Page 115 - Archived Back Issues

NEW STANDARD
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 ...
“Reverend Sir, on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters we ask you to bid God's blessing on this Standard”
... 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!
GIRDLERS HALL
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.
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.
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