MEMBERS of the Red Cross have provided valuable assistance to thousands of people in Oxfordshire over the years.
Much of that has been made possible by the goodwill of volunteers and other wellwishers providing the necessary help, money and equipment.
Red Cross cadets at Wallingford took delivery of the eight-foot dinghy in Picture 1 in 1974. In fact, they were the third owners, yet the boat was still brand new.
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The fibreglass craft was top prize in a draw at Wallingford Boat Show, but the winner asked for it to be raffled again. Winner No 2 was Mary Perceval, of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.
She had no interest in boating and as a supporter of the Red Cross, she handed it to the cadets, who planned to use it as a first-aid post on the Thames.
Cadets William Edwards and Penny Williams are seen giving it a ‘dry run’.
Yvonne Clarke, director of the Junior Red Cross in Jamaica, in Picture 2, was guest of honour at a Red Cross cadet training weekend at Hill End Camp at Farmoor in 1972.
A new £10,000 ambulance was handed to Kidlington Red Cross in 1984 by Kidlington Round Table thanks to a sponsored motorcycle ride, proceeds from a trade exhibition and donations.
Round Table chairman Richard Kelly is seen handing the cheque to Mary Candey, who chaired Kidlington Red Cross. The money had been raised in just eight months.
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The ambulance, which seated four in wheelchairs and eight other people, was to be used by the village Red Cross Disabled Club and by other groups.
The four from Wantage in Picture 4 – left to right, Mark Walker, Jenny Telling, Peter Male and Jason Osborne - had won a competition in Oxford for young first aiders.
It involved dealing with mock injuries, including broken bones and burns, and being tested on home and road safety.
Picture 5 was taken at another first aid competition, this time at Burford School, where the host team came out victorious against rival schools from Oxford, Abingdon, Didcot and Witney.
The winners with their certificates were, left to right, Melanie Parker, Duncan Fenton, Emma Gerrard and Tania Rose.
The Oxford Mail reported: “Burford School looked more like a battleground as bandaged and bloody casualties called out for emergency first aid.” The ‘injuries’ were, thankfully, all fake.
Picture 6 was taken at the Oxfordshire Red Cross medical loan store where wheelchairs and other equipment were stored ready to be despatched to those in need. On hand ready to help in 1985 were, left to right, Audrey Hereford, Winifred Brown, Janet Renwick and Roy Morgan.
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About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.
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