Farlington couple drop cheque for £1,000 on the doorstep to pay for Cosham community defibrillator

FUNDRAISING to purchase a new community defibrillator had slowed due to the Covid lockdown but thanks to one couple’s extraordinary kindness, the life-saving machine is now ready to be used.
By Millie Salkeld
Published 20th Jan 2021, 07:00 BST
Beryl and Leslie Tombs from Farlington left a cheque for 1,000 pounds at the podiatry centre, Cosham after speaking to Tracey about their campaign to raise cash for a defibrillator Pictured: Tracey Gregory with the defibrillator and Beryl and Leslie Tombs outside the Podiatry centre, Cosham, Portsmouth on 15 January 2021. Picture: Habibur RahmanBeryl and Leslie Tombs from Farlington left a cheque for 1,000 pounds at the podiatry centre, Cosham after speaking to Tracey about their campaign to raise cash for a defibrillator Pictured: Tracey Gregory with the defibrillator and Beryl and Leslie Tombs outside the Podiatry centre, Cosham, Portsmouth on 15 January 2021. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Beryl and Leslie Tombs from Farlington left a cheque for 1,000 pounds at the podiatry centre, Cosham after speaking to Tracey about their campaign to raise cash for a defibrillator Pictured: Tracey Gregory with the defibrillator and Beryl and Leslie Tombs outside the Podiatry centre, Cosham, Portsmouth on 15 January 2021. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Tracy Gregory, who runs her own podiatry centre in Cosham, was left shocked when a cheque for £1,000 was put through the letter box of her clinic. The money was earmarked for the defibrillator that she and her team had been trying to raise money for but progress had slowed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The day before Tracey, who is a volunteer responder for South Central Ambulance Service, had been chatting to Leslie Tombs, 79 and his wife Beryl from Farlington about the defibrillator and her volunteer work just before Christmas.

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Tracy said: ‘When I was chatting about it I had no idea what was going to happen and I was absolutely gobsmacked when I found the cheque in the morning.

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‘We had already raised about £300 with a donation box on the counter but with less people coming into the clinic because of the Covid-19 pandemic the fundraising was slowing up.

‘The Tombs’ donation meant we could put the order in for the defibrillator immediately and it was such a kind thing to do.’

‘Times are really tough at the moment for everyone and I thought this was such an amazing gesture.’

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The couple visited the clinic on Northern Road again to see the defibrillator in person.

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Beryl, 77, said: ‘It means everything to us that we could help out. You never know when you are going to need help and we have had family members who have had heart attacks.’

Tracy added: ‘We are so grateful to the Tombs for their donation and we are now raising some more money so the defibrillator can be placed on the outside of our building so anyone can use it even if no one is at the clinic.

‘It has to have anti-vandalism protections on it but we are hoping that we can purchase and install it soon.

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‘You always hope that something like this wouldn’t have to be used but it really can save a life.’

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