care of its servicing and insurance.
“It will be a huge help to our team as we look to carry out our lifesaving service up to 19 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Each year it costs £4 million a year to keep the air ambulance flying and the charity receives no regular direct funding from the Government or National Lottery grants.