Police worker Sheila Britten has presented a cheque for £2,200 to Wiltshire Air Ambulance in memory of her husband Andy, who died in 2002 after suffering a heart attack playing golf.

The air ambulance flew Mr Britten, 42, who lived in Pewsey, from Upavon Golf Club to Salisbury District Hospital where he died despite the best efforts of paramedics and doctors.

Four of Mr Britten closest friends, Kevin Franklin, Stephen Wootton, Alan Ritchie and Neil Stephens, decided to hold a memorial day for their buddy and this takes place each year on the first May Day Bank Holiday at Pewsey Vale Football Club, where Mr Britten was both a player and its manager.

His wife said: “Andy was passionate about football.”

The annual memorial tournament includes many of his old friends together with younger players who all pay to play.

For the first two years following Mr Britten’s death the proceeds were given to the British Heart Foundations but the money raised since, a total of £12,000 including this year’s £2,200, has been presented to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal by Mrs Britten.

Mr Franklin is responsible for organising donations; Mr Wootton and Mr Franklin run the soccer games and Mr Ritchie organises refreshments.

Mrs Britten, who is a civilian employee with Wiltshire police force, said: “This day is a wonderful fun-filled day and is a celebration of Andy’s life. Obviously it can be emotional as it brings back memories for me but the atmosphere of the day says it all.”

For eight years Mrs Britten worked in the police HQ control room in Devizes and regularly tasked the helicopter crew to attend incidents.

“This is why I asked the lads if the Wiltshire Air Ambulance could be our main beneficiary charity. They all agreed unanimously.”