The British Red Cross and Defender mobile museum celebrates 70 years of partnership

• The mobile museum – believed to be the smallest in the UK – was inside a specially commissioned British Red Cross Defender 4x4
• The unique museum told the story of 70 years of supporting communities in crisis around the world using the Defender and includes artefacts from the history of the partnerships and a full guided tour
• The free museum visited London on 19 and 20 September

Visitors to London’s South Bank had the chance to sit inside what is believed to be Britain’s smallest museum last week, thanks to the British Red Cross and Defender.

The humanitarian charity, which supports people affected by crises of all kinds in the UK and around the world, celebrated 70 years of delivering vital support and assistance using the Defender 4x4.  The partnership has helped 2 million people in more than 50 countries around the world, using more than 500 vehicles. 

To mark the occasion, Defender and the British Red Cross commissioned a specially converted Defender 110 plug-in electric hybrid to serve as a working museum, complete with artefacts, photos and audio guides. It brought to life the humanitarian work delivered from 1954 to the present day.

The free attraction allowed up to five visitors at a time to experience the exhibition – one for each of the Defender’s seats – with many more outside, all finding out about the partnership with the British Red Cross which has impacted people across the world. 

The outside of the vehicle was adorned with dozens of pictures, offering a visual timeline of the partnership over the course of the 70 years across multiple locations, conflicts and disasters. 

The museum and its audio tour covered key points in the history of the partnership, including one of the first missions in 1954, when the Red Cross sent four nurses, each with a specially adapted Defender ambulance that had been turned into a mobile clinic, to remote communities in Kenya.

Another exhibit explored the British Red Cross’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia between 1978 and 1980 during a famine caused by a devastating drought followed by a plague of locusts. A medical kit that played a crucial role in treating ill people featured in the museum.

Also on display were drawings by children in the midst of the relief response in former Yugoslavia where, throughout 1993, the Red Cross provided aid and care for those seeking sanctuary on all sides of the conflict.

Looking closer to home, the museum also featured artefacts from a series of major floods in the UK between 2007 and 2013. Volunteers came from across the UK to assist in the largest domestic emergency relief effort since the Second World War. 

The museum also featured an overview of relief efforts in the Turks and Caicos Islands after they were hit with the back-to-back disasters of Hurricane Hanna and Hurricane Ike, which destroyed 85 per cent of homes in 2008 and 2009. 

There was even a statue of a rescue dog from REDOG in Switzerland – a Defender-funded search and rescue project, which trains disaster search dogs and rapid deployment teams. A large team of 14 dogs and 22 REDOG members were deployed to help with search and rescue efforts in the 2023 Türkiye earthquake. The statue was donated by its creator, renowned animal sculptor Tanya Russell.

Paul Amadi, Chief Supporter Officer, British Red Cross, said: “The enduring partnership between the British Red Cross and Defender has lasted a remarkable 70 years, and over that time has helped over two million people. We’re delighted that people have come to experience our mobile museum and to hear the story of the partnership and the impact we have had over seven decades. We look forward to the future of our partnership and continuing to be there for communities in crisis.”

Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, said: “Defender is a proud supporter of the British Red Cross and this year marks the 70th anniversary of working together for the good of remote communities across the world. Since the first model – a Series Land Rover – joined the Red Cross fleet in 1954, the capability of our vehicles has been used to deliver humanitarian aid in conflict and disaster zones around the world. The launch of the mobile museum showcases Defender’s capability in a very different way, and we hope it can raise awareness of the invaluable work made possible by our enduring and unique humanitarian partnership.”

The museum is believed to be the smallest currently in the UK. While a museum created in a phone box in Warley has previously claimed to be the smallest, we have verified that it is no longer open to the public.

ENDS 

Notes to Editors 

About the British Red Cross

For over 150 years, the British Red Cross has helped people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. With millions of volunteers across over 190 countries, the British Red Cross is part of an international humanitarian Movement that’s there for people before, during and after a crisis. Together, we are the world’s emergency responders.

About Defender

Defender embraces the impossible. Each member of the Defender family is purposefully designed, highly desirable and seriously durable. A modern-day hero that respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future.

Available in 90, 110 and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own.

As part of our vision of modern luxury by design, Defender 110 is available as an electric hybrid. 

Defender Hard Top means business, with 90 and 110 body styles for professional capability.

A beacon of endurance since 1948, Defender supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust. 

The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover – a mark of trust built on 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability. 

Defender is designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR house of brands alongside Range Rover, Discovery and Jaguar.

Important notice

JLR is constantly seeking ways to improve the specification, design and production of its vehicles, parts and accessories and alterations take place continually. Whilst every effort is made to produce up-to-date literature, this document should not be regarded as an infallible guide to current specifications or availability, nor does it constitute an offer for the sale of any particular vehicle, part or accessory. All figures are manufacturer’s estimates.

Further Information

Chris Bull
Goodness PR on behalf of the British Red Cross (for print and online queries)
T: +44 (0) 7760 273 160
E: cbull@goodnesspr.co.uk

Vishal Gadhavi
Good Broadcast on behalf of the British Red Cross (for broadcast queries and filming)
T: +44 (0) 7753 453 948
E: vgadhavi@goodbroadcast.co.uk

British Red Cross social channels:
TikTok: @britishredcross
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BritishRedCross
Twitter: @BritishRedCross 
Instagram: @britishredcross
YouTube: www.youtube.com/britishredcross 
Website: www.redcross.org.uk

Defender social channels
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@defender
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Defender
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Defender
Instagram: www.instagram.com/Defender
YouTube: www.youtube.com/Defender
Media website: www.media.landrover.com