Having previously raised funds for the Channel Islands Air Search with two illustrated children’s books, Simon Applegate and Blue Ormer Publishing have released a third in the set: ‘It’s Leo Again’.
Air Search plays a vital role saving lives in the Channel Islands, which incurs running costs of around £300,000 a year.
The author behind the books, Simon Applegate, told Express his last two books sold consistently and helped generate the funds for the life saving volunteer service.
Mr Applegate says the books are designed to create awareness, inspire generations, and help fund Air Search: “The purpose of the Leo Seeker series of books, aimed at 5 to 8 year olds, but with a much wider following, is to create awareness of this unique airborne search and rescue service, which is crewed and supported by volunteers and funded almost exclusively by Channel Islanders who are proud of what Lions’ Pride, the real Leo, and the team does.”
He continued: “Obviously the books raise funds for Airsearch and we hope that, in time, some young readers may be inspired to become crew members themselves in Guernsey or help with fund raising in all of the other Channel Islands.”
Leo Seeker, a small Search & Rescue plane, is the star of a children’s book series for ages 5 to 8, and based on real Channel Islands Air Search rescues.
The latest edition features three new stories featuring Leo and his friends Albert (a French helicopter), Mona (French lifeboat), and Christine (an ambulance boat).
In a twist for his third book, Mr Applegate has included one story which is slightly different from the rest, but that like the previous iterations, it’s been inspired by real events: “Since Airsearch came into being in 1980 there have been many hundreds of shouts with dozens of lives having been saved.
“During this 45 year period much of the work has been mundane but as a crew member and pilot for the first 28 years , and still part of the team, I have seen an awful lot, of searches from which I draw on to create all the stories so far. “
Mr Applegate continued: “Out of deference to his, mainly young readers Simon has avoided those incidents which have an unhappy ending, although the second story in the latest book touches upon a strange and slightly eerie event of the sort which presents itself to all SAR services.”
The books, all three so far, are available as e-books on Amazon and physically from local outlets including Alderney Airport, Lexicon, Guernsey Museum, Writer’s Block, and the Visitor Information Centre, as well as from the publishers website blueormer.gg.