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FIREFIGHTER
FOCUS
COMPANY
SUPPORTS
QUEEN’S
DIAMOND
JUBILEE
CELEBRATIONS
Menin Gate
Fire & Rescue Services and Ypres
Ceremony
In 1928, prominent citizens in Ypres decided that
some way should be found to express the
gratitude of the Belgian nation towards those
who had died for its freedom and independence.
This became the daily sounding of the Last Post;
the privilege was given to buglers of the local
volunteer Fire Brigade. The first sounding of Last
Post took place on 1st July 1928
The Last Post Committee (now called the Last
Post Association) was established in 1929 and
four silver bugles were donated by the local
Branches of the Royal British Legion. Since then
with exceptions for the period of World War II it
has been played every night irrespective of
weather conditions. During the period of WWII
the Last Post was played at Brookwood Military
Cemetery where it continues today on the first
Sunday of every month.
The visit by the British Fire Brigades to Ypres
“Menin Gate” Memorial first began in about 1980
by a combined contingent from both Kent &
Surrey Fire Brigades to attend the Remembrance
Day Parade in YPRES. The reason for this initial
interest was due to the Chief Fire Officer of
Kent, Mr Reginald Doyle, mentioning to the Chief
Fire Officer of Surrey, Mr Alfred Butler, that he
was aware that the Firemen Buglers in YPRES
Fire Station had been playing the “Last Post”
every night of the week - almost since the end of
the 1st World War. It was therefore decided that
it would be a good idea for an honour guard and
combined contingent from Surrey & Kent to take
some buglers from the Grenadier Guards and
give the men of YPRES a night off.
Such has been the mutual respect and close ties
between the Belgian and British Fire-fighters,
that this annual homage has continued ever since
and indeed grown considerably. Not only do
Kent & Surrey still go over every year, but so do
many other UK Brigades including Wiltshire,
Devon & Somerset, West Yorkshire, Tyne &
Wear, West Midlands to name but a few. Some of
the British Brigades who now go take Bands as
well as their Standards.
Thanks to Gary Whitworth, former Kent CFO,
for assisting in the production of this article.
Past Master Sir Ken Knight is chairing a working
group of fire, industry and charity
representatives, who are organising a fire service
flotilla as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
River Pageant - one of the largest collection of
boats ever seen on the river Thames.
Led by London’s historic fire boat, the Massey
Shaw (pictured opposite), boats representing the
fire and rescue service during the Queen’s reign
will join up to 1000 other vessels in the pageant
on Saturday 3rd June 2012.
The Company is represented on the group by
Past Master Vivian Jones and Liveryman Kelly
Fairman. Sir Ken said; “the Pageant will be a
spectacular event. I am delighted that members
of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters have
been given the opportunity to play such a vital
part in showcasing the fire and rescue service in
this way.”
LONDON’S
LIVERY
COMPANIES
Their storied past and their living
present, as told in a splendid book by
Robert J Blackham of the Middle
Temple and Gray’s Inn, Barrister-at-
Law, Citizen and Liveryman of the
Needlemakers’ Company and the
Apothecaries’ Society, Clerk and
Liveryman of the Worshipful
Company of Glaziers. Published in
London by Sampson Low, Marston &
Co., Ltd. Printed by Furnell & Sons
Paulton (Somerset) and London.
Written between the two World
Wars it is now sadly out of print but
worth scouring the antiquarian
bookshops and libraries for a copy.
It’s a truly fascinating read and
contains many illustrations.