THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FIREFIGHTERS MEMBERSHIP www.firefighterscompany.org
THE COMPANY The Worshipful Company of Firefighters is one of 110 livery companies within the City of London. Our prime objective is to promote the development and advancement of the science, art and practice of firefighting, fire prevention and life safety. We also encourage good professional behaviour and an exchange of information between our members and others who work in allied fields. We are wholly committed to maintaining the traditions and customs of the City of London and we pledge our support to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in all matters relevant to the life and dignity of the City. The Company is essentially a charitable organisation committed to raising funds so that monies can be distributed to worthy causes, and we have formed an independent charitable trust to administer this activity. Our Company claims Service, Fellowship, Harmony and Honour as the key motives for our activity in the City and fire community.
OUR HISTORY The livery companies of the City of London can trace unbroken descent from medieval trade guilds. The term Guild is said to derive from the Saxon word gild, a payment, since members paid towards the cost of fellowship. Guilds were craft or trade societies. They protected consumers and employers against incompetence or fraud by training sufficient apprentices to provide an adequate supply of skilled craftsmen selling goods of true quality and weight. They helped workers by preventing unlimited competition and ensuring reasonable wages and conditions. They searched out inferior work and punished offenders. They settled trade and domestic disputes by arbitration, while their halls served as centres for meeting and recreation. Members paid into what was in effect a benefit society, receiving relief when ill, infirm or old, and having their burial expenses paid. There was a strong religious element in the guilds, each adopting a patron saint and being attached to a local monastery or church. The identity of livery arose from a practice of wearing a distinctive form of dress on solemn or festive occasions and spread from that. The Guild of Firefighters was formed by the Father of our Company, Gerald Clarkson, then Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade, and was recognised by the City on 13 June 1988. On 13 June 1995 the Guild fulfilled the next stage of its development and was granted the status of a City Company without Livery. On 23 October 2001 the City of London granted the Company Livery status, when it adopted the title of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters. The Company was granted its Royal Charter from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 11th December 2013. The Charter was presented by The Lord Mayor, Alderman Alan Yarrow, on 27th February 2015 at the Insurance Hall.
THE CITY OF LONDON The Livery Companies and the City of London have grown up together, developing and adapting over the centuries to help sustain London s pre eminence as a financial and business centre. They share many common goals and objectives and work closely together on issues of City importance. The election of Sheriffs and other officers is the prerogative of Liverymen alone and the election of the Lord Mayor of the City of London is a shared responsibility between Liverymen and City Aldermen. Livery Companies are the source of, and take a prominent part in, many of the City s great ceremonial occasions and add colour and richness to its heritage. GOVERNANCE The elected Court of Assistants is the Company s governing body, being convened four times a year. It is advised by a Management Board. The Court s June meeting is its Election Court when the Master, Wardens, other Officers and Court members, or Assistants, are appointed. In addition to approving Company appointments, the Court determines Company policy, the make-up of committees, sub-committees and working groups, and sets the level of the annual quarterage (membership) fee and other fines. Generally members selected for higher office serve one year in each of the three Wardenships with a natural progression to the position of Master of the Company. The Master presides on all formal occasions and represents the Company at the many dinners, receptions, meetings and other events to which he/she will be invited during a very exciting but demanding year of office. Upper Warden Renter Warden Under Warden
ACTIVITIES Throughout the year, the Company organises many events for members, their partners and families, members of other livery companies and guests from the firefighting community. Currently we hold two formal dinners each year, the Massey Shaw Dinner (named after the first Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade) and the St Florian s Installation Banquet, in memory of the Patron Saint of Firefighters, where we greet the recently elected Master of the Company. Partners, family and guests are warmly welcomed at both dinners when we have the opportunity to display the Company silver and plate. There are other less formal dinners and lunches throughout the year, including those intended especially for new members and liverymen. The Company s Events Committee organises a number of events and outings such as visits to the Tower of London (to witness the Ceremony of the Keys), HMS Belfast, HQS Wellington and HMS Victory. There have also been river trips, visits to fire stations and informal lunches for members. For the partners of members there have been informal lunches and trips to establishments such as Mansion House and the Bank of England organised. We take an active part in the Lord Mayor s Show, interlivery golf matches and the annual Livery Pancake Race at the Guildhall Yard on Shrove Tuesday. Our most glittering social event is the Fire Industry Charity Ball held at a major London venue in September of each year. The professional aspect of our Company is not neglected, with our annual City Fire Lecture now established as a key event promoting fire safety knowledge and awareness within the City of London. The Company s annual Carol Service takes place in St Mary-le-Bow Church, (of Dick Whittington and Bow Bells fame), where we also hold our Rededication Service following Common Hall (our AGM) each July. The Company is always represented at the annual Firefighter s Memorial Service. Our City Dinner in November is a major means of raising funds for the Company s Charitable Trust. This event is generously supported and hosted by the Catlin Group at their City headquarters.
CHARITABLE TRUST Closely associated with, but operating as a separate entity from the Company, the Charitable Trust is a registered charity, number 1000562, with a separate Board of Trustees. The Trust administers considerable funds which each year are distributed to causes associated with the fire community. In 2014/15 a sum approaching 45,000 was donated to a wide range of worthy causes, typical of which are the Restoration of Appearance & Function Trust, (RAFT), the Massey Shaw and Marine Vessels Preservation Society, the Firefighters Memorial Trust, the Firefighters Charity and the Lord Mayor s appeal. We also sponsor fire cadet programmes in many London Boroughs and we actively support camps for young burns victims. Admissions to the Company Membership, or Freedom, of the Company is by invitation or application and is available to all engaged in the firefighting and rescue services, the fire protection industry and any allied activities. After interview, those subsequently admitted to the Company can apply for Freedom of the City of London. New members are also encouraged to progress to become Liverymen of the Company and enjoy the additional privileges of attending Liverymen s Dinners, voting at elections of the Sheriffs and Lord Mayor and being eligible to stand for election to the Court of Assistants, the Company s governing body. All enquiries should be addressed to: The Clerk The Worshipful Company of Firefighters The Insurance Hall 20 Aldermanbury London EC2V 7GF Tel. & Fax: 020 7600 1666 Email: clerk@firefighterscompany.org