AS CLOSE TO THE ATLANTIC FOR PLAYING HOCKEY

RALPHH has extended the reach of its work to the furthest-most West of England hockey club at Penzance.

Penzance Hockey Club very much strives to be at the heart of its community, and therefore, having working defibrillator equipment is available is certainly part of the ethos of the Club. When a previous machine was no longer operational, Chair Barbara Reynolds turned to RALPHH for help.

The Club was established in the 1890’s and has been at its current attractive clubhouse and ground since 2000.  There are 240 members, ranging is age from 5 to 75. Both male and female first teams play in the Premier Division of the West Hockey League and players have represented England in Under 16’s and in Over 75’s. A previous member was Helen Glover, who went on to become an Olympic- winning rower.

The location is also the regular starting point for local pigeon racers, and their efforts first led to a defibrillator being available at the hockey clubhouse.

Pictured receiving both a new defibrillator and an external case for the storage of the machine from RALPHH are, left to right: Barbara Reynolds, Club Chair and also an England Club Hockey Development Manager; Helen Lagg, Club Development Manager; Richard Allen, Chairman of the RALPHH charity; and both John and Mick Angwin from the Penzance Pigeon Club.

The hockey club is busy developing the game in an accessible way for growing numbers of people.  Flyers Hockey is intended to be played by those with disabilities; early strides are being made in creating a walking-hockey group, whilst 16 teams from 12 local schools use the location to play in the Penzance Primary Hockey League