A NEW life-saving defibrillator has been installed in Farnham Park – funded by T Baker scrap metal merchants in Wrecclesham in response to the Herald’s Have a Heart campaign.

The device, located on the outside wall of the rangers hut in the park’s main car park, is now available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year for the public to use in the event of an emergency.

The Herald launched its campaign earlier this year, in support of the newly-formed Aston Defibrillator Fund (ADF), seeking to build a network of life-saving devices across Farnham in memory of local defibrillator champion Keith Aston.

And just hours after hitting news stands, the target to raise £1,500 for a defibrillator in Farnham Park was met thanks to the generosity of a long-standing family-run firm, T Baker (Junr) Ltd in School Hill.

Speaking to the Herald at the grand unveiling on Monday, Michael White added his company is now up for funding another defib too.

“How much is a life worth? If it saves just one life, £1,500 is not very much money is it?”, he said.

Keith Harris, ADF trustee, said: “The ADF is delighted to see the generosity of Shaun and Michael White from T Baker, scrap metal merchants in Wrecclesham result in this amazing new community resource. This sort of community involvement is exactly what the ADF is there to drive and organise in our mission to make Farnham a safer place for all.”

He continued: “Our thanks also to the Herald for the appeal, the park ranger Nick MacFarlane for helping with the installation and the Friends of Farnham Park who we understand have agreed to fund the ongoing maintenance of the AED.”

It is estimated that as many as 5,000 people use Farnham Park at weekends, and although prior training is not required to use the defibrillator, first aid sessions were held with park users this week to raise awareness.