Tom Tate has a personal reason for installing a defibrillator at the Ripon garden centre and nursery that bears his family’s name,
The family-run business, which was founded by Fred and Frank Tate more than 80 years ago, faced a worrying time when Tom’s son Freddie — the newest member of the dynasty — was diagnosed with a heart condition after he was born at Harrogate District Hospital two years ago.
Tom told the Stray Ferret:
“It was an anxious time for his mum Sarah, myself and all the family, but the doctors sorted him out and he is a healthy and happy little boy.”
Freddie Tate carrying out an inspection of the family-owned garden centre on his miniature John Deere Gator. Picture: F. Tate & Sons
He added:
“With this experience, it made me realise that heart issues can affect anybody, from new born babies to the elderly and with the 150,000 plus visitors that we welcome here each year, installing a defibrillator made a lot of sense.
“We have people who come to buy flowers. plants and ornaments for their gardens, or to dine in our Olive Tree restaurant and in addition to this, thousands come in all weathers to the annual charity tractor events that we stage”
Tom’s mum Jayne, pointed out:
“With the newly-installed defibrillator we are equipped to look after hearts as well as flowers and we hope that this gives added peace of mind to people who visit us.”
Tates garden centre is the 24th location in Ripon and the surrounding area to install a defibrillator. All other locations can be found be clicking on this link to the Defibs Ripon Facebook page.
Main picture: Tom Tate with his mum Jayne next to the newly-installed defibrillator
Read more:
Harrogate Town hopes to raise £1,500 tonight to fund a defibrillator on Commercial Street in central Harrogate by selling match-worn shirts.
Shirts signed by captain Josh Falkingham and long-serving midfielders Lloyd Kerry and George Thomson are among those on sale.
A club statement today said:
“The 2020/21 campaign was a historic one for Harrogate Town as it marked the club’s debut season in the English Football League.
“Now you have the chance to own a bit of Harrogate Town history.”
Shirts will be available online from 7pm today on the Harrogate Town club shop. They will be split into categories of £20, £50, £70, £100, and £150 and sold on a first come, first served basis.
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- Harrogate Town promotion hero Connor Hall joins Port Vale
- Reformer Pilates and yoga studio opens in old Harrogate chapel
Defibrillator saves man’s life in Starbeck
A Harrogate nurse has spoken about how a defibrillator saved a man’s life at a 50th birthday party in Starbeck on Saturday.
Andy Dennis, who works in the intensive care unit at Harrogate District Hospital, was among guests at Harrogate Railway Sports and Social Club.
Mr Dennis was talking to hospital colleagues when he noticed the DJ, Dave Bielby, slumped motionless in his chair.
He went over and could not detect a pulse so he called for help and began administering chest compressions to restart his heart. He said:
Fortunately the club had a defibrillator on site and Mr Dennis, aided by players and other nurses, gave four electric shocks in between further chest compressions. He said:
“After the fourth shock, he started to move and vomited. Then the paramedics arrived and I handed over control to them.”
Mr Dennis said the defibrillator almost certainly saved Mr Bielby’s life because the time it would have taken to get one of two others in Starbeck — at the Prince of Wales pub and the Lloyds Pharmacy — would have cost valuable time.
“It made all the difference. The more these things are available to everyone and people have training in them the better. They really are easy to use.
“It would be great if we could use this tragic but well-ending story to get word out and encourage more people to get trained in using defibrillators.”
Read more:
- Calls to improve safety of children walking to school in Starbeck
- New restaurant and bar planned on Harrogate’s King’s Road
Harrogate Railway Athletic FC is now encouraging everyone to sign a petition calling for defibrillators to be installed at all sports grounds.
Peter Scott, a volunteer for Harrogate Community First Responders, which works with Yorkshire Ambulance Service to provide emergency treatment, said every minute lost treating someone when their heart stops reduces their chances of survival by 10%.
He said defibrillators cost between £1,000 and £2,000 and more should be installed around the Harrogate district.
He added:
“It’s important people know how easy it is to use defibrillators.
“If you can take the fear out of using them it will save more lives.”
Mr Bielby posted his gratitude to those who helped on the Harrogate Railway Facebook page. He said:
“I died and was brought back to life. Can’t thank the guys enough. Currently in hospital. The road to recovery starts now.”
Mr Dennis is fundraising to raise £200,000 for the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres. You can support his efforts here.