Press Release
Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix
Community Life Saver installed
The combined efforts of community fundraisers and the Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix has resulted in the first of two additional Defibrillators being installed in Horbury. Sited on the wall of Hall Cliffe School close to the entrance gate at the top of Northgate, Horbury, the defibrillator secure box is being powered and maintained for community emergency use by Witherslack Group who run Hall Cliffe School. HS Electrical Services Ltd, of Wakefield, completed the installation free of charge. Access to the equipment is controlled by Yorkshire Ambulance Service who when appropriate will direct 999 callers to its location and provide them with the access code.
The Rotary Club started a project to install additional defibrillators during 2019 and after a joint venture with Horbury Working Members Club was achieved had started looking for additional sites when they received some unexpected boosts to their efforts, first from an anonymous local donor who effectively contributed the full capital cost of a defibrillator, and second from fundraising started by Sue Twohig and the Horbury St Peters Bellringing Group who having witnessed the recovery of a patient by use of the defibrillator in a local public house were determined to help provide another piece of this life saving equipment. Working both independently and with the Rotary Club over £2500 was raised through collection boxes in Boons, Fishwicks Greengrocers, Browns Cleaners and other businesses, as well as Morley Masonic Lodge. The balance to complete the purchase and ongoing maintenance costs were provided from funds previously raised by the Rotary Club.
A site for a further Defibrillator on Westfield Road, Horbury, has been identified and negotiations with the building owners are hoped to be concluded in the next 2 weeks.
Rotary Club President Steve Driver said, “We know this equipment can save lives that may otherwise have been lost and working with the ambulance service are trying to provide a good level of access within the Horbury and Ossett Area. We are starting to look for at least one further site and will be pleased to receive donations from members of the community towards the cost which will be placed in a designated fund for that purpose. We will also be utilising our collection boxes in local businesses. It is great what can be achieved when different people and groups and people from within our community combine their efforts to do something good.”
Picture: Defibrillator Installation at Hallcliffe School. Present left to right, Rotarian Bill Sutton, Toby Farmer Building Manager Hall Cliffe School, Sue Twohig – fundraiser, Rotarian Steve Brook.