Page 6 - October 2023

THE SALAMANDER
The Massey Shaw Fireboat Visits
were very popular; Wednesday 30th August 2023 was sold out, Saturday 26th August, well attended. Two extra visits were added – 23rd September and 4th October:
Dave Rogers, Liveryman and Court Assistant’s report:
Massey Shaw is the boat that keeps on giving. It was great to welcome members of the Worshipful Company aboard the former London FireBoat Massey Shaw on two visits during August. Each visit started with a brief health and safety introduction to West India Dock, followed by the wearing of appropriate life-saving equipment. Once everyone was declared safe, the volunteers started a tour of the vessel explaining her unique history. For those of you not familiar with the fire-boat’s pedigree, she was built in 1935 in Cowes on the Isle of Wight for the sum of £18,000 and within months of appearing on the Thames had demonstrated her fire fighting abilities at the Colonial Wharf Fire in Wapping. During the fire, Massey used her 3,000 gallons-a-minute pumping capacity to punch a hole in the warehouse wall so that land-based crews could secure a firebreak. The Insurers of the Wharf credited her with saving millions of pounds worth of stock.
In May 1940, Massey was once again making the headlines as she left her base at Lambeth to join the Little Ships rescuing troops from the beaches at Dunkirk. The Fireboat is credited in saving 600 troops from the beaches and bringing a further 110 troops home to Ramsgate in two of her three trips across the Channel. After a short break, the vessel and her crew were back doing their day job of fighting fires in the Blitz, which culminated in helping save St Paul’s from being lost to the inferno of the December 1940 air raids.
In recent days, we have been celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Health Service and once again Massey Shaw had a role to play in the final discussions between Nye Bevan, Herbert Morrison, and a small group of politicians as they met aboard the Massey Shaw in July 1947 heading off down-stream towards Southend. During their deliberations, the final pieces of the NHS were agreed, and the new system commenced in 1948. Massey continued in service for 36 years, making her the longest serving vessel in the LFB’s History. Worshipful Company visitors were treated to a full rendition of her story by our volunteers, followed by refreshments on deck. All too soon the visit was over, our guests removed their life jackets and headed off to a nice lunch. I sincerely thank the Company Members for their generous donations towards the repair of the vessel’s engines so that she can return to Dunkirk in May 2025. If you would like to visit Massey Shaw and hear her story in person, we are aboard on Wednesday & Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Bookings can be made via our website www.masseyshaw.org
Photos: Little Peter András changes speed – ‘Full Speed Ahead’, assisted by Liveryman Dr Peter Mansi, his ‘gwandgwad’. Rodney Morgan, Massey Shaw crew, briefs Liveryman Claire Mansi down in the engine room.
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