Vintage and JHS Donate Paul Brett Signature Guitar To RAF Charity Auction

The Search and Rescue Training Unit based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales, celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year and after half a century of serving our communities continues to deserve our full support.

Countless rescue sorties have been flown and lives saved by the aircraft and personnel of the UK’s search and rescue squadrons.

The programmes conducted by the Search and Rescue Training Unit at RAF Valley are second to none, and contribute to providing pilots and crew who are the acknowledged world best in helicopter search and rescue operations.

A charitable auction was held on Friday 18th May and John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. were delighted to have been invited by Paul Brett to donate a unique, signed, prototype Vintage Paul Brett Signature six string electro-acoustic guitar.

The Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Jamie Mitchell, arranged for renowned Welsh comedian – and Anglesey man – Tudor Owen to conduct the auction, and the Paul Brett Signature guitar raised over 50% of the evening’s total of £820:00, which was split between Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, which provides practical help and assistance to service personnel and their families currently serving or veteran, and the North Wales Chrysalis Trust, which supports families who have a child diagnosed with a life threatening, life limiting or terminal illness.

Dennis Drumm, MD of JHS, creators of the Vintage guitar brand, said: “I’m delighted to support those who stand behind a service which is so widely celebrated. As a pilot myself, I hope I never have to see a Search and Rescue winchman coming to get me. The thousands of folks who have been rescued by SAR over decades are some of the luckiest people alive, and the professionalism of all involved in SAR, on the ground and the aircrew, deserves the support of the whole community.”

Paul Brett said: "These are very worthy causes. SAR service personnel risk their lives in all weathers to provide rescue on both land and sea and the Chrysalis Trust brings help and reassurance to people in almost unimaginably tragic circumstances.

“The SAR service began in the World War II rescuing downed pilots and has continued that long tradition, as well as adding cover to civilian operations throughout the UK and the world. To pilot a 10-tonne Sea King at night, and often in weather which would keep every other aircraft on the ground, takes courage and skill beyond most people's imagination. The crews are highly trained by instructors drawn from the Royal Air Force, The Royal Navy and specialist ex-military civilian instructors in a classic example of a team effort that has saved many lives over the years. We owe them all our admiration and respect."