On Tuesday 29 December 2015, the Fire Service Preservation Group (FSPG) will be holding an event to mark the 75^th Anniversary of the biggest “Blitz” raid on London. A number of World War II fire appliances will be on show to the public outside St Paul’s Cathedral, that iconic building for which Winston Churchill gave the directive to the London Fire Brigade and Auxiliary Fire Service to “Save St Paul’s”.

There will also be events at Dowgate Fire Station on Lower Thames Street and possibly a pumping display on the River Thames by the old London Fire Brigade fireboat Massey Shaw.

The Massey Shaw not only took part in the Dunkirk evacuations in May 1940 (her crew credited with saving over 500 lives) but served London throughout the Blitz. On 29 December 1940 she supplied water for land crews ashore in their firefighting operations, hence helping to prevent the major fires spreading to St Paul’s Cathedral on a night when the Thames was at very low-tide. Massey Shaw remained in service until 1971 when one of the last fires she attended was at the Tate & Lyle factory in Silvertown east London.

Outline programme for the day.

10.00 Fire engines and crews arrive at Dowgate Fire Station, Lower Thames Street.

10.30 Display of fire engines and equipment on forecourt and St Paul’s Cathedral for the media and public to view

12.30 Wreath laying ceremony at the Firemen Remembered Memorial to the late Auxiliary Fireman Holder at the Goldman Sachs building, Peterborough Court

133 Fleet Street EC4 2BB

13.00 Crews pumping into River at Allhallows Lane with Massey Shaw Fireboat

14.00 Lunch

15.00 Crews with Appliances on forecourt and St Paul’s Cathedral until 1700 hrs

17.00 Tea Break

17.30 Parade of crews

18.05 Sounding of Air Raid Siren

18.15 Fire engines turn out to complete a route through City

18.45 Arrive at Fire Fighters Memorial for a short service of remembrance.

Blitz Turnout

In the evening, at around 1805 hours an air raid siren will sound and this will be followed by an escorted “Blitz Turnout” when the appliances will circuit the City “on the bell”. A short service will afterwards be held at the Firefighters Memorial in Carter Lane, near St Pauls.

Fire engines expected to be on view include :

1935 Leyland Metz Turntable Ladder (ex Soho Fire Station)

Heavy Pumping Unit (1)

Heavy Pumping Unit (2)

Austin K2 Escape Ladder Carrier

Dennis Pump

Turntable Ladder

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact:

Neil Bloxham, Fire Service Preservation Group

Tel: 01474 332182 Email neilbloxham600@hotmail.co.uk

David Rogers Director : Massey Shaw Education Trust

Tel: 07946 403864 Email info@masseyshaw.org