Salamander issue 3

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Page 8
THE SALAMANDER | DECEMBER 2017
Members from left to right: Liverymen Brian Eves and John Lowndes, Renter Warden Frances Blois, Beadle John Norris,
Caroline Willes, Area Manager Mark Rist, Liveryman David Holt, Past Master Alan Wells and Liveryman Jeanne Brinton,
Channel Tunnel Visit
A unique visit for our members hosted by Mark Rist of Kent Fire & Rescue Service
In June 2017 Company
members were treated to a
unique visit organised by
Liveryman Mark Rist, Area
Manager, Kent Fire & Rescue
Service.
After assembling at Rochester
Fire Station we were taken by
brigade transport to the KFRS
Channel Tunnel fire station,
where Area Manager Martin
Skeet gave us a very informative
presentation on the organisation
of fire and rescue services in the
tunnel, the processes for liaison
with his French colleagues
and a description of major
incidents that have occurred
in the tunnel. This information
was supplemented by some
fascinating insights from three
of our own members on the visit
who had been involved in the
original design and emergency
response for the tunnel. After
the talk we toured the fire
station with Station Manager
David Clipstone, before we
boarded one of the Service
Tunnel Transportation System
vehicles. After passing through
the air lock we entered the
Service Tunnel and drove a mile
or so into the tunnel to view one
of the cross-passage doors,
used to evacuate passengers
from the running tunnels.
Following this, we were able
to view the Rail Control Centre
and the Incident Control Centre,
where we gained an insight
into the management of the
trains through the tunnels and
how emergency responses are
co-ordinated by the various
services in the event of an
incident. As a frequent user of
the tunnel I, for one, left more
confident of my safety as I make
the crossing.
The final part of our visit was
to the Road Safety Experience
Centre on the new Rochester
Fire Station site. This is a
unique centre within the UK,
David Holt
PR & Marketing Committee.
Worshipful Company of Firefighters
run by KFRS in collaboration
with Kent Police and Highways
England
road-safety-experience/.)
The Centre offers young
people a number of interactive
experiences and scenarios
designed to make them more
aware of hazards on the road
and to improve their skills on
the road, whether as a driver
or other road user. We saw an
impressive presentation in the
purpose built lecture facility,
with a graphic set-up of a road
traffic collision and the response
by the emergency services.
We were also able to visit the
full-time crewed fire station
at Rochester, which shares
facilities with the ambulance
service.
Our sincere thanks to Mark for
arranging such an interesting
and enjoyable day.
“I leftmoreconfident
of my safety as I make
the crossing”