ONE of the men who has helped keep the Yorkshire Air Ambulance in the sky has finally called it a day.

Tony Doveston, 68, has retired from his role as the charity’s North Yorkshire fundraising manager after seven years, significantly raising the profile of the rapid response emergency service.

Following an 18-year career in the RAF, he took up a senior role in the Department of Health in the late 1980s before becoming Regional Director at the British Heart Foundation for the North of England in 1995.

He joined Yorkshire Air Ambulance as a fundraiser in 2008.

“I only intended to stay for a couple of years, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the job and have met some amazing people,” he said.

“The charity is extremely well supported by the people of Yorkshire, and its work is very much appreciated by those living in our more rural communities.

“Yorkshire Air Ambulance has always been very lean and well managed and people really do appreciate that it’s here and working for them. I just feel very fortunate that I have been able to give something back.”

Director of fundraising Paul Gowland said: “Tony’s skills, experience and hard work have been a huge asset. It has been a great pleasure to work with Tony over the last seven years and he will be missed by all his colleagues, volunteers and supporters.”

The charity serves five million people and carried more than 6,400 people in its 15-year history. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and flying, which is equivalent to £4.4m a year.