Braidwood Lodge To Visit to Stratford - May 2010

The Worshipful Master and several of his Officers have stated their intentio0n to attend the Fire Service Lodge Installation Ceremony again this year.

Several other regular visitors and newer Brethren, including those from Oxfordshire are expected to what traditionally is a very enjoyable evening, oth in the Temple and later at the Festive Board.

National Memorial Arboretum 

The Dedication Ceremony of the Fire Service Monument and Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on the 20th May, 2008.

The theme of the memorial is " Firefighters Serving Humanity " and  is under the auspicies of The United Kingdom Firefighters Memorial Trust ; its motto is : 

               "Flammas Oppugnantes Fidimus Deo"                            /  ///////         //(Fighting Fire ; Our Trust in God)

The ceremony was attended by HRH The Princess Royal, along with representatives of all the Fire and Rescue Services throughout the whole Country and was a very moving moment in the history of our Service.

One of the principal organisers of the event was Bro. Paul Settle of the Braidwood Lodge No. 9802 meeting in Dartford, in the Province of West Kent. 

The Fire Service Historians amongst you will be aware that James Braidwood was the Chief Officer of the London Fire Engine Establishment (LFEE) for 28 years. He was originally from Edinburgh and had a most distinguished career which sadly ended when he lost his life at the " Second Great Fire of London " a warehouse fire at Cottons Wharf, Tooley Street London in June 1861. A statue of him has recently been unveiled in Edinburgh in September 2008.

The National Memorial Arboretum is set in beautiful open countryside and has memorials to the Armed Forces and numerous other organisations, including a lovely Masonic Memorial and Garden. It is located on the Croxhall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire. DE13 7AR .

The Fire Service Lodge No. 8401 together with others, recently supported the fund to enable the visit of a Chernobyl Firefighter's Daughter called Alina, to this country. 

She is a lovely young woman who has Kidney problems and it is hoped that the month spent in England will have helped with her health problems.  

Alina and her family really appreciate the genorosity of the Lodges who helped to fund her visit and It is probable that she will visit again in 2010.

Her host, Jim Buckland of ????? Lodge, ?????shire, made a point of taking her to many locations within the country and ensured that she had many notable "firsts" during her visit.   Such as her first own bedroom, a first train ride, a first taxi ride, her first restaurant meal, her first stay in a hotel, her first visit to a theatre and her first paddle in the sea.

Here are a few photographs of her visit:-