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6
THE MASSEY
SHAW DELAYS
HER RETURN
TO LONDON
ANNUAL
SERVICE OF
THANKSGIVING
One of the main charities that the WCoFF
charitable Trust has been supporting for many
years has been the restoration of the Fireboat
“The Massey Shaw”
The Massey Shaw is one of London's unsung
heroes on the Thames. Built in 1935, the fireboat
served the London Fire Brigade for many years
and also took part in the WWII 'Operation
Dynamo' to rescue soldiers from the beaches at
Dunkirk. It ferried 500 men to the warships and
bought over 100 men back to England.
In late March 2012, after many months of
planning, the Massey Shaw was lifted out of the
water and transported by road overnight to
Gloucester Dock to complete her restoration
after 5 years of dedicated work by many
volunteers and with later support of lottery
funding.
However, delays to the final restoration work
meant that the original plan to sail the Massey
Shaw back to St. Catherine's Dock had to be put
off. The boat will be transported now by road to
Denton Wharf in London.
The boat will make its first sailing appearance at
the Great River Race at Richmond on 7th
September and will then sail to St. Catherine's
Dock on September 8th.
The Firefighters Memorial Trust invited members
and their guests to attend the Annual Service of
Thanksgiving at the Firefighters Monument on
Sunday 12th May 2012. This was held at the
National Memorial Arboretum.
The open air Service was conducted by Canon
Peter Mortimer MBE TD (Chaplain to the Trust).
Michael Harper laid a wreath during the service.
Upper Warden Beryl Jeffrey with Canon Peter
Mortimer for the dedication of four newly installed
granite benches, donated by the Worshipful
Company of Firefighters Charitable Trust.
Michael Harper and Past Master Peter Cowland
enjoy a moment on the seat.
(pictures courtesy of the Firefighters Memorial
Trust)
‘SAVED’
In 2000 when John Lawrence MBE
was Master, he presented to the
Company a number of
commemorative plates to mark the
Millennium.
Many members have one and know
well the famous picture shown,
‘Saved’ by Charles Vigor. Most too
will know something of the history
of this painting which hangs in The
Fire Service College.
A few of the plates themselves
have been extremely well received
following contributions by guests to
special events, most recently the
annual Fire Lectures. The
realisation that an American
recipient, Jim Shannon, President of
the National Fire Protection
Association, would know little or
nothing of the painting’s origins, has
prompted another PM Alan Wells
to produce a note to accompany
future presentations. It is an A5
page and outlines the events that
may have influenced the painting
and some background of the artist.
Future recipients of such
presentations will therefore have a
greater knowledge of the history of
their gift.
For members who own one of
these plates, an email to our Clerk,
Martin Bonham, or PM Alan Wells
will secure you a copy of the note
which fits comfortably into the
boxes that house them.