Saxmundham Judo Club Unveils Life-Saving Defibrillator

On Wednesday 18th June, Saxmundham Judo Club marked a proud milestone in its community outreach efforts with the official unveiling of a defibrillator for the town of Saxmundham.

The life-saving device, installed at The Bell Hotel’s rear terrace, was funded through a combination of club-led fundraising initiatives and support from the East Suffolk District Council Community Enabling Fund. While the defibrillator was installed and registered with the national network (The Circuit) back in December 2024, its formal unveiling was delayed due to inclement weather and scheduling challenges.

The defibrillator has already played a role in supporting emergency services, having been accessed during an incident in the High Street earlier this year, though it ultimately wasn’t required on that occasion.

The idea for the project arose from Saxmundham Judo Club’s recognition that the existing defibrillators in the town – located at two local supermarkets – were too far from the Market Hall, a key gathering point for community events. Although the club initially hoped to install the device on the front of the Market Hall to provide central High Street coverage, permission was not granted due to the building’s listed status.

Fortunately, The Bell Hotel stepped in to offer its rear terrace as an alternative site, still conveniently located near the Market Hall. Hotel Manager Matt Croxford worked with his team to secure the necessary permissions, and within weeks, the defibrillator was installed and operational.

Funding for the project was a joint effort. Saxmundham Judo Club raised 50% of the costs through a variety of community events, including sponsored walks, raffles, and the Suffolk Judo Festival – a youth Judo competition hosted by the club. The remaining half was generously provided by East Suffolk District Council, with support from Councillor John Fisher.

The Bell Hotel has also committed to managing the defibrillator, carrying out the routine checks and logbook updates needed to keep it fully serviceable.

The unveiling ceremony was held during a visit to the club by international Judo athlete Ben Caldwell, who delivered coaching and demonstration sessions for club members. The day was made even more memorable with the presentation of a British Judo Association Community Award to club founder Keith Cartwright-Jones, recognising his two decades of voluntary service, coaching, and contributions to the local community.

The event was attended by representatives from The Bell Hotel, Town Council Leader John Findlay, District Councillor John Fisher, and members of the club across a wide range of age groups.

Saxmundham Judo Club continues to build on its community-focused ethos with several new initiatives planned for the coming year, including:

• Saxmundham Veterans’ Breakfast Club: A new project launching around Armed Forces Day to provide a space for veterans to gather and enjoy a breakfast funded by the club. The initiative is set to run for at least five years.

• RNLI New Crew Member Project: Supporting the Aldeburgh RNLI by funding the essential kit for new volunteer crew members.

The club is also collaborating with Aldeburgh RNLI to provide mutual training opportunities, including water safety courses for Judo members and offering Judo sessions to the lifeboat crew. Joint fundraising efforts are also in the pipeline.

From its humble beginnings, Saxmundham Judo Club has grown to nearly sixty members and continues to expand its role in the community. Plans are underway to increase class capacity and introduce new training sessions to meet demand in the growing town and surrounding areas.

The club extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the defibrillator project, including donors, supporters, and those who attended the unveiling ceremony.

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