NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH!

Past Master and Almoner Peter Cowland reports that, whilst on holiday in Josselin, France in June last year he became ill with what was later diagnosed to be angina. Luckily one of the friends he was staying with was a retired surgeon who “sorted him out”.  On his return to the UK he underwent double heart by-pass surgery at Harefield Hospital in November 2017.

Returning to France in April this year Peter and Lesley called in to see their friend Penny Gibbs at Josselin.  Penny, an ex-pat, plays a significant role in her local community, one of which is to give spoken English Language lessons.

Knowing Peter was visiting she “volunteered” him to spend an hour talking with a number of the local Brest Air Traffic Control team.   As it is a condition of air traffic control that radio conversations with aircraft are made in English, each team member must undergo regular English conversation practice in their role.

Peter was pleased to talk with them about the fire brigade family internationally and at the same time offer some good old “fire safety” advice.  At the end of the session he presented the team with a London Fire Brigade Retired Members plaque for their rest room.

On all our behalf ... he did end his conversation with a caveat that they “do NOT go on strike when we are away on holiday!”