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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.

www.justgiving.com/Andrew-W-Rhodes

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.