Page 186 - Archived Back Issues

2014 Exclusive City Dinner
The Master arrested and bailed
A great evening was had on Tuesday 11th November, when the WCoFF hosted an exclusive City dinner for over a hundred guests at Catlin’s head offices in the heart of London. Catlin Group, one of the City’s leading global specialty property and casualty Insurance and Reinsurance companies, had provided a wonderful venue in their banqueting suite and the food and wine were of excellent quality. Peter Holland CBE QFSM FIFireE, Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor to HM Government, welcomed guests on behalf of the WCoFF, in particular Penny Mordaunt MP, Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State covering fire, resilience and emergencies.
The City Dinner event is a fund raising effort for specific causes of the WCoFF Charitable Trust in Youth Education and Training and, before the meal started, there was an opportunity to hear about the great work going into the training of local fire cadets. The Master, Bryan Spearman, made a presentation on behalf of the WCoFF to their top fire cadet, who gave a very moving speech saying how much her attendance at Fire Cadets had given her in terms of confidence and motivation in her life.
From funds raised at last year’s dinner, the WCoFF Charitable Trust had also been able to send 10 children to the 2014 summer burns camps organised by The Burns Camp Trust and, after the meal, guests were able to hear from Paul Fuller, organizer of the Burns Trust and Karen Reid, a volunteer helper, about the educational and confidence benefits that children, who have been severely burned, get from attendance at the summer camps. Frank David, Chairman of the Charitable Trust, who, along with the Master and Past Master Michael Harper, had attended the camp itself to see its work, spoke of how he felt that this had been one of the most deserving causes he had witnessed for the funds of the Charitable Trust.
A group of singers from the Tring Performing Arts School gave some great renditions of a number of songs from well known musicals ending with, on this notable date, patriotically leading the company in the singing of “Land of Hope and Glory”, with much flag waving.
The cry went up from our Master: "Friends, Liverymen, Freemen of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters, I am in need of your urgent assistance!"
He had been invited to coffee with the Lord Mayor, Alderman Alan Yarrow, and the Lady Mayoress, along with several other Masters, to be “arrested” by the City of London Police on a trumped-up charge and then incarcerated in the Tower of London until his Bail, which had been set at £1,000 was paid, all in aid of the British Red Cross.
Fortunately, members did come to his rescue, so he was saved having to live on Perrier water and artisan cheese for too long.
Fire Cadet Awards
Past Master Frank David and Upper Warden Ron Murray went to present the certificates at the passing out parade of Tower Hamlets Fire Cadets at the end of March. The Education team there were very grateful for our support and thrilled to hear a wonderful response from the cadet getting the top award. He said "thank you so much for the year - it went so fast and I am so happy that I decided to attend. I had such an amazing time and I can't thank you enough for choosing me at the beginning. I want to share what I have learnt about the fire service. I can't wait to be a junior cadet." Wasn't that a wonderful response and makes all the efforts so worthwhile?
The Massey Shaw Dinner
On 4th March, the Master, Bryan Spearman, welcomed members and guests to one of the last formal Company events of his year, the Massey Shaw Dinner. This took place in the Insurance Hall a few days after the wonderful ceremony where the Company had been formally presented with its new Royal Charter. The Company silverware was also on display. After the dinner, the Master spoke well of his year in office, guests were warmly welcomed with many of the ladies present given lovely bouquets.
The Pepys Project
Next year sees the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London in 1666. The City of London intends to celebrate the event and we are involved in that planning process., Separately, under the auspices of the PR and Marketing Committee, a Pepys group has been working on the WCoFF's contribution to the year: a walking tour, a commemorative book (with new forensic analysis from Peter Mansi) and possibly a special "app" are being planned. If you would like to get involved with any of this activity, please contact Past Master Viv Jones. But look out for some interesting occasions to mark this momentous event in the life of the City of London.
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