Cornwall Hospice and St John’s Ambulance Unveil Life-Saving Defibrillator

byMegan Hampton|February 27, 2026

Cornwall Hospice is proud to announce the unveiling of a new defibrillator, strategically located at the corner of their furniture shop at Daniels Lane, St Austell. Margaret Watts, a devoted St John’s Ambulance volunteer spearheaded the fundraising campaign for this vital life-saving device that is accessible to the public 24/7, offering peace of mind to the local community.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by Margaret Watts; Tim Jones, Manager for East Cornwall St John’s Ambulance; Ann McAuley, a St John’s Ambulance Youth Leader volunteer; Councillor Andrea Lanxon, who serves as President of the local St John’s Ambulance unit; and Councillor Jeremy Preece, who represents Bethel and Holmbush Ward on the St Austell Town Council and chairs the community panel. They were welcomed by members of the Cornwall Hospice Income Generation team.

Margaret Watts shared her excitement;

“I am so delighted. It’s been a long three years fundraising for this device, and we finally have it in place. I’m overjoyed to see it lit up at night time, so everyone will be able to find it and we’ll save more people.”

When discussing the difference this device will make she added; “It is crucial to act within eight minutes of someone becoming unresponsive and devices like this regularly make the difference between life and death. I will be offering local training sessions to dispel fears and teach life-saving skills. You can’t hurt someone with an AED—it won’t shock unless necessary, and it talks you through every step of the way.”

Jeremy Preece added his thoughts on the importance of the project: “I think it’s amazing to see how much good work people are doing in our town. Having a defibrillator in locations not available all day is not enough; the first few minutes are crucial, and the more there are locally, the more lives will be saved.”

The local community raised £3,000 through events such as bucket shaking at local gatherings, in collaboration with Stepping Stones Nursery, Par Carnival Committee, and a Bingo night. This amount covered the cost of the AED and its installation.

Fran May, Operations Manager at Cornwall Hospice, expressed her gratitude: “I just want to offer the world’s biggest thank you. I know a lot of hard work and time has gone into making this happen. We’re so grateful to be able to host this life-saving device.”

Cornwall Hospice and St John’s Ambulance are dedicated to making strides in public safety, ensuring that everyone has access to the tools and knowledge needed to save lives.