Celebrating 70 years with Defender
This year marks seven decades of partnership between the British Red Cross and Defender. Together, we've reached more than 2 million people in crisis, and we're not stopping there.
70 years, supporting 2 million people
Back in 1954, the British Red Cross sent four nurses, each with a specially adapted Defender ambulance to remote communities in Kenya.
70 remarkable years later, and Defender has helped us reach more than 2 million people in more than 50 countries around the world.
From humanitarian work in Ethiopia during the late 70s, to storm response in Scotland last year, we rely on Defender to help us reach communities in crisis.
To celebrate 70 years of our partnership, we commissioned a specially converted Defender electric hybrid to serve as a working museum, complete with artefacts, photos and audio guides.
Welcome to the British Red Cross and Defender museum
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Taking pride of place on London's Southbank Observation Point, the outside of the vehicle was adorned with pictures, charting a timeline of the partnership across multiple locations, conflicts and disasters.
“The launch of the mobile museum showcases Defender's capability in a very different way", says Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender.
"It raises awareness of the invaluable work made possible by our enduring and unique humanitarian partnership.”
Read on for some highlights, and learn more about the artefacts by listening to our soundclips.
Images by the passenger seat showed how the nurses in 1954 might dress, while the glove compartment offered more photos from the mission. PHOTO: British Red Cross
Reaching communities in Kenya
Inside the vehicle, visitors could read about one of our very first humanitarian missions with Defender.
On display, opposite the passenger seat, is a Red Cross nurse’s uniforms apron from the 1950s, while the glove compartment offered more photos from the mission.
In 1954, four British Red Cross nurses were sent to forest villages in the Nyeri district in Kenya, to support people fleeing the Mau Mau rebellion. Each nurse was equipped with a specially adapted Defender ambulance, turning the vehicles into mobile clinics and saving lives.
Defenders were used in famine relief efforts in the 1980s. PHOTO: British Red Cross.
Defenders have side-mounted relief carriers so we can carry as much life-saving equipment as possible. PHOTO: British Red Cross
Transporting three tonnes of medicine
On the side of the Defender, visitors could see examples of the vital equipment the vehicle could carry. This includes a medical kit, similar to one used between 1978 and 1980, in the Wollo region of Ethiopia.
A devastating drought, followed by a plague of locusts, had ravaged crops. People had no food. Supporting the Ethiopian Red Cross, Bob McKerrow, Relief Officer, arrived with two Defenders to navigate the drought-ridden terrain and set up medical clinics.
As the crisis worsened, Red Cross Societies from across the Movement sent two more Defenders, as well as three tonnes of medicine.
Side by side: the boot displayed Red Cross food parcels from the Second World War and today. PHOTO: British Red Cross
In the boot, visitors could see a food parcel from our flood response in 2007 to 2013, displayed beside a food parcel from World War II. Homes in Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Cockermouth were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people lost power and clean water supplies.
Volunteers came from across the UK to assist in the largest domestic emergency relief effort since the Second World War. It certainly brought back memories for some.
Jim Robinson, aged 71, received his parcel at his flooded house and said “I remember the old Red Cross food parcels from the war. This assistance is much appreciated because we’ve had no help at all.”
As we face more challenges, at home and overseas, our partnership with Defender has never been more important. PHOTO: British Red Cross
Red Cross and Defender: here for humanity
Today's world faces unprecedented challenges — disasters compounded by food insecurity, conflict, and climate change.
But in any emergency, we're here for humanity and ready to respond when floods, earthquakes, disasters, and conflict turn people's lives upside down.
Paul Amadi, chief supporter officer, British Red Cross says: "We are incredibly proud to partner with Defender and we look forward to the future.
"By 2023, over 500 disasters annually will push millions into extreme risk of disease and poverty. We look forward to evolving our partnership with Defender so we can reach more people in crisis, in the UK and overseas."
Help us support people in crisis, in the UK and overseas
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