The British Red Cross

To many locals, the Red Cross will bring up black and white images of the SS Vega delivering Red Cross parcels to islanders desperately in need of aid during the occupation in 1944 and it is the 80th anniversary of that momentous occasion. 

The Red Cross had been invited to Guernsey by the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission where they are celebrating the British Red Cross' long-standing relationship with Guernsey throughout history with a series of events.

The Lieutenant-Governor held a reception at Government House for senior executives of the British Red Cross to meet with guests invited to hear about the work of the Red Cross and to serve as a reminder of how the Red Cross continues to be a major provider of humanitarian aid across the world. Senior Executive Richard Blewitt spoke to the gathering about the places where aid has most recently been given and people were visibly shocked to hear they had been at the forefront of help for 360 emergency situation in the past year. 

They will continue with a networking event at Les Cotils with a talk from Paul Le Pelley from the Occupation Society and also some of their commissioners and a display of artefacts from Guernsey Museums and the Occupation Museum.