Tiny community proves its fundraising force
People in the tiny hamlets of Morton and Crickheath, near Oswestry have completed their latest major fundraising project to ensure facilities for the community.
Residents formed a committee in 2012 to renovate and look after Morton Playing Field, raising over £15,000 to be spent on refurbishing the field, making it safe by installing rabbit proof fencing and laying a new surface.
Now the committee has raised another £4,000 to provide a life saving defibrillator for the community and those using the field in a case of a cardiac arrest.
Grants for the defibrillator were gained from the from Calor Gas Community Fund, Star Housing, the Coop Community Fund, Oswestry Rural Parish Council, TNS and from local people selling teas at the football games.
SJ Hopkins Street Lighting Ltd of Cannock supplied and fitted the pole free of charge and there has been help from Scottish Power and Shropshire Council have been helpful.
Chairman of the playing field committee, Vivien Byrne, said: "The defibrillator is now in place on the verge and the committee has enough left over to spend £300 on a litter bin, which is badly needed in Morton."
She said that Morton Playing Field is now used by over 125 participants in sports, children from Llanymynech Juniors Football Club, TNS girls, their coaches and all the families who go to support them, as well as Teams from the local Ladies Rounders League.
"There are also many people who make use of the field for exercise and dog walking or just go there to sit in the peace and quiet of the countryside, away from traffic and just listen to the birds."
