I hope that you have not felt that you have waited too long for my second blog, rather like the very patient Sherlock pictured at Dowgate recently, before he demonstrated his skills. He is remarkable and has his own book 'Sherlock: The Fire Brigade Dog.'

 

 

The last 4 months have flown by. July was busy starting with two visits to the Old Bailey, the first for the Sheriffs and Recorders Fund AGM in Court No. One surrounded by wires and monitors as the Old Bailey was in the middle of the London Bridge Inquests. The second included a visit to the cells – if the door was accidentally shut, we would have been there for the night, followed by dinner under the dome rather than the Judges dining room as there were so many of us.

 

 

A visit to the Palace of Westminster and a place in the gallery at the House of Lords arranged by the Frame-Work Knitters was an experience. Services at St Paul’s and a livery walk on a hot day visiting several City Churches, some tucked away, with lunch in St Lawrence Jewry next to the Guildhall completed July. August was quiet although I visited the Burns Camp at Grafham Water on one of the wettest days of the summer. Despite the weather the camp was humming with activity with bouncy castles in the gym alongside the climbing wall.The local firefighters set up the water slide which again was enthusiastically enjoyed. The rain also added to the experience.

 

The Livery Halls Walk, organised by the Environmental Cleaners, started at HQS Wellington, the only City Livery Company located in Westminster, founded in 1926, which is the first of the Modern Livery Companies. We ended outside Southwark Cathedral. Wearing robes we covered over 10 miles and visited several Livery Halls, some of which are never let. A very welcome lunch was held at the Armourers and Braziers Hall in Coleman Street. A visit to KFRS and the Museum in early September, and already reported, was an interesting day. The speaker at the St Florian’s Installation Dinner at the Saddlers Hall was three months after Common Hall. John Barradel, who is the Town Clerk, spoke, and an enjoyable evening was had by all.

 

Lectures seem to be an increasingly popular way of entertaining and meeting other Masters and Prime Wardens. The Fuellers Lord Ezra Memorial lecture was given by Tony Hayward, ex CEO of BP, who had us all wondering about the Future of Energy and the increasing use of battery powered electric cars. The visit to Dowgate Fire Station in October also included rescuing Fire Cadets from a crashed car by removing the roof. The inside of a tumbler dryer and the small part which can catch fire emphasised that, however small the electrical appliance or white goods are, it is worth completing the warranty card in the event of a recall. Other advice is never to charge up your laptop on a duvet as it can catch fire!! My last Blog had a Firefighting demonstration – PM Beech guessed the Naval connection which was HMS Westminster on their visit to exercise their Freedom of Westminster and mooring the ship at Thames Quay in Docklands. My final photograph is of the staircase at the Chateau of Blois which is covered in the Salamander!

 

 

November is a busy month. The coming week is busy in the run up to the Lord Mayor's Show and Remembrance Sunday. All to be included in the next Blog.

 

Frances Blois.Master November 2019