He was a Swiss philanthropist who founded the movement in response to observing appalling suffering and distress during the Battle of Solerino (1859).

He refined his ideas in two significant ways. Firstly he proposed the establishment of an international body to aid the wounded in times of war whose members should be regarded as non-combatants – an idea that was realised at the Geneva Convention of 1864 (16 European governments signed up to this).

The personnel were distinguished by a red Geneva Cross on a white ground.

Secondly, Dunant envisaged the presence of voluntary aid societies in every country, their members trained to offer help to the war wounded and disabled. These societies became collectively the Red Cross and the British Red Cross Society was formed in 1870.

The organisation has used its privileged position to help all combatants. During the Second World War it had the sole responsibility for sending parcels to prisoner of war camps.
In the Vietnam conflict, members used their impartial status to help all concerned.

Increasingly the organisation has become involved with peacetime disasters – floods, earthquakes, epidemics, famines, and major accidents. Red Cross workers have featured prominently wherever and whenever the need arises across the world.

In 2009 the Red Cross has been celebrating 100 years of service in Oxfordshire.

The county branch emerged out of the Oxford Women's Ambulance Society, whose first meeting was held at County Hall, Oxford, on September 29, 1909.

Subsequently, women-only detachments were formed, each of which had to have four cooks. It was then the task of the Lady Superintendent to ensure that these cooks either "possessed or could acquire the necessary skills in cooking".

During the special Red Cross day in May 1978, Michael Page (Oxfordshire's Red Cross Director) remarked 'it is a great tribute to the Red Cross that it is still meeting its original objective of bringing relief to those injured in war'. However he viewed as of equal importance the following:
First aid cover at public events.
Helping with first aid training courses.
Running holidays and clubs for the disabled.
The Banbury detachment had been formed in 1913.

Two years later the town had a hospital in West Street, Grimsbury, which came to be known as the Red Cross Auxiliary hospital.
For the remainder of the First World War the nurses collected wounded soldiers from Banbury's GWR station and set up a refreshment facility there.

In about 1919, Banbury benefited from the acquisition of an ambulance (Chipping Norton also got one).

By 1940, Bicester (two) and Banbury (one) had three of the county's eight Red Cross Auxiliary hospitals/convalescent homes to be established.

Along with members of St John, Red Cross workers helped to prepare quarterly food parcels for next of kin of prisoners of war or collected quantities of woollen garments for the prisoners.

Immediately post-war, clinics for the after care of civilian patients were set up in Banbury and Chipping Norton.

The concept of a Banbury Centre for the Red Cross organisation grew out of a First Aid Group formed at Northern Aluminium in 1944.
Fred Hone and Frank Roussell were instrumental in developing this into a Red Cross First Aid group known as the Banbury Centre.

This has had many homes over the years, namely the TOC H hut in the Globe yard in Calthorpe Street, the Railway Mission hut close to Merton Street railway station, accommodation at the Elms in the Oxford Road and now most recently (since 2001) space in Town Centre House on the corner of the Warwick Road.

Services from here are:
Loans of equipment such as wheelchairs
Use of a Banbury-based vehicle for supporting day centres
Help with recuperation after periods in hospital
First aid cover at events
Running training courses.

The role of the Red Cross within places of work and entertainment has been of the utmost importance.

Roger Solesbury recalls weekly visits to the Spencer factory in Britannia Road and first aid cover at the Horse Fair cinema when it was called the Essoldo.

The latter carried the obvious advantage of free viewing of some notable films such as the Guns of Navarone.

Conversation with Mike Graham has revealed the degree of good-natured competition that existed between St John Ambulance and the Red Cross.
In recognition of this, a trophy was made available, which was known as the Town Shield.

Much fundraising by members supports the work, which takes place at car boot and plant sales, coffee mornings, the open garden scheme, market stalls and the Charities bazaar at the town hall.

Since the 1970s increasing professionalism has transformed support to hospital services, most notably in the shape of ambulance groups.

However Red Cross supporters remain dedicated to the name and traditions of the movement's founder to serve all wherever and whenever the need arises.

Occasions such as Mayor's Sunday and Armistice Day feature members on parade taking their place with the other uniformed organisations.
To Margaret Tyrell and her voluntary enthusiasts, a very happy and well-earned anniversary.

- My thanks to the Banbury Red Cross detachment and especially Margaret Tyrell, Roger Solesbury and Mike Graham for their help with this article.

HERE COME THE GIRLS: Red Cross nurses provide refreshments for service personnel at the GWR Railway Station in Banbury and, below, Violet Timms (Solesbury) as Florence Nightingale in Banbury Carnival