Page 10 - Salamander News Letter September 2023

THE SALAMANDER Newsletter No 2
Above: Nicholas Lyons,
Lord Mayor of London 2022-23 and Past Master Alan Wells QFSM
Gerry Clarkson CBE, QFSM
Father of the Company
In our 35th Anniversary Year, Part II of Gerry’s Memoir of formation of our Company
As the Founder Master of the Guild, I launched
an appeal for funding towards the cost of the
large Memorial Statute, that the much-acclaimed Sculpture John Mills had agreed to create. There were some of our influential colleagues who felt that to endeavour to do both could possibly be a drain on our ability to raise sufficient finance. Whilst that was understandable, I personally have always taken a slightly different view. However, as the alternative view prevailed, to continue with the Memorial, it
was necessary to form an independent Charitable Trust to deliver the Memorial Statue, and thus the Firefighters Memorial Trust was formed.
Looking back over time, I have to say that both bodies have worked extremely well together over the years and I still see them both being part of that same initial concept. It is fitting that, in the Fire & Rescue Service Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, there are the two beautiful granite benches donated by the Worshipful Company of Firefighters with the Coat of Arms proudly set into the granite.
In the very early days of the Guild, we can be proud of what we did in terms of our charitable activities, which continues as an important part of ongoing work of our well established Livery Company. I can vividly recall being part of a four-person Government Delegation to China in November 1987, led by Mr Alan Turney, Under Secretary of State at the Home Office.
We were just about to sit down to a lunch with the Chinese Government, when I was approached
by a rather dapper gentleman who introduced himself as Commander Farr, British Embassy. He said, “bad news old boy – there has been a tragic underground fire at Kings Cross Underground Station, where 31 people have lost their lives, including one of your officers“.
By the end of the day he had arranged for me
to return to London. The King's Cross Fire in November 1987 was the worst fatal fire ever seen on the London Underground. Sadly 31 people
lost their lives and more than 100 were badly injured. There was clearly a great deal to do in the aftermath of the tragedy and there was bound to be a Public Enquiry.
Kings Cross Station
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