Page 150 - Archived Back Issues

FROM THE MASTER'S DESK
COMPANY NEWS
St. Florian’s Banquet
On 10th October, The WCoFF held the annual St. Florian’s Installation banquet. The new Master Beryl Jeffrey, accompanied by Upper Warden Bryan Spearman, Renter Warden Ronald Murray and Under Warden Bruce Hoad, welcomed members and guests to an enjoyable evening held at the magnificent Cutlers’ Hall in the City.
The Cutlers’ Hall is truly magnificent and is the 5th Hall to be built for the Company after destruction of the original Hall in 1666 in the Great Fire of London. On the landing can be seen some fine examples of the sword art, most of them made by Wilkinson Sword. The main feature of the Livery Hall is its Victorian hammer beam roof and mounted high on the end wall above the canopy hangs a Barge Banner used for the Lord Mayor’s procession in 1763.
After a lovely meal, the annual WCoFF Firefighters’ award presentation (sponsored by Vimpex) was then made to Mr Steve Owen- Hughes and Mr Mick Doherty of the charity Operation Florian which aims to train firemen in countries without suitable training facilities and funds. This operation had made a significant impact particularly in training firefighters’ from Macedonia. Some of that work had been witnessed by the Master herself.
Bryan Spearman then welcomed the many guests including the principal guest Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive of the Red Cross, Sally Muggeridge, Master of the Worshipful Company of Marketers and Michael Wren, Master of the Worshipful Company of Bowyers. Sir Nicholas Young gave a comprehensive talk on the work of the Red Cross, in particular its ongoing help in the conflicts of Syria and in such actions as the massacre in Kenya. He talked about the closeness of the Red Cross in support of the fire services with Red Cross vehicles now regularly stationed in many fire stations in the country. He also promoted a new Red Cross app to the Master, one that provides on the spot emergency aid information to anyone finding themselves requiring to provide assistance.
The Master in her speech of thanks welcomed the gift of the app and hoped that she would be taught how to use it. She was grateful for the support of family and from the company as a whole for the year ahead. With the Company involved with worthwhile charities such as Operation Florian and the Red Cross (last year’s Master, Michael Harper, had helped to raise over £3000 for the Red Cross through being incarcerated in the Tower) and being active in promoting fire safety through lectures and information within the City, it was definitely proving its credentials as a Worshipful City Company and an exciting year lay ahead for it.
It has been a busy and eventful time for me since Common Hall and I have enjoyed attending many events on behalf of the Company ranging from the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to the Lord Mayor’s show. I was privileged to be invited to form part of the Guard of Honour welcoming the Lord Mayor on her return to the Mansion House after the procession. There have also been a number of livery dinners and lectures, events at the Mansion House and services at St. Paul’s Cathedral, including a very moving service for the opening of the Garden of Remembrance, where I planted a cross on behalf of our Company.
I enjoyed the Installation Banquet held at Cutlers’ Hall and especially the opportunity to reward the education work of Operation Florian for firefighting services in developing countries overseas. We also heard from our principal guest, Sir Nicholas Young, about the work of the Red Cross overseas and here at home, particularly of first response teams working in close co-operation with fire services and located at fire stations. I was very touched when the PR and Marketing Group kindly presented me with a beautiful photobook, recording my installation as the first woman Master of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters. I do thank them and it will become a family heirloom!
More recently we have held what is now the annual City Dinner, sponsored by The Catlin Group in their restaurant at the top of their City offices. The event has raised a considerable sum to go into our new restricted/designated charitable fund for youth education and training. As the Company grows its membership and its activities, I thank all those volunteers involved in the affairs of the Company, together with the Charitable Trust, contributing to our success and I wish all of you and your families a happy Festive Season as it approaches.
Please don’t forget to come to our Carol Service on Friday 13th December at St. Mary-Le-Bow. It is always a very enjoyable occasion for company members, friends and families and I look forward to meeting you all then.
Beryl Jeffery, Master
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