Volunteer first responders in Royston get life-saving boost
Date: 1 June 2026A group of volunteer first responders in Royston have received a life-saving boost thanks to the generous support of a local charity.
The Royston Community First Responder (CFR) group has been gifted a new automated external defibrillator (AED) from the William Lee charity. The device is used to shock a patient's heart in the event of a cardiac arrest.
The new AED replaces an older one that the team have used for several years, and means that the volunteer responders have modern equipment to help them when responding to emergency calls.
CFRs are local volunteers who are trained and dispatched by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) to attend life threatening 999 emergencies, often getting to the patient before ambulance crews. They can begin treatment in the vital first few minutes and increase the chances of survival.
The Royston CFR group has been running for over 10 years, and in that time volunteers have helped patients in emergency situations ranging from cardiac arrests and chest pain, to strokes, non-injury falls and seizures.
Garry Tobiss, from the Royston CFR group, said: "We're incredibly grateful to the William Lee charity for donating this brand new AED to the group, which will make a vital difference in life-threatening emergencies. We are here to help the residents of Royston, and we volunteer our time to be there when people need us.
"In a cardiac arrest, every second counts and access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death. Having this new, modern defibrillator with us when we respond to 999 calls means we can give patients the best chance of survival."
The William Lee charity was set up by a local resident William Lee, who left monies in his will for the benefit of the people of Royston in need. It gives grants to Royston residents and organisations in need of financial help, such as education costs, financial help to families in need, and community projects. Recent grants have been given to schools, Home-Start, stand-by-me bereavement support for families and individual families in need. For more information on how to apply for support, go to their website.
If you are interested in becoming a CFR, or finding out more about the various volunteer roles at EEAST, please visit our website.
Photo caption (from L-R): Carol Read, Gary Tobiss, Yvonne Clapham, Christiana Wolfinden, Laraine Upton, David Atkinson with the new AED.
