I made a promise

On the 7th October 2004 , I made a promise that following the death of
Mike 'Spike' Williamson he would be remembered and some good would come out of this sad event.

Spike passed away following a heart attack and that promise was to provide a defibrillator for the town.





We did manage to provide two devices for the town back in 2012 however by working with some like minded people that promise really became true yesterday when the new heated cabinet went live.

Having a heated cabinet ensures the safe operation for the device kept inside.

Yesterday South Western Ambulance confirmed the cabinet had been registered and went live.




The device and cabinet have been provided by private donations to a community partnership , the Coastguard building is ideally located in North Swanage to have this device.

The partnership would like to thank the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for their support in allowing this cabinet to be located at this location.

The cabinet is dedicated to Mike ' Spike ' Williamson

It's important to note that in a Medical emergency , a 999 call to the ambulance service is required to get the release code to the cabinet and get an ambulance on route.

Defibrillator at Knoll Beach

The National Trust have moved their defibrillator to enable the public to use in an emergency.







This is attached to the toilet block opposite the visitors centre.

Always call 999 - in a medical emergency.

Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership

The Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership (SCDP) has been established by a group of representatives from local organisations seeking to purchase and maintain strategically located Lifesaving equipment for the town and neighbouring villages.

Currently in Swanage we have three public accessed defibrillators that can be accessed 24 hours a day via 999 and the Ambulance Service.

By calling 999 you get the assistance on the way and the access code for the cabinets to release the defibrillator.




Currently the devices are outside at.

The Masonic Lodge Marshall Row Swanage ( different to the device shown )

Swanage Coastguard Station, North Beach Car Park De Moulham Road

Ulwell Cottage Caravan Site , Ulwell Road

There are other devices which include one at the Tourist Information Centre Shore Road, but these are only available when the premises are open.

With Swanage being at the end of the Purbeck peninsula and with an ageing demographic , rapid access to such equipment can and will save lives.

The initial aim of 'SCDP' is to raise funds to install 3 further devices for the town.

These locations are Station Road , Herston and one for local groups to use at events.

It's not only the defibrillator that's important in a life saving emergency it's also CPR, and the partnership will hopefully hold some workshops to encourage and make people aware of how to use defibrillators.

Today ( 18th March ) the Partnership has placed its first order of one device and two cabinets. This was after a very generous donation from a local business, and working with the Town Council and Swanage Railway the location of the device will be at the top of Station Road.

The second cabinet will replace the current one at the Coastguard Station to bring it up to the new standards of having to have a heated cabinet.


The cabinets are easily recognised like this one at Lyme Regis

The partnership has a lot more work to register the devices with the Ambulance service, create its own website, fund raise, install the cabinets and provide awareness education on CPR and the device.

Many Swanage groups , agencies, and people have been involved and SCDP wish to thank you all so far.

Donations can be made via Corben's 41 Station Road Swanage.

Cross border training

Last night the team were invited to the big city for training.........Poole !

We joined colleagues from the Poole Coastguard team at Poole Port for some defibrillator training.







Roger and Nick in action learning how to use a public accessed defibrillator.







Kerry and Duncan practicing CPR , a vital part of the process before using the device.


Thanks to Mr Laut of Poole Port for hosting us all.

Community Defibrillator goes into service.

On the 7th October 2004 , Mike "Spike" Williamson collapsed and died in the town despite the efforts of Paramedics.

Spike was the assistant pier master and a valued member of the Coastguard team for 30 years.

In memory of Spike a community project to provide a defibrillator finally was realised and went into service on Saturday.

The device was provided via the De Moulham Trust which provides funding for community projects which directly benefit the community of Swanage.

The trustees felt this project fitted the values of the trust and provided funding for two devices along with a local business which provided a training device.

HM Coastguard very kindly agreed to the siting of the device on the Coastguard building in North Beach Car Park off De Moulham Road. The siting at this location was choose to cover the North end of Swanage.

At the start of the month South Western Ambulance officially approved the device and most importantly added it to their system so the public would be given access to the code to open the box in an emergency.





In an emergency that may require the device, it is really important to call 999 and ask for the Ambulance.

There are full instructions next to the cabinet but these will be given by the Ambulance if you call 999.

There are further devices at

Tourist Information Centre Shore Road Swanage ( Inside)

Masonic Lodge Marshal Row Swanage

A further device is now being sought for Station Road in Swanage.