A SWIMMING club in Royal Wootton Bassett has raised more than £4,000 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance in memory of much-loved member Louise Alstowe.

During the summer, squads from the Royal Wootton Bassett Otters club took part in a sponsored swim to raise money for the charity, which tried to save Louise’s life after she suffered a heart attack on August 25, last year.

The 45-year-old mother of two fell ill after returning to her home in Tinkers Field from a gym session, and was airlifted to Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital to be seen by heart specialists shortly before she died.

The popular teaching assistant at St Bartholomew’s Primary School was heavily involved with the Otters, taking care of the fundraising and administrative side of the club while her husband, David, was head coach.

“The club is a bit like an extended family, and everyone knew Louise,” said Jennifer Howells, chairman of the Otters.

“Everyone was shocked and upset by the news and we really wanted to do something in her memory and to support Dave and the boys.”

She added: “We do a sponsored swim every other year or so and this year we decided to raise money for the Air Ambulance. I was expecting to raise about £2,000 or so but everyone really got behind it, from the little ones who swam widths of the pool to the members of the competition squad who swam 152 lengths, which is what you have to swim in the Ironman competitions. The support from all the families and friends and from the local community was just brilliant.”

From March and throughout the summer, club members swam their way to £4,066 for the Air Ambulance.

Cyril Mannon, a volunteer with the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “This is just fantastic, and such a lovely tribute to Louise.

“The Wiltshire Air Ambulance needs £6,850 every day to keep it in the air, and the money The Otters have raised will pay for more than half a day which will mean that they can keep saving lives.”

To find out more about The Otters, visit wootton-bassett-otters.info. To find out more about Wiltshire Air Ambulance, visit wiltshireairambulance.co.uk.