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NEW
STANDARD
GIRDLERS HALL
On the 29th June, at the Fire Service Chapel at
Moreton-in-Marsh Gloucestershire, members of
the Company attended a Service to mark the
placing of the Worshipful Company of
Firefighters’ Standard in the Fire Service College
Chapel.
With the words ...
... the Master and Colonel the Rev Canon Peter
Mortimer MBE, OStJ, TD, Chaplain to the
Firefighters’ Memorial Trust (FMT) began the
Drumhead Ceremony to bless the new
Worshipful Company of Firefighters’ Standard.
This was done at the FMT Annual Service of
Thanksgiving at the National Memorial
Arboretum on 13th May 2012.
The standard, manufactured for us by Flag
makers of Chesham in Buckinghamshire, is one
of a pair. The identical standards each have a
special purpose. One will now be on permanent
display at the Fire Service College following the
service, whilst the other will be used at future
ceremonial events. Following the service a
guided tour was given of the Fire Service heritage
collection and the main buildings of the college -
this was followed by a buffet luncheon.
Our second Standard received its own blessing
during our post Common Hall Service of
Dedication on 6 July, something which our
Chaplain Rev George Bush agreed to perform on
our behalf.
We are grateful to the Band of the West Midlands
Fire Service for setting up the Drumhead, to Rev
Peter for bidding the blessing and to Alan Smith
of the Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Ceremonial Team for being our first ever
Standard Bearer.
We were all very proud to see our new standard
marched off at the head of the Parade once the
FMT service had ended.
Family affair? .. of course it is... the Rev Peter
Mortimer is also a Liveryman of our Company!
In 1431 Andrew Hunt bequeathed the Company
buildings and land which are substantially the site
of the present Hall. Hunt's buildings became the
Company's Hall, which was developed and
improved over the years. In common with many
other livery halls, this building was destroyed in
the Great Fire of 1666. The replacement, built in
1681 at a cost of some £1,500, was destroyed by
enemy action in 1940, and rebuilt in 1961. In
2006, the Company decided to refurbish the Hall
and to add a further floor. Work on this project
started straight after Election Day 2007 and was
completed in May 2008. The Hall contains a
number of items precious to the Company,
including the Bell Carpet, commissioned by Past
Master Robert Bell (a prominent member of the
East India Company) in 1630, woven in Lahore
and presented in 1634.
Brigadier (Retired) I D O Rees, Clerk to the
Girdlers' Company contacted our clerk Sir Martin
Bonham, asking whether we, the WCoFF, could
perhaps provide some advice on the fire
protection of the wonderful Girdlers Hall and in
particular its great treasure of the Bell carpet, we
were only happy to oblige. They were looking at
ways in which we might minimise the risk of fire
damage to their 17th Century Carpet in
particular (and the Hall in general), and had been
impressed by a water mist system which the Fire
Service had recommended to them. The only
problem is that it was extremely expensive, and
he wondered whether any members might be
able to advise us on suitable alternative
approaches. They were not really interested in
standard sprinkler systems, owing to the
collateral damage they can cause.
Both Robert Farquhar (ex Kidde Fire Protection)
and Stuart Mc Ewan, Director of 4sight Risk
Management, discussed the options available and
Stuart visited the Hall to meet with Brigadier
Rees to discuss the options. Stuart advised a
formal Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) for the
premises as a whole. This is currently being
taken on board by the Worshipful Company of
Girdlers.
“Reverend Sir, on behalf of the Worshipful Company
of Firefighters we ask you to bid God's blessing on
this Standard”
If Members would like to see the Hall
and the beautiful carpet, it is worth
booking for the St. Florian's
Installation banquet, which this year is
to be held at The Girdlers's Hall on
the 10th October.