A defibrillator has been installed outside Bowerhill Village Hall following a donation of funds made by local woman Marilyn Mills in memory of her husband Mike Mills, who died in 2018.
Marilyn donated funds for the new equipment, which has been installed as part of a Melksham Without Parish Council initiative, in memory of Mike who was a stalwart of the local community.
She said, “Mike fought hard to get the first defibrillators installed in the town, it was his call in life to work with the community.”
He was a Melksham Without Parish Councillor for 27 years, where he served as chairman for 12 years, the longest serving chairman in the parish council’s history.
Mike also won Melksham News’ Person of the Year award in 2017 for his work and passion with the community. He worked with local groups such as Bowerhill Residents Action Group (BRAG) and was on the Bowerhill Village Hall committee since the 1980s, where he was also chairman for three years and served as the vice-chairman.
“Everybody in the town knew him,” explained Marilyn. “The parish council, the town council, he was known by everyone.
“Mike collected old coins and when I sold these, I thought it would be nice for the money to go towards a defibrillator outside the village hall.
“The village hall has one inside but you cannot access it if the hall is locked. I thought it would make sense to have one like Berryfield Village Hall has outside, because it gives the community 24-hour access.”
Marilyn said that Mike would check the defibrillator at The Pilot and she checks the one inside Bowerhill Village Hall every Friday. “This involves checking the battery is still charged. If it’s running out, I put in a report into the parish council. The masks need renewing, so I also check the renewable dates. I check there is no water in the cabinet and that it has not been tampered with.
“I think to have a new defibrillator that is accessible 24 hours a day means that we have got more access for people. There are still other areas across the town that need defibrillators for the community.”
