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Tuesday April 5th 2011

Insurance Hall - 6-30pm

Canapé reception at 9pm

Fire in the City The Lord Mayor to Inaugurate WCoFF

City lecture

Sponsored by

Cover Story

Very few people are aware of the impact

that the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)

Order 2005 has had upon employers, owners and occupied of

buildings, especially here in the City of London. Even fewer

are aware of the meaning, interpretation and likely conse-

quences of the Order.

A successful prosecution for failure to maintain fire safety

standards can result in a substantial fine and/or imprison-

ment. For example :--

New Look retail store fire, London 2007 - £536,000 fines & costs;

Tesco store London, fire safety breaches, April 2010 - £95,000 fines & costs

Shell International, London, fire safety breaches, June 2009 - £200,000 fines & costs

Residential (multi-occupancy) fire, Norwich April 2009 – 2.5 year prison sentence for the landlord plus

£20,000 costs

Averard Hotel, London, fire safety breaches - £21,000 fines & costs.

The list goes on and on.

The WCoFF has engaged two nationally prominent specialists in fire law - Ann Rosemarie Everton

LL.M PhD FIFire, Barrister-at-Law, Emeritus Professor of Fire Law at the Central University of Lan-

cashire and David Stotesbury LL.B MA, specialist in fire law, practicing independent barrister in

Lauderdale Chambers in the Barbican, to examine the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

at an inaugural lecture to be held at the Insurance Hall during the evening of the 5th April 2011.

Alderman Michael Bear, Lord Mayor of the City of London will make the opening address and

comment on the importance of the Order on City businesses. He will be joined by Past Master Sir Ken

Knight CBE QFSM DL, HM Government Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser and Iain Cox, CFO of Royal

Berkshire FRS and Head of the Prevention & Protection Directorate of the Chief Fire Officers‘ Asso-

ciation for question time. Parliamentary demands permitting, Robert Neill MP the Parliamentary Under

Secretary of State responsible for Fire & Resilience will make the closing address.

The participation of such notably worthy and prominent peo-

ple will make this a prestigious occasion for the Company. We

are also indebted to the Fire Protection Association for their

financial support for this, our inaugural City lecture.

Each delegate attending will receive a presentation folder con-

taining a set of the speakers‘ notes. CPD credits will be avail-

able to delegates who are members of the Institution of Fire

Engineers, the Emergency Planning Society, the Chartered

Insurance Institute and the Institute of Risk Management.

The lecture will commence at 6.30pm and close by 9.00pm

with a canapé reception. The price of a ticket for the lecture is

£30 inc.VAT and a promotion notice and a booking form for

the lecture can be found on the Company‘s website at

www.firefighterscompany.org.

BRE Global is part of the BRE Trust Group. Their mission is to protect people, property and the

planet through its testing, approvals, research and consultancy services. These are carried out by recog-

nised experts in world-class facilities, helping to ensure that fire, security, and environmental products

and services provide the quality of performance and protection that their manufacturers claim.

On the main site at Garston, Watford, is the BRE Innovation Park. This features seven of the world's

most sustainable houses (built to the Code for sustainable

homes), a health centre of the future and over 300 different

construction innovations and emerging technologies, as

well as a state of the art community landscape design area.

The various projects demonstrate the BRE diverse and in-

novative approaches to sustainable design and construction.

They each share the common goal of having a low impact

on the environment but a high impact on the quality of life

of building, community occupants and CO2 emissions re-

duction.

Many of the innovations in building and material technolo-

gies can have major implications for the fire sector: in de-

sign (fire engineering), fire safety management, fire-

fighting and fire investigation. The BRE Global Fire Safety

Group are therefore monitoring these developments to

identify and highlight potential areas of concern.

―An Invitation to our readers.........”

An evening event is being planned at the BRE, in the

spring to give members a tour of their Innovation Park and an opportunity to visit their main fire research

facilities. If anyone would like to attend, please contact Martin Shipp, at: shippm@bre.co.uk

BRE Global, BRE and FBE Management Ltd (the BRE Group) are wholly

owned subsidiary companies of the BRE Trust, a registered charity. This

ownership structure enables the BRE Group to be held as a national asset on

behalf of the construction industry and its clients, independent of specific

commercial interests. This protects BRE's impartiality and objectivity in

research, testing, advice and certification. The profits from the BRE Group

businesses are gift-aided to the BRE Trust, who in turn invest in research

projects for the public benefit, other research partners and by a number of

Universities across the UK where the Trust funds PhD studentships.

For information on the BRE Innovation Park, See: http://www.bre.co.uk/

innovationpark

For the fire safety work of BRE Global, see: http://www.bre.co.uk/fire

The WCoFF Focus on

BRE Global

Testing in enclosed car parks

Typical Fire Publication

Upcoming Events

Firefighters Memorial Trust

The Firefighters Memorial Trust is pleased to invite members of the WCoFF to their Annual Service of

Thanksgiving at the Firefighters Monument ‗Firefighters Serving Humanity‘ on Sunday 8th May

2011. This annual service is an act of thanksgiving and celebration for the work of the Fire Service and all

who have served, are serving or will serve.

If you would like to attend please visit their website at www.firefightersmemorial.co.uk and click on 2011

Monument in the menu side bar. Deadline for reply is Thursday 31st March.

The Service will be conducted by the Revd. Canon Peter Mortimer (Chaplain to the Trust) and will com-

mence at 12.00hrs, for a 40 minutes duration.

Portman Hotel, Portman Square,

London W1H 7BG

24th September 2011

Join your friends and colleagues at the Fire

Industry‘s glittering annual event.

6.30 pm: Reception in the Bryanston/Seymour

Suites

7.30 pm: Dinner, Entertainment, Auction and

Raffle in the Ballroom,

Entertainment by the ―Mountview Academy of

Theatre Arts‖

Also returning by popular demand

―Nicole and her Big Band‖

12.30 am: Carriages

The cost per head is £110 and is inclusive of the

dinner dance, entertainment, reception drink

and ½ bottle of wine at the table.

Dress code. dinner jacket, miniature medals

and evening wear for the ladies

To reserve your places please send a deposit of £25 per head to,

Bryan Spearman, 11 Meadway, Rustington BN16 2DD

Cheques payable to ―The Worshipful Company of Firefighters

Charitable Trust‖

Tables of 10 or individuals are all welcome.

Pancake Race

The Company has entered a team to compete in the

7th Inter Livery Pancake Race in Guildhall Yard on

Tuesday 8th March at 11.30am.

We aim to field a representative in the four race

categories for Master, a Liveryman, a Lady and

Novelty (dressed to associate with the Lord Mayor‘s

Charity, ‗Bear Necessities‘ in aid of the Charity, Co-

ram).—Watch out for some great photographs in the

next edition

International Firex 16th to 19th May 2011

The Worshipful Company of Firefighters will be

attending the International Firex exhibition and

conference at the NEC in Birmingham in May

This is the UK‘s largest dedicated fire safety event

and over 150 exhibitors will be attending. Again

this year, the organisers, UBM (info4fire.com) will

be donating a free stand and some of the monies

raised at its dinner to our Charitable Trust. If you

would like to join the team at the show, please con-

tact Bob Farquhar Robert.farquhar@btinternet.com

The Fire Industry Charity Ball

City Fire Presentation

Come and meet the Firefighters

We are committed to attracting suitable new members to join the Worshipful Company of Firefighters and

are looking for high quality people who have sound reputations, and who want to be active participants in

a Livery Company, its affairs and events.

Our annual event dedicated to meeting and greeting potential new members, aptly called ― Meet the

Firefighters”, has proven to be very successful and a good social function. We plan to repeat this event at

lunchtime on Friday 18thMarch, 2011, when, thanks to the Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, we

will hold a reception at Winchester House, 94a, Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 0EG.

The occasion is designed specifically for people who are interested to learn about the WCoFF and Livery

Companies. Presentations will be given in a relaxed and informal atmosphere to explain what our Com-

pany goals and objectives are; what we stand for and the advantages and privileges of membership. Drinks

and lunch will be provided and there will be ample opportunities for prospective members to meet and chat

with some Past Masters, Wardens and various other members of the Company.

This is an ideal opportunity for all members to become more actively involved with the Company. Please

use your best endeavours to introduce your friends, colleagues, contacts and acquaintances who will really

benefit from these meetings.

If you know of someone in the Fire Service or the Fire Industry who you think may be interested and

would make a good member then, please send their details to Ronald Murray, Constable, who will ex-

tend a formal invitation to the next available reception. .

*****************************

Memorabilia

In celebration of 21 years since the formation of The Guild of Firefighters, the WCoFF commissioned a

unique crystal glass for members to keep as a future family heirloom. The goblet is priced at £10.00 plus

£2.50 for postage and packing. Please note that there are only 7 of these unique glasses remaining and

they will not be repeated.

We also have our WCoFF ties in blue and red available for purchase at £25 each along with our Salaman-

der label pins at £80 each and Cuff links at £10 each.

Finally, we have just a few Crystal Glass paperweights remaining at £10 each,.

Please contact Brian Eves at: brian84.eves@virgin.net.

FireFighter News

Remembering the Great Blitz Fires of 1940/41

A wreath was been laid to commemorate the 70th anniversary of

the bombing of Bank underground station's booking hall which

killed 111 people. WCoFF members attended along with the

Lord Mayor

Alderman Michael Bear, Lord Mayor of the City of London, led a minute's silence to pay tribute to the victims who died on 11 January 1941 during a bombing raid by German aircraft. Lord Mayor Bear laid a wreath at the Walbrook entrance to Bank underground station.

The blast travelled through the tunnels killing people sleeping on the escalators and platforms and throwing others in the path of incoming trains. People died under-ground and on the surface and, in the aftermath of the bombing, an emergency bridge was built over the huge crater to enable traffic to continue moving around the busy interchange in the heart of the Square Mile. Lord Mayor Bear said: "The familiar black-and-white images of that crater, with war-dens surveying the damage, have been part of London's memory since the Second World War. "More than 100 people lost their lives and, 70 years to the day, we pause to remember them and the families they left behind."

A City procession to mark the Blitz of 29th December 1940

Two weeks earlier, on the night of 29 December 1940, the German air force carried out a massed air attack on the City of London, which re-sulted in a firestorm that destroyed the Guildhall, many Livery Halls and eight churches built by Sir Christopher Wren. The destruction covered most of the ancient Square Mile. Some 160 people lost their lives and more than 500 people were injured. It was the second great fire of London.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the air attack, a convoy of five World War II fire engines was driven through the City of London leaving Dowgate fire station and passing the Tower of London on route to St Paul's. Wreaths were laid at London's firemen's memorial. There was a special wreath for St Mary Aldermanbury, a church which used to be situated in the Square Mile. This was bombed and finally dis-mantled after the war before being rebuilt in Fulton, in the American state of Missouri, as a memorial to the victims. The bombs narrowly missed St Paul's, with firefighters ordered to ensure the flames in nearby buildings did not reach the cathedral. Neil Bloxham of the Fire Service Preservation Group, which organised the event, said it was in honour of the 16 crew members killed during the bombing "If it was not for those men and firemen like them, St Paul's might not have been here today. Being a firefighter was totally different from what it is today and I don't think we would ever get the amount of fires today in London that we did on that night." Common Councillor Marianne Fredericks, who took part in the procession, said "It was a massive raid in the City of London and the London docks. Hitler thought that if he destroyed the cathedral, he would crumble the spirit of the nation. But St Paul's survived, and it became a beacon of pride for Londoners and the country."

Members Forum

WCoFF recognised in Blue Water

If you are not a keen shopper but happen to end up in the

Bluewater Shopping Mall (near Gravesend, Kent) go and have a

look at the tribute to Livery Companies high up in the eves on the

2nd floor. Each Company is represented by a sculpture including

the WCoFF—see picture.

Editor. Thanks to Howard Myers for sending this into us.

Massey Shaw Dinner

The dinner will be held on Wednesday 2nd March 2011, in The Insurance Hall, Aldermanbury, City of

London. Members are invited to bring Wives, Partners, Family and Friends as we will be displaying the

Company‘s fine collection of silver and gifts - including that donated by the now disbanded London Pri-

vate Fire Brigade‘s Association and by the Occupational Fire Protection Association.

This promises to be another wonderfully entertaining evening as we are honoured to have the Guildhall

School of Music and Drama as our musical feature. Our Principal Guest and Speaker at the Massey Shaw

Annual Dinner will be former Lord Mayor, Sir Gavyn Arthur.

Sir Gavyn was educated at Harrow school and Christ Church, Oxford. He is a doctor of Civil Laws (City),

a practising barrister (financial law) and Bencher of the Middle Temple. He was Lord Mayor of London in

2002/03 and as such, was spokesman and ambassador for financial services of London and UK with the

rank of Cabinet Minister. He has led delegations for talks with the US Treasury, Federal Reserve and

World Bank.

He was Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners in 2007 and is a Court Member of the Worship-

ful Company of Wax Chandlers. He is also a Founder Court Member and Sponsor of the Guild of Public

Relations Practitioners. In 2007 he was appointed a Judge by HM the Queen.‖

Did you Know?

(Some trivia facts on the Great Fire of London)

The fire destroyed approximately 13,200 homes; 89 Churches and 52 Company Halls.

Approximately 373 acres inside the City and 63 acres outside the City were also destroyed along with

400 streets and lanes. The fire burned out of control for 4 days feeding on the wooden buildings until

it reached the stone city walls .

Although only 6 deaths were recorded, an estimated 100,000 were made homeless and gathered in

the Moorfields and Finsbury Fields area. King Charles 11 sent them some Navy biscuits but they

proved inedible as they were so hard and teeth were scarce! He then sent them bread to eat—,

which is slightly ironic when you consider where the fire started.

On the plus side, the fire decimated the rat population that carried plague infested fleas. After the

fire, the plague diminished.

2011 diary dates

2nd March - The Massey Shaw Din-

ner—Insurance Hall

18th March - meet the Firefighters -

Winchester House - 11-30 am

April 1st—United Guild‘s Service—

St. Paul‘s

April 5th - The City Fire Lecture -

Insurance Hall - 6-30 pm

May 17th—Festival of the Sons of the

Clergy—St. Paul‘s

July 1st - Common Hall - Insurance

Hall; followed by Annual Service of

Re-Dedication at St. Mary-le-Bow

September 24th Fire Industry Charity

Ball

Pleased to Meet You

And finally, spotted in the fire report

columns....... United Kingdom - Arsonist killed 150 pigeons when they set fire to a timber Cree in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. The building went up in flames in the early hours of the morning, causing explosions of gas canisters used for heating. It took three fire crews from Fulwell and Sunderland to bring

the blaze under control and stop it spreading to other lofts. Members of the Pigeon Federation say their lofts are con-stantly being targeted by vandals, but many believe this is the worst attack to date. Chairman Jimmy Powell, 53, of Cornhill Homing Society, said: "It's a lifetime of work that has been destroyed. Keeping homing pigeons is a passion, it gets in

your blood. "What have those pigeons done to anyone? Pi-geons saved lives in the war. It's terrible as well when you think they were sitting on eggs." Secretary Andrew Shepherd, 72, said: "I would sit and cry if it

was mine. It's our whole lives, it's a 24-hour thing."

A spokesman for Fulwell Fire Station said: "It has been con-firmed that it was malicious ignition. Whoever started it would have known it was occupied by pigeons."

St Mary-le-Bow Young Homeless Charity,

St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, EC2 6AU

Dear Master

Thank you for allowing the collection from

your Carol Service to be given to this small

charity. We received £399.55, and as for

many years now, we are very grateful to

the Firefighters‘ Company for allowing this

to be given.

This money will be used well – being so

small a Charity, it is easy to make sure the

work done is for the young people rather

than for administration and so on.

Yours sincerely

Michael Kenny

Director

Michael Harper—Renter Warden

My first involvement with the world of fire pro-

tection came when I joined the Graviner com-

pany in 1985, famous for its aircraft and vehicle

fire protection systems. Prior to that, I had

trained as an engineer and worked for the Vick-

ers company.

As part of Allegheny and then Pilgrim House,

we grew our fire protection activities considerably over the next

10 to 15 years with acquisitions such as Detector Electronics,

Pyrotector and the Kidde group. Under Williams, the group con-

tinued to grow and it was a great pleasure for me when, as Kidde

plc, I was able to take the group onto the UK stock market as its

Chief Executive.

After Kidde plc was acquired in 2004 and I moved on to become

Chief Executive and Chairman of BBA Aviation and took direc-

torships of several other companies, it was a great pleasure that I

was able to retain my involvement with the fire protection and fire

fighting world through the Worshipful Company.

I am hopeful that my industry experience will help the Company

in this new stage of its development and hopefully I can get to

know you all and you will always find me willing to chat about

my love of cricket, rugby and Liverpool football club.

A Word of Thanks