THE third Gompels family fun day and novelty dog show to raise funds for the Wiltshire Air ambulance is taking place in Corsham on Saturday, August 6.

Once again, the show is being staged at the Springfield Recreation Ground in Corsham from 10am to 5pm.

Previous fun days and dog shows have raised more than £30,000 for charity, including over £5,000 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Organiser Anne Hooper’s life was saved when she was taken to hospital by land ambulance after an accident involving a horse.

She was only 19 in 1984 when she tried to mount a horse in Wadswick, near Corsham, and was seriously injured when it bolted after being spooked.

She was in a coma for 12 weeks and intensive care for eight weeks at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol with horrific head injuries but says she could have got there quicker by air ambulance if it had existed.

“The surgeons removed part of my skull to relieve the pressure on my brain,” said Anne. “Luckily, I have since made a full recovery except that I have lost my sense of smell.

“If the Wiltshire Air Ambulance had existed at the time, I would have been airlifted straight to hospital.

“In the event, they took me to the Royal United Hospital in Bath by land before transferring me to Frenchay when they realised how serious my injuries were.”

Since the accident, Anne has dedicated her life to raising funds for charity, particularly the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, of which she is a ‘ground crew’ member after raising more than £900 for the charity.

She added: “Since I first learned of the great work that they do, I have been a huge supporter of this service that is funded entirely by fundraising effort and has been a lifesaver for so many people.”

Miss Hooper said: “It promises to be a great family day out with a fun fair, face painting, an owl display, and a gundog display by Foxcote Golden Retrievers plus numerous stalls."

The novelty dog show features 12 classes with rosettes from 1st to 6th place in all classes, best in Show and reserve best in show.

Registration for the dog show starts at 10am and judging begins at 12 noon. This year’s judge is Mrs Wendy Andrews of Catcombe Retrievers.

Music is by the Sweet Misery Singers.