A party in memory of a Wyesham farmer who was tragically killed in an accident off Kymin Road was a huge success and raised thousands for charity.

Colin Williams, a much-loved farmer, needed the aid of the Wales Air Ambulance following the incident. Sadly, despite the crew’s best efforts, the 58-year-old man died at the scene.

His final resting place on the Kymin where he worked for many years and was very special to him, overlooks the Welsh hills and mountains, Llansoy, the Mayhill Pub, and his hometown of Monmouth, all of which held special significance to him as the places where he spent his childhood, built his family, rejoiced with friends, and lived out his life.

As a thank you to the medics for doing all that they could, Colin’s wife Helen, and his family wanted to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance. Together, they have raised over £12,700 since his passing, with a party in memory of Colin raising over £10,000 alone with over 300 attendees.

The party to celebrate Colin’s life was held at Great House Farm, where he was brought up.

Prior to the event his family and friends spent a week cleaning out cow sheds, whitewashing walls, and planting pots to add bit of colour, all in preparation for the special event.

For the special occasion they converted barns into bars, music sheds and children’s play areas and neighbours and friends donated gifts for the raffle.

Helen, from Monmouthshire, said: “The party was to celebrate the life of Colin, we wanted to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance because they attended the scene of the accident. We also raised money at Colin’s funeral for them.

“The evening was a great success, we had a bar in one shed, another shed for food, which we sold tickets for the occasion, followed by three bands who supplied their services for free, in another shed.

“Colin was a very warm-hearted person who loved life and was very kind. His love of farming was always close to him, and he was proud of his upbringing. Colin was a very happy friendly person and always spoke to everyone. Colin is missed, however, the memories are heart-warming.”

Colin and Helen celebrated their 30th anniversary just one week before his tragic accident.

Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to greatly improve survival and early recovery.

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.

Regional Fundraising Manager Abi Pearce said: “It was so touching to meet Colin’s family and to hear about the wonderful man he was. The family have honoured Colin’s memory in such a beautiful way, helping other following such sadness, and we are extremely grateful to them for wanting to support the Wales Air Ambulance.

“The family and community have been fundraising for us tirelessly and have raised an incredible £12,700.

“The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every ensure to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers, like these, will ensure we continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most. Thank you to everyone, who helped organise a wonderful event, donated their time, or auction gifts to ensure the event was a huge success.