FREEREEPHAM LIFE YOUR Community Newspaper www.reephamlife.co.uk April 2015 No. 22 Community defibrillator installed in Market Place THE Original Cottage Company (TOCC) has installed vital life- saving equipment for use by the public and visitors to Reep- ham, as well as the emergency services. The automated external defibrillator is located on the out- side wall of Bank House on the corner of the market square. The unit was officially unveiled by Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Bett on Friday 20 March. Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or using a defibrillator within the first four minutes of a suspected car- diac arrest significantly increases the patient’s chance of sur- vival. The fully portable electronic device automatically diagnoses cardiac incidents and applies electrical therapy to allow the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. When a 999 call is made to the emergency services, if there is more than one person with the casualty, the caller will be directed to the nearest defibrillator. Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Bett unveils the new automated external defibrillator watched by James Ellis, business An access code will be given over the phone to unlock the development director, The Original Cottage Company. Photo: John Tym cabinet, and the portable unit can then be taken to the casu- alty. Guidance is provided on how to use the equipment by an pleased to do this as a company and as part of Reepham.” automated voice, which will direct the user as to how to attach Annette Alston, who set up Lucie’s Lifesaving Project in 2009 the pads to the patient’s chest and carry out the treatment. after her 25-year-old daughter, Lucie Procter, died of a cardiac The unit is said to be safe and easy to use and cannot do arrest, said if a defibrillator had been available it might have any damage: the defibrillator will only work if an irregular heart- saved her life. beat is detected, and can be used without any training. “Over the past few years we have been working with the TOCC worked with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS EEAST, Community Heartbeat and Norfolk Young Farmers Clubs Trust (EEAST) as part of a project to install 100 of these units across to help provide 16 public-access defibrillators across the coun- the region, with the company funding the yellow housing and in- ty. Public awareness is growing, and thanks go to TOCC for stallation of the equipment. It is also organising awareness train- making this unit available in Reepham. ing sessions in Reepham run by the EEAST, and has provided the “Please take advantage of the awareness training and help access code to key shops and organisations within the town. spread the word. These defibrillators are very easy to use, but TOCC business development director James Ellis admitted you have to get to them quickly.” that the initial idea for the defibrillator came from his wife, Mel, Standing in for Broadland MP Keith Simpson, who had a fam- who had worked in a cardiac rehabilitation team in the NHS. ily bereavement, Mr Bett said defibrillators are a “great idea” “We wanted to make a difference to people’s lives,” he ex- and a good example of all sorts of things that local commu- plained. “Every minute saved by equipment such as this in- nities are doing in Norfolk. creases the chance of survival drastically. Even if it saves one n Enquiries about, or donations to, Lucie’s Lifesaving Project person’s life it will be more than worth the cost. And we are can be made via [email protected] RPS professionalilitlti print solutionns e: [email protected] 01603 871102 Church St. Reepham Norwich NR10 4JWW ALL YEAO P LYEEN Welcome me to... A R YYoourour tickettickckeketet tto a greatgrgrereat familyffamammily dayday outoutt iss justjusustt a milemmile outout ofof Reepham.RReeepephaam. FFuunu foorr allaall aages,agegeses, youyou cancan taketatakakeke a trrainraraiain ride,ridde, discoverdiscoovevererr ourouur hhistoryhisststotory inin thethhe StSStationttatatati tition YYaard,aarardrddjtd, enjoyenenjnjjoy tteatea andannd d ccakescakakekikkees iinn thtthehe StSStationttatatati tition HouseHouse andannd samplesaampmple ourouur fantasticfaantntatasaststitictic ales aalees in in the thhe Sidings Sidinngsgs barbarrr.. 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EVENT Timetable APRIL 5th April - STEAM SUNDAY 5th April - EASTER EGG HUNT WWeeddings VViissit our website to find out 11th & 12th April - abouta this unique venue CCampingCamp mpin psit 1940’S WEEKEND PPaarties All year campsitecamp MAY 3rd May - STEAM SUNDAY JUNE 7th June - STEAM SUNDAY ClClub b Eve Events and MEMBERS DAY Train Rides + MUCH MORE 21st June - FATHT ER’S DAY including Cycle Hire, Themed Weekends STEAM Exhibitions & Corporate Events LiLicensed ensed B Bar Bar open till 8pm every day 10amm Sat-Sun Stattion open from FFuunu forfoor 11amm Mon-FFrri aallalll agesagagegeses wwwww..whitwellstaation.com Reepham Life, April 2015 3 comment Reepham Life is a free monthly newspaper published by Reepham Community Press All quiet on the Stimpson’s front EDITOR Geoff Fisher ADVERTISING Judy Holland HAS the initial enthusiasm to “save Stimp son’s Piece” waned? Following a packed WEBSITE Jeremy Brockman public meeting in November and a working group being set up in January to take over the day-to-day running of the pavilion, there has been... well, silence. Printed by: Colour Print, Norwich It is understood the chairman of the working group has resigned, and the Face- EDITORIAL ADDRESS book page of Recreational Reepham sheds little light on recent developments. Reepham Community Press However, others at least are thinking about new uses for Reepham’s loss-making Homerton House, 74 Cawston Road recreational facility. For instance, the Panther Beer Festival will be held there again Reepham, Norfolk NR10 4LT this summer (page 13) and an interesting idea for a secure dog walking area has Tel: 01603 308158 been mooted (page 6). Email: [email protected] Web: www.reephamlife.co.uk Here’s another suggestion. As parking in the town appears to be a bone of con- tention, maybe there is some merit in the Town Council’s suggestion of making Stimp- The views expressed in Reepham son’s Piece (a five-minute walk away) a long-term parking facility? Life are not necessarily those of the However, the car park there desperately needs resurfacing, and better lighting and Publishers or the Editor CCTV will need to be installed for security. All this will, of course, cost money. Can All material is strictly copyright the working group prove their mettle and start fund raising for such a project? and all rights reserved Getting lottery money to make the pav ilion itself fit for purpose, if that is indeed All material submitted for publication, the long-term plan, will not be easy, and the group will have to demonstrate a track including letters to the editor, may be record of inclusiveness and work ing together on funding for smaller projects. That edited for reasons of space and clarity will require broad community support – and enthusiasm. Bank staff cash in and take well-earned retirement TWO of Reepham’s most familiar faces over the past decade are retiring from behind the counter of the HSBC in the Mar- ket Place. Jeanne Flett and Julie Smith have clocked up around 70 years of banking between them as they have decided to call time on their financial services careers. “Of course, there have been ups and downs as in any job, but we’ve generally had a fun time,” said Mrs Flett. “I can hon- estly say that Reepham has been my favourite branch of any that I have worked in, and we’ve always managed to have a Left to right: Claudia Lowe, treasurer, Reepham Chamber of laugh, whatever the situation.” Commerce; Jeanne Flett; Julie Smith; and Brenda Gostling, chairman, Mrs Smith added: “After 27 years in London, Reepham was Reepham Chamber of Commerce a real culture shock. But I think we have been appreciated by our customers, many of whom we have got to know over the was stolen. years. Reepham is certainly a very special place.” “We then realised how much we appreciated them when they Both admitted the theft of the ATM in May 2012 was a dif- weren’t there. And on both a personal and professional note, ficult time, with the bank closed for around five months while it has been a pleasure doing business with them.” repairs were carried out. The building had to use special bricks n Last month, the ram-raiding thieves and their accomplice, as it is in a conservation area, and installed CCTV and bollards who ripped out a dozen cashpoints across the east of England in front of the cash machine. with stolen diggers, were sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court Staff were, however, able to offer limited non-cash services for a total of 22 years in jail. in the Bircham Centre for a couple of hours, twice a week. The gang netted more than £300,000 by using JCBs to smash Claudia Lowe, treasurer of the Reepham Chamber of Com- through shop and bank branch walls in the middle of the night. merce, said: “I’d like to thank Jeanne and Julie for all their hard The damage from their raids was estimated at £250,000, as well work over the years and for everything they have done for the as causing untold misery for towns such as Reepham, where shops people and businesses of Reepham, particularly after the ATM were particularly hard hit by the loss of banking services.