17 / 189
3
Vivian T.
Jones
has been
a member of
the
Worshipful Company of
Firefighters
since
its
inception
and
has been
active
in
the
Fire
Industry
for 40
years.
He
is Managing Director of Vimpex Ltd,
a
company
he
founded 11
years
ago. Viv
is
also
a
member of
the British
Fire Protection
Systems
Association
sitting on
their
Fire Detection
and
Alarms Executive Committee.
James was born
in 1951
in Essex. He
studied
Modern Languages
and
subsequently
spent
a
year
Round-the-World Yacht Race during which
he
as
a VSO
volunteer
in
French West Africa.
travelled
some 37,000
nautical miles,
visited 17
Following
an
early
career with
the Bank of
countries
in what
amounted
to
a
life-changing
London
and
South America, which
gave
him
his
experience. His boat
took
third place out of
first
experience with
the City of London,
James
seven
competing
in
the
race.
joined Helmets Ltd
in 1973
and
this was when
he
Today, Alan
retains
his passion
for
sailing,
and
came
into
contact with
the
fire
service.
enjoys walking,
trekking,
glider
flying
and DIY,
Over
the
next
few
years,
he
rose
to
Sales
especially working with wood.
He mentors
Director of Helmets Ltd
and
subsequently
Sales
children
in Kent
schools
and
assists
students
at
and Marketing Director of
Siebe Gorman
and Co
Preparation-for-Work workshops
through
a
local
Ltd. During
these
years
James
travelled
Business
and Education Partnership Enterprise.
extensively
and
conducted business
negotiations
He
also
raises
funds
for
the National Deaf
in more
than 40
countries. He was
subsequently
Childrens'
Society, mainly by
giving
talks
to
promoted
to
run
two
companies within
Siebe plc
groups
and
clubs
about
his
sailing
and
trekking
(now
Invensys),
and
later
served
as Managing
experiences.
Director
and Divisional Managing Director within
Since
his
association with
the Guild of
Firefighters
Westland
and Vosper Thornycroft, before
leading
some
twelve
years
ago, Alan was
admitted
to
the
the Management Buy-In of
a
group of
engineering
Freedom of
the Company of
Firefighters
in 1995,
companies.
In 2001,
he
fulfilled
a
lifelong
elected
to
the Court of Assistants
in 1996,
ambition
to move
to
the
voluntary
sector,
and
admitted
to
the
Freedom of
the City
in 1998,
has been
the Director of
the Historic Churches
clothed
in
the Livery of
the Worshipful Company
Preservation Trust
since
then.
of
Firefighters
in 2001,
elected Under Warden
in
James became
a
freeman of
the Leathersellers'
2002
and Master
in 2005.
Company
in 1973,
and
a
liveryman
in 1976. He
Alan
has
a daughter
Johanna,
a
son David,
is
served
as
Fourth Warden of
that Company
in
divorced
and partnered by Christine.
1997/98
and
joins
their Court
in December
this
year.
James was
a
founder member of
the
Firefighters' Company,
and
joined
the Court
in
Martin Coffey was born
in 1948,
and
served
as
a
2002. He
is
a Trustee of
the
Firefighters
professional
firefighter
in
the London
Fire
Memorial Charitable Trust,
a
governor of
Brigade
for over 30
years, working
in many parts
Prendergast
School
in Lewisham
and
is
heavily
of
the Greater London
area.
For
the
last
five
involved with
his
local
church.
years of
his
career
he
served
as
the Deputy Chief
James
remarried
in 1995,
and
now
lives with
his
Fire Officer
and Director of Operations. During
wife
Janie
and daughter Katie,
aged 5,
in
his
career
he
attended
and
took
charge of many
Hampshire. He
also
has
two
sons,
Jonathan
and
major
incidents
including
IRA
terrorist bombings,
Marcus,
aged 23
and 20. His
interests
include
fires
and
rail disasters.
sailing,
skiing
and
reading
and
at
the
end of
this
As
a
result of
his operational
experience
he was
year,
he will be
retiring
from
full
time
invited
to
a
number of
countries
to
give
lectures
employment
in order
to
focus more
energy on
on planning
for major
incidents dealing
especially
his
growing
range of
charitable
activities,
with
issues
concerning
command
and
control.
In
including
his
involvement with
the
Firefighters'
1999
he was
awarded
the OBE
for
his work on
Company.
the
subject of
health
and
safety
in
the
fire
service
and
retired
from
the London
Fire Brigade
in
2000.
Vivian T.
Jones, Renter Warden
2005/6
James Blott, Under Warden
2005/6
Martin Coffey, OBE, Upper Warden
2005/6
Martin Coffey, OBE, Upper Warden
Vivian T.
Jones, Renter Warden
James Blott, Under Warden