We put the Land Rover Defender converted for the Red Cross to attend disaster sites through its paces

Life-saving Red Cross volunteers are being trained to drive a specially-adapted royal Land Rover Defender rescue vehicle created to celebrate the late Queen’s 70 years of service.

And MailOnline and This is Money has joined them for an exclusive day of on and off-road driving at a renowned 4×4 training centre as they learned how to handle the rough-riding vehicle and its bespoke hi-tech kit – including a built in kettle to make stress-busting cups of tea for shaken-up survivors.

The converted Defender 130 was commissioned by Jaguar Land Rover to celebrate the late monarch’s Platinum Jubilee and was donated to the British Red Cross of which Her Majesty was a patron and which, along with Land Rover, hold royal warrants.

The Red Cross Emergency Response volunteers support people across the UK – ranging from individual house fires to flooding, gas explosions, storms and major incidents in remote locations.

Disaster-ready Defender: This is the specially-adapted Land Rover provided to the Red Cross by the British car maker to help its team of volunteers attend disasters and other incidents. We’ve taken to the wheel to see what it’s like

This vehicle we drove is entering active service in North Wales and is to help volunteers aid people in difficult to reach areas such as the Snowdonia mountain range, Llyn Peninsula and Isle of Anglesey.

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, oversaw the handover of the 4×4 to the British Red Cross at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May ahead of its active service.

To complement its extreme off-road capability, the vehicle has also been fitted with the latest rescue gadgets to boost its life-saving support work. 

This includes its own roof-top enhanced 4G-connected antenna to provide a strong signal whatever the location, integrated phone, VHF radio for communications, upgraded telematics system with GPS tracking and a solar power system on the roof that can charge an auxillary battery when the engine is not running.

Add to that two rechargeable torches, a pair of internal double 230v plug sockets and external waterproof mains input socket, and eight USB sockets.

And in a charmingly British twist, the new Red Cross 4×4 also comes equipped with its own hot-water boiler just inside the rear hatch – so that teams can supply rescued people – possibly in shock – with a much-needed cup of tea. 

‘Whatever the emergency, a welcoming cup of tea never goes amiss,’ said a spokesman.

Will it fit in my garage? Red Cross Land Rover Defender

Model: Land Rover Defender 130 P400

Seats: 5

Length: 5,358mm

Width: 2,008mm (door mirrors folded)

Height: 1,970mm

Wheelbase: 3,022mm

Weight: 2507kg (unladen)

Engine: 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder petrol

Power: 400 horsepower

Gears: 8-speed automatic

Top speed: 118.7mph

0-60mph: 6.4 seconds

MPG: 24.8mpg

CO2: 258g/km

Turning circle: 12.84m (kerb to kerb)

Ground clearance: 290mm

Maximum wading depth: 900mm

Boot capacity: Seats up 1,329 litres, seats down: 2,516 litres

Maximum roof load: Static 300kg, dynamic 168kg

Maximum towing weight: 3,000kg

Maximum payload: Up to 800kg (5 seats)

EMERGENCY RESCUE FEATURES:

 Roof area:

4G-connected mobile phone antenna

Solar power panels

Cabin:

BRC issued 12V VHF radio and mic

Built in phone

Telematics system including Mobile Data Terminal (window mounted)

Boot area:

Auxiliary battery

Fitted drawer system (with dividers)

Water boiler (including for tea)

2 x rechargeable torches (264 Lumens)

2 x double 230v sockets

8 x USB sockets (boot x4), second row(x2) and driver/passenger area (x2)

Wipe clean anti-bacterial seat covers (Front and back)

Exterior

External waterproof mains input socket (Right rear side)

Explorer Pack – roof rack, front and rear mud flaps, side mounted gear carrier, side-ladder

For the training session, we joined a dozen volunteers for a quick briefing and hands-on practical driving instruction at the Land Rover Experience Centre set in 5,000 acres of Herefordshire countryside at Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury and the Malvern Hills.

After the talk-through we took the specially-specced all-white Defender 130 for a drive around the site and the neighbouring countryside, turning heads as we went thanks to the classic neutral colour and the brightly contrasting protected Red Cross symbol and writing on the side.

But, as there was only one of them, we were then joined by the rest of the Red Cross team in using a fleet of slightly smaller Defender 110s to do, under the watchful eye and guidance of a fully trained and experienced instructor, some serious off-roading – from negotiating deep muddy ruts to driving through water obstacles and navigating up and down very steep and slippery inclines.

The Defender 130 is a serious piece of kit powered by 400 horsepower, 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine linked to an eight speed automatic gearbox. On the road it’ll sprint rapidly from 0-to-60mph in just 6.4 seconds up to a top speed of 118.7mph

Ray Massey joined a dozen Red Cross volunteers for a hands-on practical driving session in the vehicle at the Land Rover Experience Centre set in 5,000 acres of Herefordshire countryside at Eastnor Castle

This vehicle we drove is entering active service in North Wales and is to help volunteers aid people in difficult to reach areas such as the Snowdonia mountain range, Llyn Peninsula and Isle of Anglesey

Lead instructor Martin Gregory who, with nearly a quarter of a century of tutoring under his belt accompanied us, said: ‘The only difference is the bit on the back – the overhang. Everything else is the same.’

The Defender 130 is a serious piece of kit powered by 400 horsepower, 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine linked to an eight speed automatic gearbox. 

On the road it’ll sprint rapidly from 0-to-60mph in just 6.4 seconds  up to a top speed of 118.7mph.

The Defender has intelligent four-wheel drive that switches seamlessly between two- and all-wheel drive as needed, though other than cruising on motorways it will be mainly operate with the latter in the hands of the Red Cross.

Setting the system to all terrain control is particularly handy, said lead instructor Martin Gregory: ‘If you are feeling lazy this is your off-road cruise control’, he told us.

‘It will control the throttle as well as the brake. I use it all the time!’

On the roof is an enhanced 4G-connected antenna to provide a strong signal whatever the location and a solar power system to charge an auxillary battery when the engine is not running

As well as a built in phone, the Defender also gets VHF radio for communications and upgraded telematics system with GPS tracking

More features include two rechargeable torches, a pair of internal double 230v plug sockets and external waterproof mains input socket, and eight USB sockets

In a charmingly British twist, the new Red Cross 4×4’s most notable feature of all is its own hot-water boiler just inside the rear hatch. This is primarily to supply rescued people – possibly in shock – with a much-needed cup of tea

Our detailed briefing covered climbing and descending steep hills, tackling (or best avoiding) side slopes, completing water crossings, negotiating deep ruts and muddy ditches, checking where the wheels are pointing, steering positions and monitoring ground clearance.

Suffice to say, if the British Red Cross needs a rugged ally to deal with emergencies, the Land Rover Defender provides it in spades.

British Red Cross Emergency Response volunteers support people across the UK – ranging from individual house fires to localised flooding, gas explosions, storms and major incidents.

Working with local emergency services such as police, fire and ambulance, responders offer both practical and emotional support.

That can include: visiting potentially vulnerable people affected by an emergency; delivering food and hygiene packs; providing hot drinks, blankets, torches and other essentials.

They also set up rest centres for people evacuated from their homes; carry out door-to-door or telephone welfare checks; set up emergency telephone helplines; provide support to help survivors deal deeply distressing incidents; and help people contact family, friends, insurers, local authorities and other agencies following an emergency.

The British Red Cross said: ‘Our volunteers have supported the public in the aftermath of events including the Manchester Arena bombing, London Bridge attack, the Grenfell Tower disaster and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Who are the British Red Cross Volunteers? 

Joanne Manning, 52, from Ellesmere in Shropshire and Mark Jones, 53, from Holywell in Flintshire were two of the Red Cross volunteers taking part in the training course on the same day we visited

The dozen volunteers on our training course proved a diverse group from all sorts of backgrounds – from retired professionals with time on their hands who wanted to put something back into society, to working people with a skill that lends itself to the charitable work.

Joanne Manning, 52, from Ellesmere in Shropshire is head of project management for a major food group and says her planning skills work well with her Red Cross.

The 52-year-old grandmother with three grown-up step-children said: ‘I’m getting towards retirement age so I want to give something back. I’m a very organised, practical person. I saw the advert and thought ‘That’s right up my street.’

She added: ‘We provide practical as well as emotional and moral support for people caught up in a crisis. My first one was a house fire.

‘The new Defender cones with a lot of capability.’

Mark Jones, 53, from Holywell in Flintshire who retired as a chef and now works in the funeral industry and has been a volunteer for three and a half years, now as a lead, said: ‘My late father was in the North Wales police for 27 years. It’s my tribute to him.’

‘We support fire’ and rescue teams and talk to crews. It’s very rewarding. And it helps vulnerable people at a difficult and distressing time.