Salamander Issue 1

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Page 12
THE SALAMANDER | AUGUST 2016
Master Firefighter Ronald Murray took his
rightful place in the “Number One” seat of a
beautifully restored fire engine at the Lord
Mayor’s Show on 14 November 2015.
The fire engine, a 1956 Kommer Carrier Water
Tender, which for many years protected the
village of Crowborough in East Sussex, is the
property of Upper Warden Bruce Hoad who
brought it into London especially for the event.
The Master was accompanied by the Wardens
and a number of his Liverymen during the show,
all waving enthusiastically to the thousands
of stoic people who lined the 3 mile route to
watch the parade and welcome in the new Lord
Mayor.
THE HISTORY
In 1215 the King was persuaded to issue a
Royal Charter that allowed the City of London to
elect its own Mayor. We presume that he gave
his blessing to the commune in order to keep
the City on his side, but there was an important
condition. Every year the newly elected Mayor
must leave the safety of the City, travel upriver
to the small town of Westminster and swear
loyalty to the Crown. The Lord Mayor has
now made that journey for 800 years, despite
plagues and fires and countless wars, and
pledged his (and her) loyalty to 34 kings and
queens of England.
Past Master Peter Cowland with his daughter Abigail
who is wearing her grandfather’s fire kit.
Firefighters participate in the Lord Mayor’s Show 2015
THE LORD MAYOR’S SHOW 2015
Jeff Gilbert / Alamy Stock Photo
The Lord Mayor’s Show 2016 will be held on
Saturday 12th November starting at 11am.
More information is available at: