Page 55 - Archived Back Issues

Formation of the Worshipful
Company of Firefighters
by Gerry Clarkson, Founder Master
In 1969 a young Station Officer took command of Cannon Street Fire Station in the City of London. That Command experience exposed him to the architecture and daily life of the City. He was
very influenced by the magical history, customs and pagentary of the City of Lon- don. He marvelled that the craft or art of firefighting, which had been closely entwined with the historical development of the City of London since the Roman times, had not been recognised. And, given the very graphic part that fire has played over the years in the City of London, he was amazed that there was no Guild or Livery Company representing the Firefighters.
Over the ensuing years that Station Officer rose through all the ranks, until in 1987 he became the Chief Fire Officer of London. In his first year of office he took the first steps to enquire how to set about forming such an association with the City of London. In 1988 at a meeting held in the Court Room of Winchester House a resolution was passed unanimously forming a Guild of Firefighters, being representative of the Fire Service and the wider Fire Industry.
After the required interval of time, the Guild petitioned the Court of Mayor and Aldermen of the Corporation of London to be admitted to the status of Company without Livery. This was approved on 13th. June 1995. On the 22nd October 1997 – three hundred and thirty one years after the Great Fire of London – the York Herald presented the Company with its new Coat of Arms. Following fur- ther progress, on 23rd October 2001, in response to a Petition for Livery from the Company of Firefighters, the Aldermanic Court of the City of London approved the granting of Livery status. Thus the 103rd Livery Company in the City of Lon- don was established.
The Worshipful Company of Firefighters formally received The Letters Patent confirming the Grant of Livery from the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion House on the 17 January 2002. This important event was immediately following by a Grand Luncheon in The Egyptian Hall at the Mansion House when the then youngest Livery Company hosted the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and many friends amongst the other Livery Companies.
The Origins of Livery Companies
The Livery Companies of the City of London can trace unbroken descent from mediaeval Trade Guilds. The term “Guild” is said to derive from the Saxon word “gild”, meaning a payment, as members paid towards the cost of fellowship.
Guilds were craft or trade societies. They pro- tected consumers and employers against incompe- tence or fraud by training sufficient apprentices to provide an
adequate supply of skilled craftsmen, selling goods of true quality and weight. They helped workers by preventing unlimited competition and ensuring
reasonable wages and conditions. They searched out inferior work and punished the offenders. They settled trade and domestic disputes by arbi- tration,
whilst their Halls served as centres for meetings and recreation.
Members paid contributions as to a benefit soci- ety, and then received relief when ill, infirm or old, and had their burial expenses paid. There was a strong religious element in the Guilds, each adopting a patron Saint and being attached to a local monastery or church.
The wearing of a livery arose from a practice of wearing a distinctive form of dress on solemn or festive occasions.
Visit to Globe Theatre - Bryan Spearman
“On a very bright sunny day, the 1st of July to be precise, many members and guests of the Company availed them- selves of an opportunity to visit Shakespeare's Globe theatre on
the South Bank of the Thames.
For those of you having not seen or experienced this venue, it boasts, because of fire restrictions to be the only Thatched building to have been given planning in London for many years.
The construction of the current theatre in the round began in 1987 and was completed in 1997. Even this would not have been possible but for Sam Wanamaker the American Actor and Director who first visited in 1947 to find no lasting memorial to Shakespeare and his theatre. In 1970 he formed the Shake- speare Trust.
Our visit began with a guided tour giving everyone an opportunity to appreciate the history and background of Shakespeare and his theatre. This was enhanced by a visit to the Exhibition centre which by the way is a focal point for students, teachers and academics throughout the world.
The tour was concluded with a most pleasant lunch in the Globe Brassier before taking our seats, (not forgetting our cushions)) to watch a splendid performance of “As you like It”
.