Cheltenham says ‘thank you’ for an incredible life-saving legacy
Eight years ago Cheltenham had no defibrillators - today it has 100 of the machines that can save lives by restarting a heart after a cardiac arrest, thanks to the drive of one woman.
Dear reader,
Welcome to Friday’s edition of The Raikes Journal.
We begin with a few briefing notes, not least a story that tantalises with potential news about the sale of Cheltenham’s municipal offices, before diving straight into a story we think speaks volumes about Gloucestershire.
On the face of it, this is the tale of a party at Cheltenham’s Minster Exchange (MC centre) on Thursday evening (24 April) to celebrate the installation of the 100th defibrillator in the town - something no other town in the UK has come close to this, to our knowledge.
But it’s so much more than that. It also shone the spotlight on one woman’s determination to make the momentous occasion happen and how she did that backed by a new army of friends she made along the way, by influencers in the very real sense, and some very, very generous benefactors.
I hope the article below does at least some justice to what Cheltenham has achieved and to the story of Clare Seed.
Remember, if you want to see us deliver more independent journalism about Gloucestershire in an era when it seems woefully thin on the ground, please do consider subscribing to our thrice-weekly emails - and better still, becoming one of our valued paid-for subscribers too!
Have a great weekend.
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Andrew Merrell (editor).
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Your briefing notes…
🏛️ An announcement on who the new owner of Cheltenham’s landmark Municipal Offices and what the future holds for the iconic building is coming - but don’t hold your breath.
The sale for the Grade II* listed home of Cheltenham Borough Council, which was put on the market in September, closed in January. Civic chiefs say an announcement on who had the winning bid for the 68,290 sq ft Promenade building will not be made for another month or two. You can read the story we have so far here.
🏛️ 🔫 Last year, after four years of development and investment, a Gloucestershire manufacturer was predicting significant growth. Its predictions appear to be coming true. In our PR Wire Channel we’ve run a release from EcoGuard Scotland, the latest company to have started using Gloucestershire firm Stonehealth’s high-pressure steam cleaning gear. For Stonehealth’s chairman, Brian Crowe, it’s further justification for the near six-figures investment that brought the cleaning machine to market - and just the latest example of the demand helping drive its turnover. You can read that story here.
📈 In the latest blog from one of our key Founding Partners, leadership development specialists QuoLux, Professor Malcolm McDonald caught our eye with this opening line: “I’d like to explain how a winning marketing strategy will make you richer”. McDonald, who has published more than 50 books, sold more than half a million copies and worked with directors in hundreds of companies, has had a long-standing relationship with QuoLux. In this blog on market planning and strategy he addresses the fundamentals that can transform your business’s performance. We’ve run it in full on our Expert Insight page. But you can read it on the QuoLux website here.
Top 100: Computer wholesaler records a £220 million-plus turnover
It may not be a household name to most of us, but a business that specialises in the wholesale of computer and telecommunications equipment has seen turnover rise and profits almost double.
You can read one of our latest stories in our Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire series, right here.
Cheltenham says ‘thank you’ for an incredible life-saving legacy
Eight years ago Cheltenham had no defibrillators - today it has 100 of the machines that can restart a heart after a cardiac arrest and save lives, thanks to the drive of one woman.
By Andrew Merrell.
When Clare Seed got up on stage at the MX centre in Cheltenham last night (24 April) in front of guests, dignitaries and those who have made installing 100 defibrillators in Cheltenham possible, she got more than she bargained for.
For her it was about celebrating the milestone, but for many in the room it was also a chance to pay tribute to a woman whose single-minded determination, charm, energy and enthusiasm, has created a ‘family’ that has achieved what she was told was impossible.
Seed, who also runs first aid training specialists Tidal Training Direct, has led a campaign that has galvanised scores of generous individuals, businesses and others and delivered an end result whose legacy is already unquantifiable.
“This is a true example of what can happen when you put people at the heart of organisations and value people above everything else,” said Seed, who took to the stage to address the scores of guests gathered for the occasion.
“To date these defibs have been accessed 162 times. The most important thing we all have is each other.
“What this shows is that when someone in Cheltenham needs help, the town is here for them.”
David Allen, the managing director of business telecommunications specialist Square One Network Ltd, is one of those who, together with his wife, Emma, funded a defibrillator as part of the campaign.
That device was installed at the Appletree Public House in Woodmancote earlier this year.
“I got a call on holiday that my defib - I don’t know why I call it mine! - had been accessed.
“It was really quite emotional. I brought a lump to the throat,” said Allen, still moved at the thought of what that could have meant for someone.
Nigel Barraclough, is a first aider, paramedic from the Qualsafe Awards, the leading awarding organisation for first aid qualifications in the UK. He too was at the event at the MX centre.
“I think people misunderstand the survival rate when someone has a heart attack. They see it on television where people are given a few breaths and a few chest compressions and they come back to life.
“If someone has a cardiac arrest, help needs to get there within the first four minutes - what we call the golden period.
“Without a defib the chances of survival are dramatically reduced. There is a one in eight chance of recovery. With a defib the chances of survival goes up to 74 per cent.”
Seed paid particular tribute to those who have been central to making the campaign happen, bringing on stage the businessman Bob Holt, her partner and the founder of Tidal Training, Colin Frensham, Greg Godfrey-Williams, formerly of Spirax Sarco, and David Jones, of chartered surveyors Evans Jones.
And there was a moving video message from Cheltenham man Chris Hickey, co-founder of Public Hearts Defibrillator Campaign. Hickey had a cardiac arrest in the town back in 2018 and was only saved by his wife’s CPR skills and the nearby firebrigade’s defib machine.
Without the help of all of the above, said Seed, there would have been no successful campaign to celebrate.
Jones’ story reflected that of many others, in that he found himself swept up by Seed’s enthusiasm, but his expertise has also been key to reaching the 100 milestone.
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