Plaque to commemorate life-saving equipment in Kintbury

Sue Boxshall was joined by fellow villagers and members of the Blisterfoots team at the ceremony at the Coronation Hall.
The £2,000 cost of the defibrillator, plus heated case, was raised at last year’s annual Ray Boxshall Orienteering Day plus match-funding from the Greenham Trust.
Villager Heather Grace said: “Each year’s winning team organises the following year’s event - and they also choose which charity or good cause they would like the money to go to.
“The 2012 team winners, the Blisterfoots, organised the October 2013 event and decided on a defibrillator, to be placed at a central location in the village.”
Other beneficiaries of last year’s event were Kintbury scouts and St Mary’s School.
Mrs Grace, of Ashton Place, added: “We decided that as there was no 24 hour access to a defibrillator in the village, and because ambulances and paramedics could be held up by up to 10 mins at the railway crossing waiting for several trains to pass, that it was a very important piece of equipment for our village
“As this defibrillator and heated case was going to cost a great deal, we knew this was a tall order for a one-off event. We contacted the Greenham Trust and we’re very grateful for their help in matching public donations, which helped us reach our target.”
The commemorative plaque was placed above the defibrillator stating who donated it and registering gratitude to the Coronation Hall committee for allowing its installation there and
to Kintbury Parish Council, whose members have agreed to ensure its on-going maintenance.
Ray Boxshall was the original organiser of the Orienteering Day which began 36 years ago.
The event attracts many teams from the village and surrounding area each October.
Participants walk around seven miles, solving clues along the route.