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FIREFIGHTER
MEMBERS NEWS
Obituary - Norman Rose QFSM
Obituary - Court Assistant Ronald
Leslie Fisher
Great South Run
Peter Cowland, Master
Andrew Rhodes
Norman Rose passed away quietly at St Barnabas
Hospice Worthing on Tuesday 6th September
2011 after a long battle with cancer.
Norman was born in Croydon on 24th April
1925 and was one of seven children. When he
left school he joined the Royal Navy serving in
the latter years of the Second World War.
After the war he became a fireman on the
railways then joined the London Fire Brigade, as
it was known then, progressing steadily through
the ranks, finally achieving the office of Assistant
Chief at Lambeth Fire Station.
Towards the end of his service, Norman was
awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal and
shortly after, awarded another medal for bravery
whilst attending a large fire at Mitcham in Surrey.
After 30 years service he retired to Rustington in
Sussex. Ever active, he became a JP and served
10 years on the bench
Following the loss of his wife Doris in 1992,
Norman filled much of his time being a very
active Freemason. “Storming Norman” as many
of us called him, was a wonderful raconteur,
telling numerous stories often extensively
embellished keeping us amused over many a
year. A larger than life individual with a larger
than life heart.
Norman was admitted as a Freeman of the
Worshipful Company of Firefighters on 12th
February 2004, became a Freeman of the City of
London on 11th May 2004 and a Liveryman on
2nd July the same year.
Norman leaves behind 5 children, 9
grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He will
be sadly missed by all.
We were all deeply saddened to hear of the
death of our dear friend and Court Assistant
Ronald Fisher who passed away on 2nd October
following a fairly long illness. Despite this he
maintained his love and interest in the Company
to the very last.
Ron served for over 30 years in the London Fire
Brigade rising to the rank of Divisional Officer in
their “B” Division. This saw him working in some
of the most challenging parts of south London
and taking control of many hazardous incidents.
In addition to the Fire Brigades Long Service and
Conduct Medal, during his career he also
received a Royal Humane Society Award for
saving the life of a child. His firefighters liked the
way that he led from the front. A formidable
character, as “the Governor” he was known to
be always firm but fair.
Ron Fisher supported our Company and its
events from its very inception as a Guild in 1988,
serving on our Court of Assistants for many
years. He was at our Foundation Dinner at the
Stationers' Hall on the 14th July 1989. He
became a Member of The Guild in June 1989,
received Freedom of the Company in July 1998
and, along with a number of others, become a
Freeman of the City of London on 23rd October
2001. This was the date on which the Court of
Aldermen of the City of London granted the
Company Livery status. It has only been in the
last year or so that with failing health he has been
unable to attend as many events as he would
usually do but in my role as Master I felt very
honoured that he made a special effort to attend
Common Hall in July.
His last outing with us was a luncheon trip in
August when a number of his friends wheeled
him to his local in New Malden for a “pint and a
wad”. It was a super and very memorable day.
Ron has been a credit to this Company, an
example to all, and will be sadly missed.
This year on 30th October I took part in the
Bupa Great South Run 2011 to raise money for
Macmillan Cancer Support and appreciate your
support for that effort. As many of you know my
father David Rhodes died of Cancer in 2008 and
was a great supporter of the Macmillan Charity
and their nurses provided great assistance to our
family. This is not my first time running in the
Great Run series. I have completed 4 Great
North Runs raising £1500 for the Kevin Clough
fund and twice in the Great South Run raising
£600 for The Eve Appeal ovarian cancer charity
in memory of my God daughter Hannah. The
Great South Run is a 10 mile run that takes place
in Portsmouth. I have raised £405 for the charity
which I am really pleased with and I know that
will greatly assist the charity. I would like to thank
those members of the company who kindly
contributed to this effort should anyone else wish
to do so they can still place a donation on my Just
Giving Page - see opposite.
I know many of you get numerous requests for
charitable donations, rest assured that Just Giving
sends your donation straight to Macmillan
Cancer Support and automatically reclaims Gift
Aid if you're a UK taxpayer, so your donation is
worth even more. I hope you'll join me in
supporting Macmillan Cancer Support.
Thank you so very much -
4
It's still easy to donate online with a credit or
debit card - just go to my Just Giving page at
the link below even the smallest donation of
just £1 will assist the charity in the work they
do.
Members of the company joined
liveryman Donald Bond at the
recent funeral of Rose Bond and
learned of her selfless commitment
as a house mother to so many
under-privileged children.