Remembering the Red Cross: at the heart of Cumbrian communities

This is to commemorate the birth of Henry Dunant in 1828 in Geneva, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
The movement started in 1863 after the suffering of thousands of men on both sides of the Battle of Solferino in 1859 upset Dunant. Many were left to die due to lack of care.
He proposed creating national relief societies, made up of volunteers, trained in peacetime to provide neutral and impartial help to relieve suffering in times of war. A committee (which later became the International Committee of the Red Cross) was established in Geneva.
Dunant also proposed that countries adopt an international agreement which would recognise the status of medical services and of the wounded on the battlefield. This agreement – the original Geneva Convention – was adopted in 1864.
The Red Cross is long established in Cumbria, where it has often been involved in community work. A picture from 2016 shows Elaine Hornby, service co-ordinator for flood recovery with the organisation, at the flood investigation report meeting at The Wave Centre in Maryport.

Above Barry Wright, from the Carlisle Red Cross, joins Dr Stephen Gibbs, founder/chair of the Carlisle Flood Action Group and Kerryanne Wilde from the Eden Food Volunteers at a Carlisle Flood Action Group meeting organised by Dr Gibbs at the Crown and Mitre Hotel.

Keen to support the Cumberland Infirmary, the Cumberland branch of the British Red Cross Society generously donated equipment. Pictured are president Mrs William Whitelaw with Sister IT Moore.

When, in 2016, Workington's mayor and mayoress did some charity networking, they invited the Red Cross along.

A Red Cross open day for volunteers saw the Independent Living Team based at Clifford Court, Carlisle, showcase opportunities.

In 1971, a Red Cross coffee morning was held in the Tithe Barn. Pictured is the raffle.

And in 2015, the organisation teamed up with the Co-op to launch a campaign to tackle loneliness in Carlisle.

Scaleby and District Flower Club presented £1,520 from an open garden event to the Red Cross and Rachel May welcomed visitors to Eachwick Hall for the same cause.