Page 14 • The HERALD • 30th May 2024 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v M.D.S. DIGITAL INSTALLS/SERVICE • DIGITAL AERIALS/FREEVIEW • SKY DIGITAL/FREESAT DIGITAL • EXTRA TELEVISION POINTS • TELEPHONE LINES/POINTS • TELEVISION SYSTEMS SETUP/TUNED • WALL MOUNTED TV’S QUALIFIED, FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE FREE SURVEYS/QUOTES BEAULIEU: 01590 611011 MOBILE: 07717 194441 • 9 Ground Floor Rooms • Disabled Access • O Road Parking • Large, peaceful rear garden • Local Facilities less than a 5 minute walk • Ideally situated just o the A326 on the edge of the New Forest Ian & Cathy Lee Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu. SO45 4PT 023 8084 6073 www.ashdenehouse.co.uk cathy@ashdenehouse.co.uk Ashdene Guest House Quality Bed and Breakfast Accommodation on the Edge of the New Forest in Dibden Purlieu Covering Blackfield, Holbury, Hythe, Marchwood and Surrounding Areas ~~~~~ Lady Driver - DBS Checked Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle ~~~~~ Short Local Journeys Cruise Terminal & Airport Transfers Hospital Appointments Pub Pick Ups/Drop Offs Call 07795 192398 Cash and Card Payments accepted in vehicle M. C. HALL LTD 4 Carpentry 4 Fencing 4 Decoration 4 Extensions 4 Kitchens 4 Loft Conversions 4 Bathrooms 4 New Build First Rate Building & Carpentry Work Start to Finish Service • References Available • Fully Insured • 1 year guarantee Free Quotations and Friendly Advice Given Contact: mchall126@btinternet.com or call 023 8089 8456 or 07976 937941 Website: www.mchallltd.co.uk Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH Charities Sponsor Defibrillator Training for Local NCI Watchkeepers Recently four local voluntary organisations, the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), New Forest and Hythe Rotary clubs, and Meon Valley Heartstart, came together to provide essential de brillator training for watchkeepers from the NCI serving Calshot Tower and Stone Point at Lepe. is was the rst event of its kind to be sponsored through the New Forest Rotary ‘De brillators in Action’ initiative and was a great success. e National Coastwatch Institution is a voluntary organization which keeps a visual watch along UK shores from approximately 56 watch stations. It was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2019. e two local watch stations are NCI Calshot Tower, located on Calshot Spit, one of the busiest coastal sea locations, and its satellite station, NCI Stone Point which views Lepe Spit. ey have 140 volunteers who between them ensure a watch is kept at both stations 364 days a year. Any Watchkeeper on duty at NCI Calshot needs to be particularly dedicated because the tower is 30 meters high and the viewing platform has to be accessed by 82 steps on a very steep staircase. is is a strenuous challenge for any volunteer, whatever their age or physical fitness. NCI Calshot’s safety o cer, Bob Rich, had wanted every watchkeeper to receive training so that, in the event of a cardiac emergency, they knew how to use the de brillator housed in the tower. Planning a training event for so many watchkeepers was challenging but, thanks to the generosity of Dibden Purlieu Scout Group, who gave use of their hut without charge, the event nally came together, on 18th April. 40 volunteers from both local watches took part in an intensive 3 hour training programme given by paramedic David Williamson and his team of trainers from Meon Valley Heartstart. ey received detailed instruction on how to recognise and respond to cardiac arrest and were able to practice CPR and use a training de brillator on resuscitation dummies. ey reported that the training exceeded their expectations and ended the a ernoon completely con dent to use a de brillator in a cardiac emergency, especially at the top of Calshot Tower! Meon Valley Heart Start, who gave the training, is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers. eir highly quali ed trainers come from a range of medical backgrounds and give their spare time to provide free training wherever it is needed throughout the county. ey make no charge for their service but rely on donations towards their running costs. New Forest Rotary club have worked closely with the team since setting up their ‘De brillators in Action’ initiative 2 ½ years ago. During this time the club has sponsored them to provide free training for a number of local communities throughout the New Forest. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to accommodate local NCI Watchkeepers within their usual community events but they were particularly pleased to be able to sponsor the event arranged by Bob Rich. It was a rst for them to be able to facilitate training for such a large group from a single organisation. e event was also the rst in an initiative to work in conjunction with Hythe and Waterside Rotary Club to extend free training into the Waterside area. e clubs were delighted to make a joint donation of £200 to Meon Valley Heartstart towards the training. It was an excellent example of how local voluntary organisations were able to work together to provide essential training for a special group of volunteers which could help them even further in their commitment to save lives.
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