Page 11 - January 2020

COMPANY MEMBERS & EVENTS
Surrey FRS Open Day
Reigate Fire Station, July 2019
On July 20th last year Surrey Fire & Rescue Service held an Open Day at Reigate Fire Station, an event that drew a large number of visitors. The Worshipful Company of Firefighters was provided with a stand from which we displayed memorabilia and information about the Company, but the centrepiece of our contribution was a display by The Massey Shaw Historic Firefighting Demonstration Team.
Liveryman Tony Drewitt supplied his 1889 ex-Metropolitan Fire Brigade Shand Mason horse- drawn manual pump, which once belonged to Past Master Bruce Hoad. The engine was driven by Freeman Joanne Moore with a pair of Percheron cross Friesian mares, brought down for the day from their stables near Nuneaton. The crew, which included Tony and his son Liveryman Chris Drewitt, a craftsman at the Royal Mews, gave a faultless demonstration of extinguishing a fire at the second floor level of the drill tower. The scenario for the fire was based on a real incident that took place in near-by Redhill at the premises of Messrs. J. Stoneman and Sons, Undertakers, in February 1919. To provide the pumped water supply the crew were aided by members of the audience co-opted to operate the pump handles. An expert commentary was provided by Past Master Hoad, who described the background to firefighting at the time the engine was in service, including gaining the co-operation of up to 22 members of the public to operate the pump handles, with the promise of a cash reward and beer.
Many thanks to Tony, his family
Liverymen Tony Drewitt and his son Chris, giving a faultless demonstration
and colleagues for putting on such a splendid event to raise the profile of the Company and historic firefighting apparatus.
Subsequently, Tony brought the engine, horses and crew to London for the Lord Mayor’s Show
in November. The Firefighters led the Modern Companies with the horse-drawn engine, which received some admiring attention from the crowds lining the route.
David Holt, PRM Committee and Events Committee
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