A leading March businessman and councillor has been honoured for his life-saving charity work by being awarded the Freedom of the Town.
Rob Skoulding, a former town mayor who rejoined March Town Council last year, was presented with the honour at this month's meeting, with current mayor Andrew Woollard making the presentation.
It was during his first time as mayor in 2014/2015 that Mr Skoulding, with the support of the Cambs Times launched his 'Have a Heart' campaign - it had just one aim to raise money to provide March with as many life-saving defibrillators as possible.
Ten years later and March boasts an incredible 46 of the life-saving machines, 35 bought thanks to money raised by Mr Skoulding.
And to show just how vital these amazing pieces of equipment are, in the same week he was being honoured, one of the defibs was used to help save the life of a teenage girl.
The machine was used by the parents of a 15-year-old girl whose heart stopped.
Mr Skoulding said: "We were told they had used the machine which is attached to the shop in Ellingham Avenue. We don't know too many details, but when her parents returned the defib, they said their daughter was in hospital and was up and talking.
"That's what it is about, saving lives. This is a rural area, and we are miles away from a hospital, so having a defib for people to use while they wait for an ambulance is vital, it can make all the difference.
"It is also important to know that it is not just old people who suffer heart attacks, as demonstrated by the recent incident with the girl, it can happen to anyone, any time.
"A few years ago there was a mum trying to resuscitate her two-year-old daughter on the side of the road near us, and we took her a defib and it save her life."
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Each defibrillator costs around £1,200, and has to sit in a special cabinet which costs another £800. Local electrician Darren Biggs donates his time and fits each machine for free.
Mr Skoulding said: "Darren couldn't give money, but he has fitted every defib, he is a real diamond of a man."
Mr Skoulding was inspired to launch his original campaign following the death of his father Peter of a heart attack in 2009.
"I can't know for sure whether having a defib would have saved his life, but it might have given him a fighting chance, which is why I am so determined to make sure March has as many as possible," he said.
Mr Skoulding said he was deeply honoured and overwhelmed to have been awarded the Freedom of the Town - one of only six such honours handed out by the council since 1996, when the town's 1220 Squadron of the Air Cadets became the first.
"I have to admit I was surprised, I was really overwhelmed it is a real honour to be given the award," said Mr Skoulding, whose own life was saved partly by a defib and partly by CPR performed by his wife Laura in 2021.
As well as continuing to raise money for the defibs - not just to buy new ones, but to maintain those already in place as it costs around £260 every time one is used - Mr Skoulding also organises regular CPR training sessions.
"It is a skill that I think should be taught to every school child. It is often a child coming home from school who finds their parents collapsed from a heart attack, so it would be great if they had the necessary CPR training in school," said Mr Skoulding.
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