7/27/2019 Memory Lane: The Red Cross has been my family for so
long
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Photosonpage24:HillFfamily
The Red Cross has beenmy family for so long
It is 150 years since the I nternational RedCross and Red
Crescent Movement wasounded, inspired by Swiss businessman,Henry
Dunant.
Dunant was appalled at the sueringo thousands o men who were let
todie due to lack o care ater the Battle oSolerino in 1859. His
account o whathe saw, and proposal to set up nationalrelie
societies, led to the ormation o theCommittee o Five in Geneva, and
thesigning o the ounding charter o the RedCross in 1863.
Dunant later recalled on a visit toLondon in 1872: Though I am
knownas the ounder o the Red Cross and theoriginator o the
Convention o Geneva, it
is to an English woman that all the honouris due. What inspired
me to go to Italyduring the war o 1859 was the work oMiss Florence
Nightingale in the Crimea.
Florence Nightingale was associatedwith the British Red Cross
rom itsinception. She encouraged ColonelLoyd-Lindsay and others to
set up theorganisation and remained in touch withits work until her
death in 1910. At theEighth International Conerence o RedCross
Societies held in London in 1907,delegates created a
commemorativeInternational Nightingale Medal to beawarded to ladies
distinguished in thenursing eld.
redcross.org.uk/museumandarchives
The ormer Red Cross chairman, a longserving volunteer and a
high-prolesupporter o the organisation were all namedin the Queens
New Years Honours list.
James Cochrane, who stepped down rom hisrole the end o 2012, was
appointed a CBE. JennyCampbell rom Argyll, a Red Cross volunteer
oralmost 60 years, was awarded a British EmpireMedal. Supporter
Margaret Johnson was appointedan OBE.
James was chairman o the Red Cross board otrustees, the
committee that sets the organisationsstrategy and goals, or six
years. In this time the RedCross increased its income and oered
services tomore people in crisis.
Jenny joined the organisation as a nurse in 1954.Her
volunteering has included teaching rst aid,playing a key role in
opening a Red Cross shop inLochgilphead, western Scotland, and
undraising orRed Cross Week.
Margaret is on the steering committee o the TianyCircle, a
network o women who use their skills andexperience to support the
Red Cross. She is chieexecutive o advertising company Leagas
Delaney,which worked or ree on aspects o the recent RedCross
awareness campaign.
Do you have a memory you would like to share withRed Cross
Lifereaders? [email protected]
Pegeen Hill MBE (91) signed up as a volunteer nurse withthe Red
Cross in wartime Bristol. Little did she realise thatthis would be
the start of a remarkable career spanning 70years and several
continents.I joined as a voluntary aid detachment (VAD) in 1941,
working atBristol Royal Inrmary. Sadly, just beore the end o the
war, myolder brother was killed in Italy. I was very upset and elt
I wantedto do something worthwhile. So, in 1945, I got a ull-time
positionin France with the Red Cross, looking or British
ex-internees.
A lot o these people were retired English governesses, whowere
interned when France was occupied. When they werereleased at the
end o the war, they went looking or their oldhomes, which were no
longer there. We drove all over France,searching or these people.
Many were living in appalling
conditions in the elds and in sheds. Our job was to make
surethey were clothed, ed and had medical and nancial
attention.
VE Day in ParisI remember being in Paris or VE day. It was
absolutely amazing.Everyone went mad, up and down the Champs-lyses.
I youwere British, people just came up and threw their arms
aroundyou. It was incredible.
Ater France, I was posted to Singapore Military Hospital, as
a
senior welare ocer. There was still ghting going on in the
junglein the late 1940s. There were a lot o very sick servicemen
and Ireally elt I was doing something useul. I did various social
workjobs: teaching handicrats, providing libraries and doing
outings.
Korean WarIn 1953, I was asked to help with the exchange
oCommonwealth prisoners o war (POWs) at a place called MunSan Ni in
Korea, during the confict. I was the only British womanat the
exchange point, meeting the POWs as they came through.I wrote to
every single amily.
Ater Korea, I went to Accra in west Arica and then on toCyprus
or two years, when the troubles were on.
Welfare in TauntonIn 1968, I went to the Red Cross headquarters
in Taunton, ascounty welare ocer. I was involved in training welare
ocersand volunteers, working with social services. I also
organisedholidays or people with disabilities. Ater I retired in
1982, untila couple o years ago, Ive been volunteering locally,
doingundraising collections, and so on.
Its been a challenge a lovely challenge. And I so admirethe
principles o the Red Cross. Its respected by everyone,everywhere.
It has been my amily or so long.
Dunant:I was inspiredby FlorenceNightingale
BLAST FROM THEPAST
PEGEEN HILL, Bristol
Obituaries
Claire Clark BEM dDecember, aged 91.Red Cross in Langpo1937, as
a nursing co 16. Claires many as organiser, secretaaider, welare
ocer were recognised by aCross Badges o Hoshe was awarded the
Medal. In 1979, Clairrole in arranging or aLangport group to
bconverted. She was until 1987 and continactive role until 2000
Dr James Fisher dDecember, aged 90.active member o thean
enthusiastic suppCross. He was a keeor over 20 years, opgardens at
Throop MBournemouth to raisRed Cross. He and hwere always
welcom
Cynthia Jolliffee di91. Cynthia retired tobeen centre
organisecentre, where she hatraining and undraisthe organising o
thescheme in the Woodmany years. She wamember rom 2001 u
Helena Robinson dNovember, aged 65Red Cross in 1977 aor 35
years. Based iHelena was a valuedrst aid volunteer. Shhours o
volunteeringand had a special abcasualties at ease whin distress.
She receservice badge and wvisited the Red CrosGeneva.
Photosonpage24:TBC.Photos
onpage25:iStock.
Freedom:Pegeen meetsprisoners of warin Korea, 1953
Awards New YearsHonours or Red Cross trio
