Bluebell Tribute Funds

In March 2022 Aimee Williams (30) from Aylesford, Kent was returning from a weekend away with friends when their car was involved in a serious road traffic collision in Cowfold, West Sussex. 

Both Aimee’s companions were seriously injured but, despite the tireless efforts of a clinical team from Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), Aimee sadly didn’t survive. 

In the words of her mum Wendy, she was in the `wrong place at the wrong time’. 

Aimee’s dad Colin remembers the day he received the news every father dreads: “I got a phone call from a friend to tell me that the police were at Aimee’s front door which was just up the road. I went outside, told them who I was and they asked if they could come inside. 

Immediately my heart sank. That’s when they told us the bad news, that she had died in a car accident earlier that day. I then had to speak to my wife Wendy and daughter Mollie to explain everything. 

Aimee had been away for the weekend with a couple of friends and was sitting in the back of the car when it collided with a vehicle driven by a man who had collapsed at the wheel. Aimee’s friends suffered significant injuries. 

We learned that two helicopters from KSS had landed in a nearby field. One of her friends was flown to hospital but, sadly, it was too late to save Aimee. 

We struggled to get answers to our questions but after we received a lovely letter from David Welch, the CEO of KSS we got in touch to see if we if we could get any answers, which is what happened as soon as we saw the Patient and Family Aftercare Team.” 

Wendy explains: “It was a big burden off our shoulders. We heard about the care that Aimee got and it was lovely to see the crew who had spent time with Aimee and learn about what they did for her.” 

Memories of special family member 

Mollie: “Aimee was a social butterfly with lots of friends, but she made time for them as well as her family. Whenever she had a few hours free she would make sure she filled it by seeing someone.  

She was very funny and could be quite sarcastic with her one-liners. She’d often have us in stitches. She’d sit there with a straight face and we’d all be crying with laughter at her stories of what had happened at work. She worked as airline cabin crew and she loved telling us some of the strange things passengers asked her. 

Aimee had an absolute heart of gold and would do anything for anybody, but she wouldn’t tolerate fools. If she thought you were wrong or something wasn’t right, she would tell you. 

I called her my bodyguard. If we were on a night out and someone upset me she would always go and sort them out.” 

Keeping Aimee’s memory alive 

Aimee’s parents Colin and Wendy and her sister Mollie have since become dedicated supporters of our lifesaving charity, organising an annual bike ride, quiz nights and set up a KSS Bluebell Tribute Fund in Aimee’s memory. 

Wendy: “We want to do as much as we can for KSS, so we were happy to set up a tribute fund. The page is all about Aimee, and we love talking about Aimee because we don’t want her to be forgotten. The page will hopefully do some good for KSS as well as meaning she is remembered. It will be a lovely tribute.” 

Mollie: “It’s good to talk about the fact that, unfortunately, it’s not always happy ending for patients, and the aftercare that bereaved families receive. The aftercare that KSS has provided us with has been really important. 

We want to keep Aimee’s legacy going and to keep raising money to keep the charity going so that families like ours can get the support they need. Before we were in touch with KSS we just felt like a number.” 

Colin: “Aimee worked as cabin crew for an airline and her life revolved around flying so to use this to support KSS is another way of keeping her memory going. I’ll do whatever I can to raise money for KSS now. It’s my passion. I want to help out in whatever way I can.” 

“We’ve done a couple of memorial bike rides, organised a quiz night at our local rugby club and other bits and bobs. We wanted to raise enough to pay for a mission but I’m not worried about how much people feel they can donate. If it’s two pounds or ten pounds or more, it’s all money that wasn’t there before. 

We were aware of KSS before this but it was a shock to me to realise that it’s a charity. I’d assumed they got money from the government. I tell people that it’s a charity that is there for everybody and we need to make sure it is there. 

The bereavement care has been excellent. It has really helped us as a family and it would be good to think that the money we raise can help other people in the same position, 

They know Aimee would be proud of what they are doing in her name. 

Wendy: “I think she would be more than happy. She did fundraising herself during lockdown. She was a giver, and I think she would be absolutely delighted with the fact that we are doing this in her memory. 

Hopefully by sharing her story we can inspire other people to support KSS. Aimee didn’t survive but the team from KSS did everything they could to save her. We will always appreciate that, and we are just so thankful for what they did.”