MANDY Clarke has been named as the new chair of Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust’s board of trustees.

Mrs Clarke has been a trustee since the charity was formed in October 2011 and was previously vice-chair.

She was unanimously elected for the next three years on Friday, succeeding Richard Youens, who had been chairman since the Trust was formed in October 2011.

Mr Youens, of Rushall, will continue as a trustee, chairman of the finance committee and takes on the new role as president of the charity for the next three years.

Mrs Clarke, who is married with two daughters and lives in Chippenham, said: “Richard Youens will be a hard act to follow.

“Together with David Philpott, (the charity’s chief executive) he helped set up the charity and he has been a fantastic chairman.

“I’m honoured and pleased to become the new chair. I’m proud of being associated with Wiltshire Air Ambulance and being a trustee is a rewarding role.”

Mrs Clarke is looking forward to the charity taking delivery of its new helicopter, a Bell 429, which will be the first of its kind to operate as an air ambulance in the UK.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s costs will increase from £700,000 a year to £2.5m a year from January 2015 when its current partnership with Wiltshire Police for the joint helicopter ends this December and the helicopter joins the National Police Air Service.

Mrs Clarke said: “I’m thrilled about the new air ambulance for Wiltshire.

“The Bell 429 is an excellent helicopter and we are taking on a helicopter that is not just fit for purpose for today but is future proof for us.

“The people of Wiltshire are generous in their support for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and we still need their support and to raise vital funds for us. Even a little bit makes a difference. It’s down to the people of Wiltshire that we are still here and flying for them.

“We have got a fantastic bunch of volunteers who go to events and speak about the work of the air ambulance and help out at events.

“They are as passionate as our employees and trustees.”

Mrs Clarke was inspired to become a trustee of the trust after the deaths of three teenagers from Chippenham in a road traffic collision on the A342 at Rowde on New Year’s Eve 2010 which was attended by the air ambulance.

Mrs Clarke said: “This incident had a profound effect on the community, especially young people.

“I was looking at what I could do to give something back and felt that I could bring some of my experience and knowledge to the charity.”

Originally from Lancashire, Mrs Clarke moved with her family to Wiltshire when she was a teen and attended The Stonehenge School, Amesbury, followed by Salisbury College of Art & Technology.

At the age of 19 she joined the RAF as a commissioned officer in fighter control monitoring air defences.

Achieving the rank of flight lieutenant, she served for five years and was based at various parts of the country.

She has worked in human resources for 24 years and since 2010 has run her own management consultancy business undertaking human resources and transformation work.

Mr Youens’ links with the air ambulance go back to the summer of 2008 when he became chairman of a shadow board which was successful in persuading Great Western Ambulance Service to sign up for a further five years for the joint Wiltshire Police helicopter/air ambulance.

Following that, GWAS relinquished control of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance leaving to it becoming an independent charity in 2011.

He said: “I am immensely proud to have been chairman of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

“After three years I felt the time was right to pass the baton on to my very able and competent deputy, Mandy Clarke.”