Page 7 - Archived Back Issues

ISSUE 3
THE SALAMANDER
DECEMBER 2003
Merry Xmas! From Salamander Team
NEWSLETTER OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FIREFIGHTERS
THE MASTER’S PEN
Inside this issue:
THE MASTER’S PEN
WHAT WAS SAID?
1
2
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
THE ARMCHAIR
2
2
THE CLERK’S DESK
OPEN FORUM
2
2
The City of London Remembrance Service Monday 3rd November, 2003 Opening of The Garden of Remembrance, St Paul’s Cathedral
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
 The Master’s Pen - Garden of Remembrance
 What was said?— A small competition
No man thinks there is much ado about nothing when the ado is about himself - Trollope
For your support in printing & distributing this newsletter
Under a grey, hurrying sky, with occasional shots of blue and sunshine, a large party assembled in the Garden of Remem- brance at the east end of St: Paul’s Cathedral. Right on time, The Minden Band, The Queen’s Division, followed by The Lon- don Ambulance Service NHS Trust Ceremonial Drill Squad, marched into their position.
The Royal British Legion Standard bearers formed a Guard
of Honour around the oval grass lawn of The Garden of Remem-
brance. The guests of honour sat or stood with their backs to
the Cathedral. The Lord Mayor took his place centre stage, The
Aldermanic Sheriff and The Alderman for Castle Baynard, in whose Ward St Paul’s is situated, flanked the Lord Mayor, standing, looking east. Beside the Civic Party was The Very Reverend Dr John Moses, The Dean of St: Paul’s, who conducted the service. On his left was Past Master Ken Knight, Commis- sioner, The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, resplendent in his uniform and decora- tions, with the Assistant Commissioner of The City of London Police and a representative for The Lon- don Ambulance Service, NHS Trust. Making up the bulk of the party were The Prime Warden and the Masters of The Several Livery Companies, as the 103 Livery Companies are referred to.
After an interlude of playing those familiar, sombre Remembrance Day tunes, the Civic Party were ushered into their position, and the service commenced with the comforting hymns we have sung for ever and a day,” Oh God our help in ages past” and then, after the prayers, “O Valiant Hearts”. The Last Post was sounded and all the old Servicemen present stood ramrod straight as we all remembered those who had died for their Country.
Following Reveille, Alderman Gavin Arthur, The Lord Mayor, led the assembly in the planting of the crosses. Slowly the crosses were carried forward. Ken Knight was flanked by the two representatives of the other emergency services and then the Chairmen of the different branches of the Royal British Legion pressed their small wooden crosses firmly into the lawn before the giant wreath of poppies.
The Head Boy and The Head Girl of the City of London Schools came next and then, six abreast, followed the Livery Company Prime Warden and Masters, in correct order of the seniority of their Companies.. The emotional Prayer, known as The Kohima Prayer was spoken by The President of the Royal British Legion, City of London, Chairman of the National Poppy Appeal:
When you go home, tell them of us and say, “For your tomorrow, we gave our today”. Then we all sang the National Anthem in full voice.
The Lord Mayor addressed us, reminding us that we hold this, The City’s Service of Remem- brance, amidst the noise and bustle of London, for which normality so many young men and women gave their lives in two World Wars, and in more recent conflicts, so that we could live in relative peace in a forever turbulent world.
With those words the Service ended and The Lord Mayor departed, the Dean and Chapter re- turned to The Chapter House, and the Band, Standards and Guard of Honour marched off.
We were then able to go and stand for a moment of reflection in front of the newly planted crosses. And so, The Master, Colin Livett, BEM, stood before this carpet of crosses and the wreath of poppies, with Captain Paddy Vincent, CBE, RN, Chairman of the Burma Star Association, with whom, in, he had worked in comradeship to raise millions for The Wishing Well Appeal for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. departed, the Dean and Chapter returned to The Chapter House, and the Band, Standards and Guard of Honour marched off.
We were then able to go and stand for a moment of reflection in front of the newly planted crosses. And so, The Master, Colin Livett, BEM, stood before this carpet of crosses and the wreath of, poppies, with Captain Paddy Vincent, CBE, RN, Chairman of the Burma Star Association, with whom, he had worked in comradeship to raise millions for The Wishing Well Appeal for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.