It is with deep sadness that we announce that Malcolm Kirk, of our Southwell Community First Responders (CFR) scheme, passed away on Saturday 6 March.
Malcolm had been a dedicated CFR for 17 years, volunteering around 2,000 hours of his time each year to responding to medical emergencies in his local community. Most recently he had also been using his skills to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Nottinghamshire.
Before becoming a CFR, Malcolm worked as a printer at the Newark Advertiser for 23 years until his retirement at the age of 60.
Keen to fill his free time, Malcolm signed up to be a CFR with EMAS, worked for many years at Southwell Racecourse, and more recently enjoyed volunteering with The National Trust at The Workhouse.
During his time as a CFR, Malcolm saved several lives through early medical intervention, including 49-year-old Roland Malkin, who later went on to be a trustee of the CFR scheme.
As a result, Malcolm was presented with a Heart Hero Award from the British Heart Foundation in 2016 for saving Roland’s life.
Tribute from Malcolm’s family:
As a family we are shocked and deeply saddened at the loss of our beloved dad and grandfather, Malcolm.
Malcolm was incredibly kind, generous, and would do anything for anyone. He was always looking out for ways to better the lives of other people.
We are so proud of his volunteer work as a CFR and the hundreds of lives he will have helped, as well as the life we know he saved.
When Malcolm signed up to become a CFR, I don’t think any of us realised the commitment he would give to the role – if he didn’t have something planned then he was always in his uniform and logged on to respond to anyone in need.
Sometimes when he was also volunteering with the National Trust, he would be double volunteering!
He found being a CFR extremely fulfilling, and when Sandra, his wife of 53 years, passed away, it became more important than ever for him. It was life-saving for him as it gave him a real sense of purpose.
Even during COVID, Malcolm didn’t see it as a reason to stop helping the community and so he also volunteered his CFR skills at the vaccination centre.
He was also a keen fundraiser and campaigner to have defibrillators installed in public places to help further improve the chances of survival for people living in his community.
Malcolm was very well known in Southwell, always stopping to chat to people, and we know the town won’t be the same without him.
With love from sons Stephen and Gary, daughters-in-law Bridget and Gwyn, and grandchildren Jordan and Millie.
Tribute from Mario Stankovic, Co-ordinator of the Southwell CFR scheme:
Malcolm was a fantastic friend and a dedicated first responder who was always first to volunteer to help when we were asked to help at community events such as the Armistice Day memorial service and the Family Lantern Walk.
We joined the CFR scheme together in November 2003 after we had been talked into it by a friend, but Malcolm just really wanted to help as many people as possible and was always so empathetic with his patients, whatever he was called out to.
Together with our CFR scheme, Malcolm helped to raise funds for the installation of seven publicly accessible defibrillators across Southwell, including the one which was used on him on the day he collapsed - which gave him the best chance possible.
He was such a chirpy chap who always took the time to talk to people and make them smile. He was known to us as Captain Kirk because of his narrowboat which he and his wife used to holiday on, which he had named The Enterprise.
I will miss Malcolm very much, as will the rest of our CFR scheme and all the friends he made over the years.
Michael Barnett-Connelly, Head of Community Response at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said:
“Malcolm was a hugely valued member of our team and was a wonderful advocate for installing public access defibrillators to help save as many lives as possible.
“He will be greatly missed by his CFR scheme and all the EMAS ambulance staff and volunteers who had the pleasure of working beside him over the years.
“Our thoughts are with Malcolm’s family and friends at this very sad and difficult time.”