Press release 29 May 2008

Councillor Mick Bale, Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council with his consort Mrs June Bale handed over a cheque for £8,550 to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance at a special ceremony on Tuesday 27 May, 2008.

Says Cllr Bale, "I am proud that the people of South Derbyshire, through my civic charity, have been able to make a contribution to the new air ambulance service which looks after our District. So many people have taken part in so many different events. At the Annual Council meeting last Thursday, I was able to thank Cllr Ron Lane for his sponsored run at the London Marathon which raised £1,800 for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance."

"We have had support from local businesses, especially in their involvement with the Chairman's charity golf competition. Talented people of all ages in South Derbyshire have presented musical concerts, the Scouts did a fabulous job of bag packing at Morrisons, Planters Garden Centre at Bretby raised over a thousand pounds with a Christmas bauble competition and I held a carriage driving competition at Sutton on the Hill which raised £700.

The theme of the Chairman’s Civic Year was "Never too old to learn".

"I've learnt a heck of a lot," says the Chairman. "I've even learnt how to write a blog. I think I was probably the first Chairman of a Council to write a web diary to let people know what I have been doing on behalf of the people of South Derbyshire.

"It has been a great honour to take the Chain to so many places. I was keen to go to every part of the District and at each Council meeting I have reported back to Councillors on my activities. On Sunday I went to a church service at Stanton by Bridge which meant that I had visited every parish in the District. I not only went to church services, I went skateboarding in Overseal, on the beat with bobbies at Drakelow, climbed the activity wall at Rosliston Forestry Centre, visited the fabulous Blue Bell Arboretum at Smisby as well as the Helen Parsley exhibition at the Ingleby Gallery."

Photograph shows Barbara Parish of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance receiving the cheque from Cllr Mick Bale..