The work of the Red Cross in Bourne is best remembered from the Great War when the organisation was responsible for establishing and running a military hospital in the town which cared for almost 950 wounded soldiers from the front between 1914-18. As a result of their work many of the staff were awarded Red Cross medals which were presented by the Countess of Ancaster at a special ceremony in 1922.

The Red Cross is a humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are, and is mainly run by volunteers. It began in 1863, inspired by a Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant, who was shocked by the suffering of thousands of men on both sides who were left to die due to lack of care after the Battle of Solferino in 1859, the last major battle in world history where all of the involved armies of 200,000 men were under the personal control of their monarchs. He proposed the creation of national relief societies made up of volunteers, trained in peacetime to provide neutral and impartial help to relieve suffering in times of war and from these early beginnings grew the Red Cross organisation we know today.

A committee which later became the International Committee of the Red Cross was established in Geneva and the founding charter was drawn up in 1863 and after many developments became the British Red Cross in 1905 and granted its first Royal Charter in 1908 by HM King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, who became its president. A huge number of skilled volunteers were required and a permanent structure of local branches was adopted and extended the presence of the British Red Cross to communities around the country. A Voluntary Aid Scheme was introduced in 1909 and ensured that Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs) were formed in every county in England whose members would provide aid to the territorial medical forces in times of war.

After the Great War, the British Red Cross was able to embark on a programme of peacetime activities at home and abroad and that presence is still prevalent in Bourne today, albeit one of low profile, and although most recognise their charity shop in North Street, the headquarters of the Bourne branch is less prominent, operating from premises tucked away behind the Butterfield Centre in Harrington Street.

The work they do remains varied and extensive and perhaps they are best known lending items of medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, bed rests and commodes, to people on a short term basis but in September 2009, a campaign was launched to raise £21,000 to finance a fully equipped first aid vehicle for use at public events.

Until now, the organisation has been taking a caravan or marquee to events but the vehicle, which will be twice the size of an ambulance and fitted with a hydraulic lift, will enable them treat someone inside. Fund raising began in 2009 with a series of events such as bag packing at a local supermarket, a raffle, coffee mornings and a charity auction, and it was hoped to raise further funds to finance additional equipment including a trolley cot, defibrillator, oxygen and other first aid necessities.

Centre organiser Trevor Hollinshead, aged 59, said that the new vehicle would make the work of the Bourne branch much easier and when not in use it would be fully employed at other Red Cross centres in Lincolnshire. “Local organisations have already responded to our appeal and we feel confident that the target will be reached”, he said.

Newspaper report from The Local Friday 11th September 2009

THE RED CROSS IN PAST TIMES

The Bourne detachment of the British Red Cross in 1955 when it was providing ambulance attendants, a trolley shop at Bourne Chest Hospital, help for the elderly at the Darby and Joan club and arranging lectures for young people studying for the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme. Junior Red Cross cadets were being trained for good citizenship and attended lectures on first aid, home nursing and mother craft, so providing a recruiting ground for nurses. IN THE PICTURE: Mrs Ida Pick (front row centre) with fellow officers Mrs Kath Neal (left) and Mrs Alice Baldock.

REVISED JULY 2012

See also Charity shops