Shownotes
Yorkshire Air Ambulance volunteers Joan and Richard met whilst volunteering on a community fundraising stall.
What began with keyrings, conversations, and cups of tea turned into a partnership that has seen them not only supporting the charity but also building a life together.
The pair share what it was like meeting each other, going on their first date in Scarborough before getting married.
Their story highlights how volunteering for Yorkshire Air Ambulance can make a difference in more ways than one!
Each month, our crew is called to deliver urgent, lifesaving care, and regular donations help us stay ready for every mission.
To set up a regular gift, text YAA5 to 70460 to give £5 a month.
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If you want to find out more about Yorkshire Air Ambulance you can visit our website Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Transcripts
Welcome to Summat In t'Air, the podcast by Yorkshire Air Ambulance. 2025 marks 25 years of Yorkshire Air Ambulance flying helicopters and saving lives across the region. So to celebrate, we're sharing stories of rescues and a glimpse of life at the charity.
Richard:Joan said, what do you do, you know, when you finish? I said, well, go and watch tv, I suppose. So I thought for a second, I wonder why she has that. So I said, well, you know, what do you. She said, well, probably the same, just the same. So I said, well, do you fancy going for a drink?
Jon Mitchell:When you think about volunteering for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, you probably think most people who sign up are doing it to give something back, maybe get a warm fuzzy feeling from doing something helpful for others. And you'd be right. But for Joan and Richard, volunteering gave them something else, each other. The pair met while volunteering and it wasn't long before Cupid and his bow and arrow got to work. Joan takes up the story of the day they met.
Joan:It was in Morley. It was a dinofest that was very big and there was supposed to be lots and lots of dinosaurs. And it was very quiet around the stalls, wasn't it? Very quiet. And I wasn't with Richard, I was with Claire Deakin and we were doing the stall together and halfway through, partway through, she said, we have a new volunteer coming, his name's Richard. I will introduce you when he comes. Claire. Discreetly, on that day, she disappeared for quite some time, didn't she? She went somewhere and then a bit later, only perhaps a week or so later, you did a stall for Angela at Sainsbury's outside so I popped down to see him down there because I had to go to Sainsbury's. And Angela said, he had a twinkle in his eye and he watched you walk all the way back home. To the car that should have been not home.
Jon Mitchell:Come on, Richard, what's your side of the story?
Richard:It's quite correct. It's basically, at the end of the day when we was all packing up and such like that, Joan said, what do you do, you know, when he finished, I said, well, go home and watch tv, I suppose. So then thought for a second, I wonder why she asked that. So I said, well, you know, what do you do? She said, well, probably just the same. So I said, well, do you fancy going for a drink? Joan said, well, no, I don't fancy a drink, maybe a meal. So I said, well, I don't know this area at all, because it's quite new to me. So I said, I think it's a fish and chip shop just down the road. So we went to Mermaid Restaurant, to which we've been back several times, and we had a meal.
We spoke for one or two hours. Then at the end of the night, Joan said, would you like to come back to my house, strictly platonic. Would you like to come back for a cup of tea?
Jon Mitchell:Oh, this is getting good. I'm on the edge of my seat here. Carry on, Richard.
Richard:But strictly platonic. So I said, well, yeah, all right. Yeah, all right, yeah. So Joan went in her car and I followed in mine and we had tea, strictly tea. Nothing, you know, nothing untoward, you know. So we had a cup of tea and again spoke for some more time, didn't we?
Joan:We just got on really, really well together.
Richard:Well, we both had similar stories, I suppose. We both lost our partners roughly three years ago. And as I'm going out, I said, would you mind if I kissed you? Which she didn't say no. And then I said, well, perhaps we could meet up.
Joan:That was the first date.
Richard:That's our first date, really.
Joan:First time we got together.
Richard:I said, do you fancy going out again? I think I suggested the following day, you know, something like that. And we settled on Scarborough, picked Joan up in my car and we had a day in Scarborough. It didn't start too well, to be fairly honest, although I know Scarborough quite well. It was quite busy and being a bit tight with money, being a Yorkshireman, I parked just below the Valley Bridge Parade. It was free parking, you know, I had forgotten about. There's quite a steep hill to climb up to the. To the town centre. Halfway up the hill, we both had to stop because we'd run out of steam. It took us ages to climb that blooming hill.
Jon Mitchell:But it was free parking. Rich.
Richard:But it was free parking. Yeah, That's what counted. Joan said, it was nearly the start and the end of our relationship, but we survived. We had a good day in Scarborough. We went on the Big Wheel. I don't think I'd ever been on a Big Wheel before, but we went on a Big Wheel right at the seafront.
Jon Mitchell:Oh, you're like a couple of teenagers, aren't you? So that's your side of the story, Richard. Let's hear your side of the story, Joan.
Joan:My husband had cancer. And when it got to when Covid started, they actually stopped his treatment because they knew it wasn't going to be any good for him anymore, anyway, so he died at the height of COVID and I finished up being on my own for, what was it, 18 months nearly, and it was just horrendous. And when we could start and go out again, because I'd volunteered before at Wakefield Hospice, they weren't taking anybody back and so I decided to look for something else and by sheer fluke, a leaflet came through the letterbox with an advert for an ambulance on the back of it. And that's where mine started. I went and I telephoned up and, yeah, I met Angela and she told me all about it and I joined.
And then, as Richard said, my first stall was with Claire and then Richard came along and, yeah, we chatted quite a lot.
Jon Mitchell:So over the air ambulance keyrings and the furry helicopters, was it love at first sight or was it a bit of a slow burner?
Joan:No, it was a bit of a not quite slow burner. It was just nice to have somebody to talk to because I'd been on my own for so long as Richard had, and it just. No, it just percolated from there, really.
Jon Mitchell:So what about your relatives? What did they think about this handsome young man?
Joan:Well, I didn't tell my relatives at first, simply because it had only been about 18 months and I just thought they might think I'm being a bit pushy, but I was so lonely on my own. I'd always said I'd never get married again because I was very independent. But being on my own for such a long time when you couldn't go out, it was just awful. And I couldn't wait to get out and meet people. So I didn't tell them right at the beginning, but they soon realized. I think ****it's hard to keep a secret, isn't it, **** when you start going out and they'll say, where you going? Yeah. One of the things that brought us together is Richard couldn't walk very well. After a while we've been together and he started not being able to walk very well and we thought, went to the doctors.
Long story short, he thought it was his knee. And then when we went for X rays and it was his back and he had to have a major operation on his spine during that time. He couldn't drive, obviously, when he. When he came out of hospital. So that was when he first moved in for a few weeks, moved in with me. So that was where it really got going. And then a bit later on he did have to have his knee done because he knew that that was it and so he moved in again. So we said, well, you said, well, let's come over here.
All this time, I'm going to move nearer to you. Which he did and he bought a bungalow. And then it was a case of, well, you're paying rates and I'm paying rates and you're paying electric. I'm paying electric. We moved together. We moved in together.
Jon Mitchell:I guess you didn't get her down onto one knee, Richard.
Richard:No, no.
Jon Mitchell:Because of your operation. How did you propose?
Richard:I think I remember how we proposed, actually. I think it just sort of came around. We just decided. I think I did say, well, I think we should probably get married.
Joan:The engagement rings. Tiny, small diamonds all the way around. Because I. I'm sick of buying a ring. But when it's got one stone and all it does is slide around your finger all the time. Just me. Anyway, so I wanted a ring that had stones all the way around and it wouldn't look bare.
Richard:So we started looking around for venues to go to.
Joan:So we went to Waterton Park Hotel. It was just a perfect place. It was lovely. I wore a burgundy colour dress. It took me absolutely two months at least to find one. ****recovered **** with a long full skirt and just a lacy top. Which was nice. Yeah, it was nice.
Richard:All through it we looked all the shops through Leeds, all the shops in Wakefield, Sheffield.
Joan:Tried a lot of smaller shops, but anyway, we got one.
Richard:So we got one.
Joan:Barnsley!
Jon Mitchell:Well, let's face it, Richard, I mean, weddings are for the ladies, aren't they? We just turn up, bung a suit on.
Richard:Joan had a lot of trouble finding a dress, myself. We went into Marks and Spencer's one day.
Joan:Not for it, not for anything.
Richard:After being shopping. I said we'll have a look on the top floor. We'll have a look at their suits . First suit I tried it on, fitted me fine. So I bought that.
Jon Mitchell:And after the wedding, did you go on a very romantic honeymoon?
Joan:We didn't, but we went out because it was near New Year. We went away for New Year's Eve to a hotel that had a New Year's Eve package on. And that was very nice.
Jon Mitchell:You're both volunteers. Talk us through a typical day when you're volunteering. So you bring Joan a cup of tea in bed, Richard. And then, then what happens? How do you?
Richard:Not quite like that. No.
Joan:The cup of tea usually comes about four and five o' clock in the morning when we can't sleep.
Richard:Yeah, yeah, tell me about it. Okay.
Joan:It's normal routine at breakfast time. Then we start packing up the car with all the stuff, and then you get to wherever it is you're going, and then we just display everything that we have. We like to cram as much as we can on our stall, which is perhaps not. Perhaps quite the right way to do it, but it always works. And we've got one of the games that is very, very popular, and we find that draws the children and therefore it draws the parents.
Jon Mitchell:Oh, which game is that?
Joan:Pick a stick.
Jon Mitchell:All right. Okay. Yes, I know.
Joan:Parents that do it is amazing. And older people, yeah, definitely, they don't.
Richard:Win a lot, they just win a small.
Joan:It's usually sweet or a pencil
Richard:It's all about what they win. It just takes.
Jon Mitchell:It's a way to raise money, isn't it?
Joan:Of course. I like the stalls, I do like the stalls because it's interesting talking to people and of course you're raising funds and it's just good. It's. It's nice, pleasant, especially if it's busy. Don't like it when it's very quiet.
Jon Mitchell:Yeah, I know people used to ask me what was the best part about my job? And it was talking to people. You can talk to people that you otherwise wouldn't talk to. And everybody has a story, don't they?
Joan:Yes. They do!
Jon Mitchell:So when you've done that, when you pack up, then in the evening after the. After the day's over, tell us about that. What happens then?
Joan:We nearly always go out to dine out because by the time we've unpacked and everything, it's way past tea time and we just go out for a meal somewhere. We have a very nice pub at the end of our street and it's within walking distance and we go there.
Jon Mitchell:Is it a big part of your lives, then, volunteering?
Richard:Yes, it has become that way.
Joan:Yes. Love it. Yeah, it's a good case. Everybody says it's just such a good cause. There's so many people say, I only donate for the air ambulance. Don't bother with anybody else, because. And I think that's because they can see it. They know that it's there and they can see it going.
Everybody says they either know somebody who's called the air ambulance or being involved with that or
Richard:Even they've been rescued themselves.
Jon Mitchell:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.
Richard:One or two people say, are you a pilot? I said, no, not quite.
Jon Mitchell:Well, you look like a pilot. You're tall and handsome.
Richard:Well tall. Anyway, it's coincidence. We both saw, probably the same magazine. Yeah, the same advert and.
Jon Mitchell:Oh, it's not coincidence, it's written in the stars.
Right, it's time for our very serious, highly scientific volunteer compatibility test. Who talks to more people at events?
Joan:Probably Richard. Yeah. I'm taking the money while he's talking to.
Richard:I talk to people. Yeah, I like talking to people. People.
Jon Mitchell:So you're the talker, Richard.
Richard:Yeah. Ex insurance.
Jon Mitchell:Favourite place that you've both volunteered.
Joan:Probably where we first met the first one.
Richard:Yeah, we still say hello as we go by.
Joan:Yeah, of course.
Jon Mitchell:That must stick in the mind.
Richard:It is, yeah.
Jon Mitchell:Who's the more organized one at the merchandise table?
Joan:Me.
Richard:John. Okay.
Jon Mitchell:No dispute there then, is there?
Joan:No.
Jon Mitchell:What would it be like if Richard was in charge?
Joan:Just a jumbled up mess! I like it all laid out nice and tidy.
Jon Mitchell:Who's more likely to forget where they parked after a long event?
Joan:Richard. Yeah, definitely
Richard:There's a story there. We, we went on holiday to Tenerife.
Richard:And we parked in the multi story car park at Manchester, went on our holiday, came back, couldn't find the car. I took Joan to exactly where it was but the car wasn't there.
Joan:We went on all these four floors of cars.
Richard:We kept looking up and down and looking up and down different floors and I said, well, it has to be somewhere. And yeah, eventually we did find it roughly where it was, well, obviously where it was in the first place, but we just couldn't find it anywhere.
Jon Mitchell:Who's the first one up dancing? If there's music at an event,
Joan:I'd say me normally but Richard likes to think he can dance and it's, it's a bit of a sore point with me because he can't
Jon Mitchell:Oh, Richard.
Richard:Yeah, I know
Joan:He can shuffle.
Richard:My dancing is like my singing voice needs to be improved on a lot.
Jon Mitchell:Well, I'm with you, Richard. I can't dance either.
Richard:So I always thought I could dance but to be honest Joan tells me, I can't. She's usually right.
Jon Mitchell:Who tells the same story at every event but still gets a laugh? Joans. Pointing at Richard.
Richard:Yeah. I do tend to say the same thing to different people because, you know, you've not met them before and so.
Jon Mitchell:They've not heard the story before, have they?
Richard:No.
Jon Mitchell:So you're quite right.
Richard:That's right.
Jon Mitchell:That's nice. Well, I think it's safe to say that you two are a five star match. So well done. Congratulations, you passed the test.
Joan:Oh good. Thank you very much.
Jon Mitchell:Well, we've seen with you two that volunteering can change your life. What would you say to somebody who was considering volunteering for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Richard:I would encourage anyone who was volunteering for any charity, but especially the Yorkshire Ambulance. It saves people's lives and we get a lot of it ourselves. You know, we meet a lot of interesting people, lots of people have got a story to tell. We get a lot of pleasure out of it ourselves. Yeah.
Jon Mitchell:So if somebody was thinking about it, you'd definitely say, go for it?
Joan:Yes, definitely.
Richard:Definitely.
Joan:You never know who you'll meet. You never know if it will change your life. It's definitely changed ours for the better.
Jon Mitchell:What a lovely couple. And what a way to meet. Volunteers are so vital to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and we thank them all, all for their time and dedication. If you want to volunteer for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, go to our website, yorkshireairambulance.org.uk, where you can get in touch with the volunteering team. I can't guarantee you'll meet your spouse, but I'm pretty sure you'll make new friends. Thank you for listening to Summat in t'Air. If you've enjoyed the podcast, please share it and tell your friends to listen.
