VOLUNTEERS at Westbury’s Wiltshire Air Ambulance shop have vowed to keep the shop open.
Volunteers say they will continue to run the shop following the death of manager Dot Whitehead on New Year’s Eve, who had run the Maristow Street shop since setting it up 15 years ago.
The shop has raised over £1.7million for the Air Ambulance appeal since it opened. It is now the only shop for the appeal, following the closure of the Devizes store in 2011.
The independent shop was set up and run by Dot Whitehead, who chose to donate the money raised to the Air Ambulance Appeal. This means that the future of the independent shop lies in the hands of the trustees and volunteers, rather than Wiltshire Air Ambulance. A meeting will be held this week to determine the future management arrangements for the shop.
Peggy Pearce, of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance shop, said, “She [Dot] did love this shop. We’re carrying on as usual, we will be having a staff meeting but we will keep the shop open.”
The shop closed for the day last Thursday, the day of Dot’s funeral, out of respect.
