58 / 189
Firefighters win Golf day and “whitewash”
Painters
This year the annual fixture against
the Worshipful Company of Painter
Stainers was held at the prestigious
Wildernesse Club, near Sevenoaks in
Kent. It was a beautiful sunny day
and the course was in perfect condi-
tion with very fast greens.
I am delighted to report that once again the Firefighters were
victorious, winning the match by one point, making three wins
in the last three years. The champion Firefighter was our Mas-
ter, Geoff Morgan, who recorded his second win in our annual
competition. After the match, we all enjoyed a fine carvery
lunch, at which we were joined by Terry Baldwin who was un-
able to play this year but was waiting for us in the club house
and characteristically enlivened proceedings.
I can confirm that we were able to secure the Wildernesse
again as our venue for next year’s match, which will be held on
Thursday 2
nd
September 2010.
2010 Events Diary
February 17th City of London Briefings
Innholders Hall
March 2nd
Massey Shaw Dinner
Apothecaries Hall
March 12th
Meet the Firefighters
Winchester House
(An opportunity to introduce new
members to the Company)
May 4th
City of London Briefings
Innholders Hall
July 2nd
Common Hall
Insurance Hall
Service of Re-Dedication
St Mary-le-Bow
Sept. 2nd
Combined Golf Day
Sept 25th
Fire Industry Charity Ball
Did You Know - The old Rickmansworth Fire Station?
Michael Leaver, one of our members noted this plaque in High Street
Rickmansworth and wondered about its history. The Editor replies:
Rickmansworth voluntary Fire Brigade was formed in 1870 with Thomas
Fellowes as its captain. He was also a brewery manager at Salter's (it ceased production in
1924). The Fire Station in the High Street was built at the expense of Dr Roderick
William Henderson, a local JP of Basing House. Dr Henderson was instrumental in setting
up this local fire brigade and establishing the town's first fire station at the west end of
the High Street. In 1925, Rickmansworth Fire Brigade was taken over by Rickmansworth
District Council and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ron Murray - Constable to the Worshipful Company of Firefighters
One of the first Liveryman that many of our guests and new members meet is our Constable, Ron
Murray. Ron’s duties are to assist the Master & Beadle at all our official functions and to meet
and greet all our guests and new members and families. He also supervises our Sentinels as Ushers
at our Church services.
Ron began his service life with the LFB at Southwark training school in 1964 and was posted to Kingsland Road
fire station in Hackney. He soon encountered his first major fire at Bishopsgate Goods Depot and in 1966 was in-
strumental in rescuing three people trapped in a blaze.
He later became a Ministry of Defence fireman hoping for a post in either Hong Kong, Belize or Singapore . Unfor-
tunately he was posted to Middle Wallop Army Air Corp! He was promoted to Leading Fireman in 1968.
Ron
went on to join the Essex Brigade as a retained Fireman for 15 years before running his own successful building
company. He joined our Company in April 1999 and in that year became a Freeman of the City of London. In 2002
he became a Liveryman and joined our membership committee before becoming a Court Assistant in 2006.