When refugees arrived in their thousands from war-torn Vietnam in the Seventies, Joyce Comber was working as a volunteer for the Red Cross group in Borehamwood.

Pat Ingrams, who was centre organiser at the time, arranged for a family of six Vietnamese refugees to take up residence at a flat in the town, and tasked Mrs Comber and her fellow Red Cross volunteers with furnishing the property from scratch.

The family, which spanned three generations, had come to England with few possessions and unable to speak English.

So the group supported the family throughout their early days in the country and helped them adapt to living in a foreign environment.

Mrs Comber, 76, who has been a volunteer with the Borehamwood Red Cross for 33 years, remembers fondly how the family’s mother knitted scarves to keep out the cold.

The Red Cross started as a movement 145 years ago, operating worldwide to help victims of disaster.

The Borehamwood branch was formed in February 1914 and by the Seventies there were around 40 members on its register.

Today, the group are at the heart of the community providing first-aid adult and baby training courses to residents, as well as emergency support at events in the area, including school productions and the Elstree and Borehamwood town festival.

Last week Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall invited 7,500 Red Cross members to Buckingham Palace to mark 100 years since the organisation received its Royal Charter from Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

Peter Cowley, the current centre organiser for the Red Cross in Borehamwood, who joined the group 33 years ago was among the guests.

Mr Cowley, 54, chairs weekly meetings at Elstree Way Clinic every Thursday evening.

And, despite the group facing an uncertain future, after their meeting place was earmarked for demolition to make way for a commercial development, Mr Cowley is proud of the work the Borehamwood Red Cross do.

He said: “We're always there to help people when they think there's no one else to go to. Anywhere in the world, any level of crisis, you'll find us.”

m For more information on the Borehamwood Red Cross call 020 8386 7371.