TRIBUTE is being paid to a ‘lovely’ couple who were ‘passionate supporters’ of Wales Air Ambulance and helped raise thousands of pounds for the Charity over fifteen years.
Howard and Carol Hamilton, who had four grandchildren and were well known in their local community, sadly passed away within ten months of each other.
74-year-old Carol, a mother of three, had worked for a loan company and had previously been a steward at an RAF base before dedicating her time to fundraising for the lifesaving service.
Her husband Howard, who was seventy-seven, was a Vale of Glamorgan Councillor, a former mayor and served as an elected member of Barry Town Council from 2008. He had suffered polio as a child and was a dedicated advocate for disabled members of the community.
Their daughter, Colette Oaten, said: “My parents were incredible and would do anything to support the community in which they lived and served.
“People would automatically go to my mum and dad if they needed help. They were a real team! He would give the information to mum, and she would sit and write letters on his behalf.”
The Hamiltons were appointed Mayor and Madam Mayoress from 2009-10. They chose Wales Air Ambulance as their chosen Charity. Colette says her mum became ‘a driving force’ and ‘her passion for the service continued long after their term in office.’
The social worker from Barry said: “Mum was always there for my dad, whenever he needed her, she would support whatever he was doing. But he was the same with her.
“Whatever, she set her mind to, he would support her. That is how he became a fundraiser for Wales Air Ambulance.
“Mum could be very persuasive, and she recruited her friend Anita too. The three of them were quite a powerhouse.”
Carol was renowned for her organisational skills. Her fellow volunteers say she was always, ‘proactively organising events, bucket collections and tombola stands, attending cheque presentation and emptying collection boxes.’
Colette said: “Mum was so incredibly creative! Whenever we went shopping, she would be looking for something that she could sell on a stand.”
Howard was ‘wonderful at connecting with people, sharing stories’ according to Collette. Who she says was a ‘natural’ before an audience, often doing talks about the lifesaving service.
But she says, ‘the biggest joy for them both was seeing how much money they had raised at the end of the day’.
She added: “Whenever they did a bucket collection or had a stand in supermarkets, they would set aside two or three days to do it.
“They were so excited when they would pour the money out and start counting. They would always share with us how much they had raised. They were just so proud to do it.”
Howard was receiving treatment for cancer in 2024, when Carol’s health took a turn for the worse in October. It came as a big shock to the family when she was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away just four days later.
In the weeks leading up to her death, she had been planning to host a stand at a two-day Christmas Fair. It took place the day after her funeral and Colette and a few volunteers decided to go ahead with it.
She said: “Mum had collected so much in preparation and had paid the fees. I asked her volunteering friends if they would help support me.
“People were coming up to us and asking, ‘Where is the lady that is usually on the stand?’ Of course I had to explain what had happened.
“It was so moving to see them looking for her to have a chat and say hello. My mum would have been so happy that we raised quite a bit over those two days.”
Howard’s health continued to decline in the months following Carol’s death and sadly in July 2025 he passed away.
Colette admits the past year has been ‘very difficult’. But she says it has been ‘wonderful to hear how her mum and dad touched so many lives.’
She added: “There have been tributes in the local newspaper, our family has received lovely cards and wonderful support off family and friends.
“Wales Air Ambulance also sent me a condolence letter, which was lovely to receive. My parents dedicated so much time to the Charity, so it meant so much to learn the difference they had made.”
Rhian Jackson who is the Volunteer Development Coordinator for Wales Air Ambulance said: “Carol and Howard have left an incredible legacy at Wales Air Ambulance.
“They were both so generous and giving of their time and had the warmest community spirit which extended beyond the area in which they lived.
“Carol was a passionate and long-time supporter of our lifesaving service and together with Howard, they helped raise over £13,000 for the Charity. Every pound they raised, will have helped save many lives.
“Carol and Howard will be sadly missed by everyone at Wales Air Ambulance and also everyone that crossed paths with them, especially their fellow South East Wales volunteers.”
