Eric Spence
The Robert Black Memorial Helipad Fund
Fundraising for The Robert Black Memorial Fund
Story
Campbeltown is the largest town on the Kintyre Peninsula of Argyll with Campbeltown Hospital serving a population of around 7000 people.
In any medical emergency where patient transport to one of the larger hospitals in Glasgow is required, helicopters are forced to land in a muddy field or, in more adverse weather, at Machrihanish Airport, 5 miles and 10 minutes away.
Robert Black was a local paramedic who worked with Scottish Ambulance Service for almost 30 years and had called for the construction of a suitable helipad to alleviate this situation which had being going on for decades.
Robert was a very popular figure in the Campbeltown area. He was a talented musician, an amateur actor and a loyal friend to all who knew him. Sadly Robert contracted Covid-19 in the course of his duties in April 2020 and eventually succumbed to this awful disease on 2nd May 2020 without seeing the Helipad come to fruition.
With financial assistance from the HELP Appeal, the community were finally able to raise the requisite funding to complete the construction of the Helipad. South Kintyre Development Trust agreed to lease the land, take responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and suggested naming the facility after Robert, in memory of his life and to celebrate his contribution to the local community.
Construction of The Robert Black Memorial Helipad is almost complete and we are seeking support for a suitable memorial and the cost of ongoing maintenance and management of the Helipad.
Any additional money raised will be used to support other good causes locally which Robert would have supported. Robert's family will be involved in every decision about distributing excess funds.
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