Page 158 - Archived Back Issues

FROM THE MASTER'S DESK
COMPANY NEWS
25th Anniversary Presentation
Note from Bryan Spearman, Upper Warden
It had been the intention to make a small presentation to the Father of the Company on the 25th Celebration River Boat trip after Common Hall last July. Unfortunately Gerry Clarkson's health precluded any such opportunity and for numerous reasons it was not possible to do anything until close to the end of 2013 between Christmas and the New Year.
Somewhat less formally than originally intended, Past Master Frank David and Upper Warden Bryan Spearman visited Gerry and his delightful wife, Rose. Following lunch near their home in Charing, Frank and Bryan presented them with a set of Company Commemorative Glasses, fulfilling the desire to mark the 25th Year.
As can be seen from the photograph it was a most enjoyable and casual affair enjoyed by all.
Post script : The Father of the Company has asked the Company Clerk, Sir Martin Bonham Bt., to circulate a letter he had sent to the Master of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters, thanking the Company for the kind and thoughtful presentation made to him by Past Master Frank David and the Upper Warden Bryan Spearman.
Ceremony of the Keys
Tony Skinner accompanied by Yeoman Warder Colin Smith MBE BEM of HM Fortress the Tower of London, hosted a wonderful trip to witness the Ceremony of the Keys on the evening of Saturday the 15th March 2014.
This ceremony has been held every evening for hundreds of years, whether it be peacetime or during times of war.
After meeting at the west gate main entrance to the Tower, an external guided tour of the grounds and sights was given finishing at the Yeoman Warders Club, where, in addition to lovely hospitality, the Group was able to view the hundreds of pieces of memorabilia that adorn every conceivable space. There is also an exposed section of the old London wall.
At about 21:30 the Group then left to witness The Ceremony of the Keys which was carried out by the Watchman, Duty Supervisor (Yeoman Warders) and the resident military guard.
The year continues to be very busy with attendance at many livery dinners and lectures, one highlight for me being the dinner for all livery Masters hosted by the Lord Mayor and held at the Mansion House. Progress with our Royal Charter has gone well with Royal Assent received on 31st March 2014. We were recently privileged to see the vellum charter with its seal and we are discussing how this should now be “bordered”. We are hoping for a Royal presentation of the charter sometime in the Autumn.
Internal meetings also take up a fair bit of time, so it is always a joy to get out into the fire community. Along with Upper Warden Bryan Spearman, Past Master Geoff Morgan and John Mansfield, I thoroughly enjoyed the very moving Haringey fire cadet passing-out parade held on 5th April. We had previously met some of these cadets at our City dinner at the end of 2013, so it was good to see Ron Dobson CBE QFSM FIFireE (Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade) present these cadets with their completed B.Tech. qualifications. I then presented a special WCoFF award for the top cadet as chosen by the cadets themselves and it was very moving to see they had looked beyond just academic and technical capability to choose someone they themselves had wanted to succeed.
It was a privilege to see young people grow up into the world of the Fire Service and it was a lesson for us all to see how working together gives us all such great benefit.
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