One milestone passed… now for the next

Pritesh and Channi do the heavy lifting

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 was another milestone day for Helipads For Hospitals.

Founder John Nowell and our supporter Andy delivered a 45ft articulated lorry trailer chock-full of aluminium items —mainly drinks cans —to emr metal recyclers at Kingsbury, near Tamworth.

The number of cans and different-sized bags make it impossible to accurately count cans. So we are weighing each lorry-load. The first lorry-load weighed just under three metric tonnes. It is estimated that each helipad we provide will require an average of 80 tonnes of aluminium.

The day that John and Andy emptied the trailer was one of the hottest of the summer and their labours were hampered by the number of plastic bags we had included in the trailer.

The volunteers take a welcome break after an hour of physical activity

Six days later, on August 18, 2020, thirteen volunteers met at our storage facility to begin the process of re-filling the recently-emptied trailer. Under blue early-evening skies, they got stuck in and within an hour had had loaded 32 one-tonne bags —the equivalent of about six weeks’ donations.

They emptied the wild assortment of bin bags and other bags so there will be less to do next time we take the trailer to the smelting firm.

Wombles Sam Laywood and Geoff Walker display their hi-vis jackets provided with the help of sponsors

The team, led by John Nowell included Ngaire and Rob Hall with Phil Marriott and Sarita Shah, Maya Vansia, Jason Chauhan, Channi Riyait and Jim Matthews. Sarita’s brother Pritesh came and helped, as did Maya’s husband Pradip. The volunteers were very grateful for the physical efforts of Geoff Walker, (stomping’ Geoff) of the South Leicestershire Litter Wombles and Sam Laywood, (Belton Sam) of the North Leicestershire Litter Wombles.

Builders bags stacked up to four high in the murk of the trailer

They enjoyed the banter and the satisfaction of seeing the trailer getting filled again.

To learn more about South Leicestershire Litter Wombles, please visit their Facebook page here

North Leicestershire Litter Wombles have their Facebook Page here

Both Facebook pages are worth visiting. You will scarcely believe how many bags of litter they remove from our streets, roads, lanes and hedgerows.

Their efforts are truly heroic.

Smile, please. Sarita receives her Presidential chain of office from Maya


Last edited at 19:30 on Wednesday, 19.08.2020

36 thoughts on “One milestone passed… now for the next”

  1. Hi,
    My name is Carol Derry and I have 3 black bags full of cans to donate, where do I drop them off? I’m LE5 0PR , near uppingham road leicester.
    Many thanks

    1. Hi Carol,

      Apologies for our delayed reply. Our webmistress is currently working 16-hour shifts as a NHS Ambulance driver and simply does not have a spare minute to respond.

      There are Big Red Recycling Bins located at the Co-ops at Barrow-upon-Soar, Birstall,
      Enderby, Ashby-de-la-Zouch plus a new one at the Leicester General Hospital (next to
      The charity office).

      Just let me have your address to helipadsforhospitals@gmail.com and I will arrange collection.

      All the best,

      John Nowell,
      Founder.

  2. Great website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get responses from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Bless you!

    1. Hi, As far as I know, we are the only group – charity doing this project. And it’s expanding all the time!
      All the best,
      John Nowell.
      Founder.

  3. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am having issues with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody else having similar RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanx!!

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

  4. Hi there! This post could not be written any better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I’ll send this post to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a good read. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

  5. The very root of your writing whilst appearing reasonable at first, did not work well with me personally after some time. Somewhere within the paragraphs you actually managed to make me a believer but only for a while. I still have a problem with your jumps in assumptions and you might do well to fill in all those breaks. When you actually can accomplish that, I would definitely be fascinated.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

  6. Thanks for your article. It is extremely unfortunate that over the last one decade, the travel industry has had to tackle terrorism, SARS, tsunamis, bird flu, swine flu, plus the first ever entire global economic depression. Through everything the industry has really proven to be powerful, resilient and dynamic, obtaining new strategies to deal with misfortune. There are constantly fresh difficulties and opportunities to which the market must once again adapt and behave.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

    1. Thank you for your comment, it is much appreciated. Also, you can support our charity by buying some of our books, which in turn support the various Air Ambulances in their counties. The books available are ‘A Day Above Leicestershire’, ‘A Day Above Gloucestershire’, ‘A Day Above Cambridgeshire’, ‘A Day Above Yorkshire’, ‘A Day Above The Lake District’, ‘A Day Above Northamptonshire’ and ‘A Day Above Rutland’. They are all available on Amazon and we receive 50% of sales. The books are aimed at ‘Grumpy Old Men’ – who are the most difficult people to buy presents for! The book will give them something to laugh about and enjoy on Christmas Day afternoon! The books cost £14.99.
      Thank you for your support.

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