Salamander Archives

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City Dinner Event
This dinner was a major showcase for the launch of a 3
year programme from our Company to the education,
training and support of young people. It was held at the
Catlin Group offices in the City of London on 12th
November. All money raised goes directly to the
Charitable Trust Fund of the Worshipful Company of
Firefighters. Organisations which could benefit from
grants from the Trust were represented and spoke
briefly about their work.
The LFB Community Fire Cadets made a guard of
honour for the Master and honoured guests upon
entrance and during the opening speeches. Our top table
honoured guests included: James Cleverly AM -
Chairman, London Fire and Emergency Planning
Authority; Ron Dobson CBE QFSM FIFireE - London
Fire Commissioner; Paul Fuller, QFSM, President, Chief
Fire Officers Association; Ian Dyson - Assistant
Commissioner, City of London Police and Mrs Martina
Milburn CBE - CEO of the Prince's Trust
Our host Peter Holland, CBE OStJ QFSM FIFireE, HM
Government Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser, read a letter
that was from a young man who had attended a Prince's
Trust training programme. This was a very moving
account of his journey from being a very lonely and
antisocial person to becoming a valuable member of
society. This move was made possible with his
involvement with the Prince's Trust and he has stayed in
touch to become a mentor for other participants.
Cassandra Swan gave an overview of the work
undertaken by the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
on youth engagement programmes. The dramatic
changes seen in the young men and women could be
seen by all those involved. Josiah Barker gave his own
personal experiences and how the programme has
changed his life.
More information can be found at .
Dave Gill, from the London Fire Brigade Crossfire team
gave a very good account and demonstration of the
work that the Crossfire team undertakes at primary
schools.
The Crossfire team has developed a programme for
schoolchildren, to support citizenship programmes
within schools. This one-day programme explores
decision making, choices and consequences through real-
life re-enactments of critical incidents using film,
workshops and enactments to increase their awareness
of safety in the home and the community.
Paul Fuller explained the work of the Children's Burns
Trust. The Trust receive no government funding and are
only able to continue the work they do as a result of
their own fundraising efforts administered by their small
(1.5 person) full-time team.
More information can be found at
After-dinner entertainment was provided by the very
talented singers from Tring Theatre School who
performed some wonderful songs.
More images can be found on the WCoFF website.