The region's air ambulance service has been left "stunned" after a retired teacher from County Durham left the charity's "largest single donation in its history" in his will.
John Dodds, from Darlington, passed away last year aged 85 after battling cancer and was a committed supporter of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
Although he did not want to disclose the amount of his gift, the charity said it was their largest single donation in its history and said it will pay for around 200 rescue missions.
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Before Mr Dodds died, he appointed friends Howard Wilson and Colin Bainbridge as executors to his will.
Mr Wilson said: "John loved GNAAS. He talked about the charity and the importance of the service all the time.
"John loved motorbikes and knew the air ambulance goes to lots of remote locations on rough terrain where normal land ambulances can’t go and it struck a chord with him."
The retired physics and maths teacher began his career working on the construction of nuclear reactors at Whessoe in Darlington before teaching at various schools across the North East and North Yorkshire.
Mr Wilson said: "I first met John around twenty years ago through a mutual friend. We had a shared interest in motorbikes and from there, we had a continued friendship right until the end.
"John was formidably intellectual and one of the cleverest people I had ever met. He was so humble and really enjoyed living a simple life.
"He loved charitable work and used to help old ladies on their shopping trips and do book runs where he would pick books up from the library and take them to people’s houses who couldn’t get out. He was an avid reader too and loved history."
GNAAS’ legacy officer Hannah Powell, said: "John was such a friendly person and although he was quietly spoken, he had such a cheeky smile.
"When we first met, he sat down and chatted to me and told me ever so casually that he had decided that GNAAS was the charity to which he would be leaving his whole estate to.
"I am so grateful for John and others just like him. We couldn’t have survived the pandemic without gifts in Wills and they made up 40% of our income last year."
Although Mr Dodds never married or had children, he was in a long-term relationship with his late girlfriend Kate for over 50 years.
Mr Wilson said: "As you get older your attitude to life changes, and you realise you aren’t going to live forever. It isn’t the length of your life that matters, it is the quality of it and John was happy knowing he had reached the end. He had an amazing life and wanted to pass.
"John’s religion was important to him, and he believed when he died, he would be reunited with Kate and knew it wasn’t the end of a life but the start of a new one.
"Even on his death bed he never once moaned or complained, and I always admired that about him."
GNAAS’ director of operations Andy Mawson said: "It’s only thanks to people like Mr Dodds, and all those who contribute amounts both large and small, that we can keep doing our work.
"John lived a full life. But in this act of generosity he has ensured that his death isn’t the end.
"His donation will literally save lives. What better way to be remembered?"
GNAAS needs to raise £6.7m a year to survive. If you would like more information about leaving a legacy donation, or helping in any other way, please visit www.gnaas.com or call 01325 487 263.
