Fundraiser Oakley special fire service visit

A seven-year-old boy from Colchester has been thanked by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team for his outstanding fundraising efforts. 

Oakley Stobbs raised money for the NHS during lockdown by drawing more than 100 pictures and selling them on social media.

He donated £621 to Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity, which was used to create rest areas in staff rooms.

Crew Manager Bryn Jones, USAR technician, said: “Due to COVID lockdowns, Oakley had to wait a long time for his visit. We gave him the full USAR experience as a reward to him and his family – they are great and do a lot for the community like collecting Easter eggs for care homes.

“B Watch showed him what we do and he tried some of our ‘blue and twos’ sirens, protective equipment and search cameras.

“He also met our Search and Rescue dog Jarvis and our Fire Investigation Dog Fizz, their handler Graham Currie.

“We also had the support of our Stores team who got some gifts together as a thank you from our Service.”

Oakley was joined on the visit, at USAR’s site in Lexden, by his mum Dani and his little brother Louie.

Dani, from Colchester, said: “Oakley loves drawing so he got requests on social media and got donations, one was £50!

“Bryn saw what he was doing and invited him to have a look around. They were so good with him and he hasn’t stopped talking about it since.”