Notice Board

John Reidford, Life Vice President 18/09/06

It is with great sadness that the death is announced of John Reidford, Life Vice President.He was a former Vice President, and for many years District 9 Representative. The funeral is to take place at Linn Crematorium, Castlemilk, Glasgow, on 20th September at 1100hrs.

'The Enemy Within' 12/09/06

My name is Colin Biggs. I am a firefighter who had to retire with Multiple Sclerosis.
I have just had my book published about living with MS.It is entitled The Enemy Within.
The paragraph below is the beginning and the book is a must for the newly diagnosed their families and carers.
I pull no punches in telling about the condition, and all the reviews have l been supportive.

I am a retired fire officer who contracted MS when I was 38 and have been fighting ever since. I am now 55.
Nothing like this was ever available when I was diagnosed and I�m sure, NO SURE it will help others.
For more informationwww.supamasu.com Tel-01249 720563.
email [email protected] [email protected]

Thank you.

The Enemy Within

The story of a fight against Multiple Sclerosis

By

COLIN BIGGS

I have MS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF MY LIFE!

This book is not just about me, although it is my story, my life and thoughts, ideas I have tried, along with the help and advice from others, but it is for every MS sufferer, especially the newly diagnosed, their families and carers.
I hope you will find this mixed up bag of thoughts useful, as nothing like this was available to me when I was first diagnosed.They just said it,s MS and that�s it. But that�s not it, it is far from it as you can get. I didn�t let others try and make decisions for me, as its my life and I am in the driving seat, so look out I am coming down the street, don�t step out in front of me. This is what has encouraged me to put this story in writing, so others may benefit from and may be empathise with the state of MS to be endured.
I had to spend hours and hours drudging through endless boring books and articles, each one pointing the way I should go to eleviate the symptoms. I have since found that there is not sufficient time left in my life to try all the so called remedies with any degree of success, so it�s my call and my call only, except none of the effort would be possible without the support and encouragement from my wife Jacqueline (she�s a brick). Its me who directly lives with the condition (others indirectly) and only me who knows how I feel, so question any advice given but don�t be dependent upon it.
I have titled this book, The Enemy Within because that�s what its like. If you try too quickly to speed up any form of recovery, the MS will find out what your doing and as an enemy to your body, turn on you as quick as a rat up a drain pipe. Then the likely outcome is a deterioration in your condition, it's one step forward and two steps back if you try to rush any progress.
I resolved to look the disease right in the face, peer deep into the abyss. I knew that I couldn�t fight and win the war against MS but I could win some of the battles and encourage it to become an ally, but an ally to be wary of. There is no cure. No one has ever beaten MS in a straight fight, no matter who claims what. The one weapon needed on your journey through the forthcoming swamp of endless crap is PMA, (positive mental attitude). Without it you haven�t a snowballs chance in hell of being able to put up any sort of a fight and you will certainly fall at the first hurdle.
For me, the key was, though I couldn�t beat MS, but I wouldn�t be beaten either.
That seemed to me to be how to treat MS. It�s here to stay but it�s not the end by any means. It�s not even the beginning of the end. My life can go on. Maybe things have to be a little different, but they will go on nonetheless.
One thing you must not do is think of what you can�t do, that�s a negative view of your life and anything negative puts you on the defensive. There are numerous things you will be able to do, just take a leaf out of Danny Wallace's book. He�s the gentleman who used to play for Manchester united who is now an MS sufferer and walked the London marathon. This major feat took him seven days to complete, falling occasionally but he did it and what a good positive view that is of what you can do.
At the end of the day it all comes down to your choice, as you are in the front line with MS. We all treat our bodies with contempt, our car has an MOT test every year to make sure it is safe and our house requires regular repair and decoration to maintain its value. But we just neglect ourselves no matter what, until we break down, then the hard work starts trying to build ourselves up.
Dr Choy from the MS Healing Trust described it as 20% MS and 80% muscle wastage due to a lack of use. But remember as yet there is no cure for MS and no two people are alike and no two conditions are the same, what works for one does not work for another. All I say is try and give it your best shot, but most of all, believe in yourself. The first thing you must do is to be your doctors friend (because you are going to need all the support there is) and talk to him or her, to make sure that they know just what you are about to do, as this may interfere with any medication you are currently taking.
Do not forget, we will die with MS but not because off it. Treat the covers of this book as goal posts and use it as a tool to try and find your goal.
As starting points on the road to finding what will work for you, may I suggest the following:-

• Reduce your stress level immediately.
• Rest when your body tells you (don�t be a hero)
• Try to keep on a healthy low fat diet.
• Regular gentle exercise, both physical and mental.
• You will certainly need a good nights sleep (rest lets your body build up energy)
• For me, avoiding increases of ambulant temperature (I will express further on)
• Become a member of the MS Society, the largest organisation for help.
• For the most up to date information, use the internet (I am lost without it)

Then you are off to try and find your goal in the maze of so-called specialist advice.

Mobile phones serial numbers 12/09/06

Here is something worth knowing if you have a mobile phone.
If you have lost one, or it has been stolen, and you are on a plan, you will still have to pay for up to 24 months. you then have to buy another phone and enter into another contract. . There is a simple way of making lost or stolen mobiles useless to thieves. obtain the serial number of the phone by keying in :
star-hash-zero-six-hash ( * # 0 6 # ) . a fifteen digit number will appear on the screen.
This is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it safe.
Should your mobile phone be stolen, phone your service provider and give them this number.
They will then be able to block your handset, so even if the thief changes the sim card, your phone will be totally useless.
You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody did this, there would be no point in stealing mobile phones.

Enquiries to the Erdington Office 12/09/06

Please note that this office is manned by volunteers Monday to Friday,1000hrs to 1400hrs. Telehone calls received outside of these hours will prompt a message informing the caller to contact Graham Bow, or John Littleton, at home.

LONDON ROAD CENTENARY INVITE 09/08/06

'London Road Fire Station, Manchester' Did you serve, train or live there? If so, you are cordially invited to the Centenary Celebrations being held to mark the 100th Birthday of the 'Finest Fire Station.........' , 1930hrs to midnight at GMFRS Training Centre, Cassidy Close, Manchester, on Friday 29th September 2006. Bar and buffet, memorabilia, museum appliances, archive film, raffle. Tickets �7.50 per person from Bob Bonner, GMRFS, Training Centre, Cassidy Close, Manchester, M4 5FP, by 8th September.Please enclose a 6"x4" stamped self addressed envelope for return of tickets. Two tickets per applicant--further tickets may be available nearer the time.Picture

Drivers over 80 01/08/06

I�m researching a documentary for the BBC about older drivers in Britain and I would appreciate the chance to talk to you to you about your experiences.
I work for ONE life, a highly respected, award-winning BBC1 series. We make documentaries about different aspects of life in contemporary Britain. Recently we came across a statistic that there are 23 000 drivers over the age of 90 still driving in Britain and we felt this was something we should celebrate in a documentary.
If you are over 80 years old and are still driving, I would love to talk to you about your experiences on the road and hear your opinion about today�s driving. I am interested to hear any anecdotes about your driving past, or hear about any challenges you may be facing in the present. It will be a very informal chat and if you do decide you�d like to help by talking to me, you are not committing yourself to anything further.
If you feel you can help by sharing some of your experiences with me please contact me on 020 8752 6022. I will always call you back to save your bill.

Emma Shaw
Assistant Producer, ONE Life
Email:[email protected]

Beware Scam 10/07/06

If you receive a card through your door from a company call PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) saying that it has a parcel awaiting delivery instructions and can you contact it on 0906 6611911 - DO NOT call the number as this is a mail scam originating from Belize. If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed �15 for the phone call. If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICTIS at or your local trading standards office.

Stop Junk Mail 10/07/06

The Mailing Preference Servicewww.tpsonline.org.uk (0845 703 4599) stops most junk Mail.

The Telephone Preference Servicewww.www.tpsonline.org.uk (0845 070 0707) performs a similar service for Telephone calls.

Blue Light Home Swap 12/06/06

www.bluelighthomesswap.com is a Home Exchange Programme, set up by a firefighter, for the Emergency Services. It offers Firefighters, Police Officers and Emergency Medical personnel (serving and retired) the opportunity to swap their homes with each other for an affordable holiday.

Although the programme is only 3 months old there are already 40 members from the UK, the US, Canada and Australia and the numbers are growing fast. The first 15 members from the UK joined for free and the next 10 can have 1 years membership for � price at only �20. Go to www.bluelighthomesswap.com or contact Jak Dyer 07973 148602 [email protected]

Retired Firefighters-------Can you drive a fire engine? 10/05/06

Would you like to join our team driving our fire engines on an ad hoc basis for hen nights and children's parties? If you live in the Sussex area and have a clean LGV licence contact us. www.fireenginefun.co.uk/contact.htm You can do as much or as little as you like. Good rates of pay and lots of fun.

Hove Fire Station--30 years Reunion 02/05/06

On the 6th October 1976 Hove Fire Station in English Close, was officially opened.It serves the people of Hove and the surrounding areas. For nearly 50 years the station had been at Hove Street, and before that George Street, where the Hove coat of arms can still be seen above a local restaurant.

Hove Fire Station is part of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and during the past 30 years the station has seen many changes, including two national strikes, many personnel, machines and new equipment.

Incidents attended have included several that made national headlines; The Grand Hotel bombings in the 1980s that nearly wiped out the Government of the day, and the major floods in Lewes in 2001, which saw the emergency control centre relocated to Hove for a number of weeks. Over the 30 years the number of calls and incidents has slowly risen from a few hundred to almost two thousand a year.

Hove Fire Station is a full time shift station, with 4 watches providing cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days of the year. The role of personnel has changed greatly from that of the 1970s, with more now being done within the community, in the form of home safety visits, to prevent fires and incidents from happening. Things have changed from the old days when horse drawn carts raced along the streets of Hove; the station now has 2 front fire appliances, a land rover and HVP (High Volume Pump). The fabric of the station remains the same, but the interior has changed greatly.

To celebrate this milestone a reunion event is being held at Hove Fire Station, on Friday 16th June 2006. Serving, ex and retired firefighters who have served at any of the Hoves� Fire Stations are invited. For more details please contact Darren Eaton on 01323 462102 or email [email protected].

We would love to hear from anybody that served at Hove, or has a vehicle that saw service between 1976 and 2000. Pictures

Corus Fire Engineering 13/04/06

Corus Fire Engineering wish to employ ex-Fire Service personnel with experience of risk assessments. See www.thefireengineers.com/assessment

New Link 03/03/06

Fire Fighter Resource www.moosh.co.uk

Pension Increase 06 31/01/06

From 10th April, increase in public service pensions is 2.7%.

Help the Barnsley Branch raise funds for FSNBF 11/01/06

Help the Barnsley Branch to raise funds for the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund by purchasing helmet pin badges and key rings. They are ideal gifts, and a good fund raiser at open days, Galas etc. The traditional style helmet is available as a boxed set of all ranks, as shown, or individually. Also available are the the Cromwell, FirePro and Metro Helmets. All profits go to the FSNBF. www.firehelmetbadges.co.uk For more information contact:

Peter Chipchase Tel/Fax: 01226 287436 Email:[email protected]

President's New Year Message 03/01/06

PRESIDENT'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Happy New Year, best wishes for a Healthy and enjoyable 2006

Last year was overshadowed by the untimely death in April of our immediate past President Bill Meaden. Bill was a tremendous enthusiast and worked tirelessly for many years on our behalf. He was our representative and a Trustee of Age Concern England and played a full role in helping to develop policy for ACE.
A full tribute to Bill written by Barry Hook appears elsewhere on this site.

WORLD WAR 11 ANNIVERSARY

Celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the ending of the war were held during the year and our General Secretary John Littleton dealt with hundreds of letters and telephone calls from members requesting tickets for the July 10th events in London. John did a great job in securing tickets for members to attend the Westminster Abbey Service, Horse Guards Parade concert and Parade or Lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Everyone reporting back said how much they enjoyed the event and how well organised everything was. There was one consistent complaint- �the weather was a bit too hot.� Alan Beecroft our Standard Bearer immaculate as usual, was on parade throughout at Horse Guards Parade but a number of standard bearers did succumb to the heat,
The events were organised by the Ministry of Defence so our thanks to the M.o.D. for their work

LOCAL BRANCHES

We all know that a thriving District/Branch network is essential for the Association to work effectively. During the last year I have been conscious of increased activity at Branch level in many parts of the country, the number of enquiries that I have received and calls to the NARF Office at Erdington have both increased considerably. Recruiting of new members by branches is also meeting with success from as far apart as Kent and Strathclyde.

Even as I write I am aware of a Branch in the Midlands that has just vigorously pursued the case of a member who was a victim of credit card fraud, - his card was cloned. In very rapid time ten thousand pounds was debited to his accountwhich with interest quickly grew to fourteen thousand pounds. Prompt action by the Branch officers in gaining support from a number of agencies, not least Radio Television and Press has led to the debt being cancelled. Unfortunately not before the member concerned had suffered considerable stress. My sincere thanks to all our District and Branch Officers who give their time and expertise for our cause.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

It has been a great pleasure meeting many of you when attending various events at the NMA Alrewas during the year. Like so many of you I am hoping that 2006 is going to be the year when real progress is made to turn the Fire Service Garden of Remembrance into something that is a real credit to the British Fire Service. The Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust, who are responsible for the garden would I think agree that NARF have demonstrated a constructive and positive approach to help them make progress.

THE YEAR AHEAD

One certainty is that your National Officers will be doing everything they can, in a variety of areas, to look after your interests. Changes in the way Brigades operate are increasing our workload, typical of this trend is the increase in the enquiries made to our Pensions Officer, Barry Hook who now receives more calls for advice about Service Pensions due to the lack of expertise in some Brigades.

Talking of Pensions you will probably have noticed that the recent Pensions Commission report (Turner) made the case for linking pension increases to average earnings, something we have pushed for many years. Unfortunately Gordon Brown seems to have hit this proposal with an exocet missile even before publication of the report. We shall, allied with other organisations keep pushing for this link to be restored along with any other benefits that are to our advantage.

Thank you for your continued support, best wishes to you and your family.

Brian Wakefield
President

Owen Jesse Cole. 17/11/05

Mr Owen Jesse Cole formerly of Gloucester City Fire Brigade, passed away on the 8th November 2005. His funeral will be held at Southend Crematorium, Sutton Road, Southend on Sea, Essex, on Wednesday 23rd November. See Obituaries.

Derek Woolley. 14/06/05

The death is announced, on Saturday 11th June, of Derek Woolley. He was past Chairman, and Secretary, of both North Wales District, and the Clwyd Branch. He attended NC and AGMs for many years, and will be well remembered by many.

BURGLARY---KENT FRS MUSEUM. 14/06/05

In the early hours of Thursday morning, 2 June, the Kent FRS Museum was broken into. Irreplaceable and valuable artefacts were stolen. Can I ask you, especially collectors, to bear this in mind when you see or hear of fire brigade memorabilia being offered for sale. If your suspicions are aroused please contact the Police immediately.

Known to have been stolen are:-

1 x silver helmet bearing the letters DRFB, 2 x brass helmets,
1 x French brass helmet,
3 x British officers ceremonial axes with hardwood handles, in pouches,
2 x German presentation axes on display racks,
2 x Shand Mason steamer lamps bearing the letters BFB,
1 x bronze figurine of female with exposed boob (a presentation item),
Hythe town bell, with "1774" cast thereon, Edenbridge town bell,(both bells are app. 15 inches in diameter,and very heavy)

Former President Bill Meaden. 11/05/05

It is with deep regret that the death is announced on Saturday 23rd April 2005 of Bill Meaden. Heartfelt sympathy and condolences have been conveyed to his wife, Shirley. See Obituaries.

LSGC Medal Leading Fireman Archibald S. Tolmie. 15/04/05

A LSGC medal with this name inscribed has been handed in to Chippenham Fire Station. So far all attempts to trace Lfm.Tolmie, or his descendants, have failed. Could anyone who can help please contact:-
Sub.O. Jack Nicholson, Red Watch, Chippenham Fire Station 01249 651624.

Fire Design Leader - Part Time. 15/04/05

Hyder Consulting is a global provider of infrastructure solutions encompassing consultancy, advisory, project management and design services based on over a century of engineering exellence.

We now have a part time role - involving approximately 15 hours per week on a flexible basis - based at one of either of our offices in the West Midlands or East Anglia. You would be expected to guide, lead and review the fire design requirements for a variety of building works, encompassing the repair, refurbishment and new build of domestic, commercial and industrial facilities on the bases of the United States Forces in the UK. The successful candidate would be expected to attend meetings and liaise with DE USF staff on tecnical fire design matters. The post would also be suitable for a retired Fire Officer.

A qualified Fire Officer with design experience, you will ideally have knowledge of United States and UK Military Fire Standards. Yoy must also be flexible about your work, proactive and enjoy working as part of a team.

The appointment is subject to the issue of a USF security base pass.

To find out more about this role, please call:- Rod Athey-Pollard, Senior Project Manager on 0121 345 7008 or email:- [email protected]

To apply, please send your CV with a covering letter to:-

[email protected] quoting reference BPS-UK 50660.

Hyder Consulting welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

M.B.E. 07/02/05

Mr. John Hockley of the Essex Branch is to receive the M.B.E. in recognition of his work for pensioners.
Mr. Hockley joined the Fire Service as a Messenger. After service in the R.A.F. during the Second World War he rejoined the Fire Service as a Fireman. He was a member of the National Council until his retirement due to ill health, at which time he was made an Honourary Life Member in recognition of his services to the Association. He is now a member of the Bedfordshire Branch.

Vacancies--Driver Training 09/09/04

Minding Driving Ltd is a driver development company which has just taken on a large nationwide contract training blues & twos, EFAD etc. For this we need to find around 8 retired fire officers who are qualified to drive LGV and have had blues and twos training. We will be starting this project in November and it will last for up to 2 years, so there are opportunities for long term positions. The pay rates will be between �120 and �150 per day plus expenses and the work is nationwide. However we will place recruits at the nearest site to their home.
Anyone interested contact Jayne Smith, Minding Driving Ltd, 01244 823227.

Britains Fire Service at War. 03/11/03

BRITAIN AT WAR - A NEW CHAPTER IS ADDED.

Independent films makers, Flying Films and Roundway Studios have just released another programme, which will fit neatly into the Britain at War genre.

The Classic Cars Theatre, Beaulieu, Hampshire was the venue for the event which attracted over 200 invited guests from across the country.

In 2001, the company launched �The New Forest at War� documentary which shed new light on the strategic importance of the area in the build up to and launch of D-Day. The research was exhaustive and the completed production has subsequently won praise and an endorsement from, the Normandy Veterans Association. The New Forest at War has just been used as the basis for a broadcast programme to be screened in the build up to the D-Day 60 Anniversary in 2004.

Using unique colour archive footage to complement the re-enactments, aerial photography and personal interviews, the new programme, Britain�s Fire Service at War, takes the viewer on a journey from the late 1930�s, when the Fire Brigades Act was introduced, through the early years of the Auxiliary Fire Service, to the formation of the National Fire Service 1941. It then features the remarkable, yet little known, story of the Corps of Canadian Fire fighters who came to England in 1942 in support of the nation�s fire services. Other aspects of the service are highlighted including the fireboats and the Overseas Contingent.

Not only does this programme introduce many fascinating new aspects of life on the Home Front during World War Two, it also reflects aspects of our social history and the �way we were� all those years ago. Archive footage of the build up to D-Day is cleverly used with reconstructions to portray the importance of the period, and the contribution made by the Fire Service.

Interviews with firemen and women, who lived through the period, bring the story to life and add an �appeal� to this new chapter of wartime history.

Help in making the production, was given by organisations as diverse as the Salvation Army, the NAAFI and the Thunder Bay Fire Department, Canada.

Paul Holmes, spokesperson for the production team, said that they were very pleased to be able to bring such a unique story to the attention of the public and all credit was due to the veterans of the service who could remember their time in service as though it was just yesterday. �The opportunity to use previously unseen archived material also adds to the impact of this unique piece of history� added Paul.

SIR GRAHAM MELDRUM CBE who is HM Inspector of Fire Services in England and Wales endorses the programme.

The programme will appeal to everyone who has an interest in Britain�s Home Front during World War Two and to members of the Emergency Services.

Available in DVD and VHS (NTSC format to order) from:
Flying Films Roundway Studios, 50 Roundway, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 7QD
Prices of VHS �14.99 and DVD �16.99/ to include Postage and Package.
www.flyingfilms.co.uk

Volunteers required for the Fire Victim Support Unit 15/07/03

The British Red Cross F.V.S.S. operates an out of hours service for the victims of fire, flood or similar incidents. It operates in many, though not yet all, Brigade areas. The vehicles used are mobile homes with a crew of two, who are on a pager contact when on call. The service provides immediate, temporary shelter in the vehicle; emotional support; first aids sign posting to other agencies; assistance in seeking temporary accomodation; support with care of children and pets; shower and toilet facilities, toiletries, clothing; light refreshments; use of telephone; and use of camera to assist with insurance claims. If you can could help in this, or other aspects of Red Cross work, and would like to know more, and live in the Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham or Cleveland Brigade areas, contact:-

Geoff Hall
Fire Victims co-ordinator
British Red Cross
Croft House
Western Avenue
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Tel:- 0191 27377961 [email protected].

In other Brigade areas, contact:-

British Red Cross
9 Grosvenor Cresent
London
SW1 75E
Tel:- 020 723 55454

CTS Traffic and Transportion recruiting 27/03/03

CTS Traffic & Transportion require people to work on traffic counts/surveys. Good rates of pay are offered, no experience necessary, all training provided.

Contact via E-mail:- [email protected] or Tel:- 01772735664.

Can anyone help? Francis John McGaughey, Surrey Fire Brigade. 28/10/02

I am trying to find a photo of my father, Fm Francis J McGaughey - 1015
(often called Frank or Mac). We would love to have a picture of him in his Firefighters uniform. He was at Esher Firestation, Surrey for many years. He retired in about 1976. Sadly he passed away in 1994 and we miss him so much.

I am his daughter and I've been living in Izmir, Turkey for 22 years. Our older son is my Dads first grandson, he and his younger brother and my husband and I are very keen to have any photo of Dad at work in his gear. Thank you for reading this. Keep safe.
Can anyone help. Contact :- webmaster

The Fire Service Camping and Caravan Club. 07/01/02

For more than 20 yrs, we have been holding rallies for are 400 plus members. This year due to Foot and Mouth we saw a reduction in the number of rallies and ralliers. However, what a year it turned out to be for one of are members, Ken Thompson, who was attending a Fire Service rally organised by our Mersyside branch at the Colomendy outdoor education centre in North Wales. A chance encounter between Mrs Rita Gallagher, who was at the centre with a totally different group, and Ken, led to an emotional reunion. In Febuary 1965 Ken had rescued one of Rita's two children from a house fire in Liverpool. Rita said "he gave me back my sons life, I have waited 36yrs for this day to be able to thank him again. I just wanted to hug and kiss him".Ken now retired, still remembers the little 4 month old Christopher he carried to safety. Everybody who knows Ken knows how much he enjoys his rallying, but that weekend will take some beating.

If you are a serving or retired member of the Fire Service, uniformed or civilian, and would like more information about the Fire Service Club you are welcome to contact me Tel No. 01616439060. I can't guarantee a weekend like Kens but I can guarantee an excellent weekend in some superb settings in good company at a reasonable cost. Just take a look at our Rally Programme for 2002.

Brian Haynes National Secretary.
"The Fire Service Camping and Caravan Club".

Fire Service Camping and Caravan Club		Rally List - 2002
		AGM RALLY ILKLEY (August 6th-16th 2002)

Narf News - Items Required 10/10/01

Dont just read Narf News - be in it. The editor is always looking for stories and items of interest. Its your magazine - so help to produce it. Send items to the editor:-

Pete Maguire
29 Lynton Drive
High Lane
Stockport
SK6 8JE
Email:[email protected]

Message from the webmaster 09/03/01

This website has been provided for the use of all members of the association. Not just for items submitted by individuals, but as a means whereby branches can give information on, for example, meetings, events, socials, outings, recruitment. Likewise for districts. I appeal therefore to all branch and district officials - please give me items to put on the site. Just click-on webmaster. Do not think that your activities are of no interest to other branches/districts. You may encourage them to be more active. The more information on this site, the better it will be. Any branch or district official who would like their names, contact numbers or email addresses to appear, please let me know.

REPLY FROM THE USA 24/10/01

To All The Firefighters in the United Kingdom:

On September 11. 2001 Our Country came under attack. The Fire Service of N.Y City took a devastating blow. Our Country had been awaken to a new type of terror. The Fire Department of New York and New Jersey were called to action for a disaster that was never expected nor ever compared by any disaster witnessed by any of our Firefighters.
I have the deepest respect and sympathy for the men and women of the N.Y. City Fire Department(FDNY).
My Fire Department, the Hainesport Fire Co. #1 is located in the South Central area of New Jersey. We were called to assist the N.Y. City Fire Department during this disaster and serveral of my Firefighters witnessed firsthand the carnage of this brutal attack.
Immediately after this attack, we asked ourselves "what now"? Who do we turn to? As the United States of America, who will come to our aid? I am writing to you because I found out who would come to our needs. YOU, the great people of the United Kingdom. The people of the United Kingdom rushed to our cause. You offered Emergency Service Personnel, Medical Aid and Military Support.
Our Brother Firefighters on the other side of the Ocean were feeling the same pain and feeling the same sense of frustration as us. The horrible feeling of not beeing able to help our brother Firefighters that were trapped was frustrating to us and was obviously felt by the Firefighters of your Great Country.
I must confess, that after 21 years in the Fire Service I never thought that the brotherhood of International Firefighters would be pulled together so tightly. In these past few weeks I have learned of the strength of the brotherhood among the Firefighters of your Great Country. I also learn how quickly the people of the United Kingdom give of themselves to help their neighbors here in thr United States of America.
I am very proud to belong to a brotherhood that has no boundaries.
I want everyone to know how thankful we are. Please pass this message around to the other Firefighters and Fire Brigades within the United Kingdom.

Thank you.

Chief, William Wiley,
Hainsport Fire Co. #1
P.O. Box 245
Hainesport, N.J. 08036
U.S.A

Wanted - N.A.R.F. in other countries. 27/03/01

Information and contacts nos. for National Retired Firefighter Associations in other countries - particularly South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the U.S.A. If anyone can help, please contact webmaster.

Membership Number 02/03/01

This number is important. If you do not know your number, contact your Branch Secretary. Individual members contact Graham Bow. Address on the Join Now page.

Events

If any District, Branch or individual is planning, or has had, any event which may be of interest to others, please inform webmaster, and it will be placed on the notice board.

The Fire Safety Engineering College, Sultanate of Oman 02/03/01

The college was established four years ago and offers specialised fire, safety, risk management and engineering training programmes from basic to degree level, in conjunction with the University of Central Lancashire. Full information about the College can be obtained on our website:-www.fsecoman.com We are currently training around 6,000 students per year and from September onwards we have an extremely large intake of students. We are urgently seeking trainers in all subjects from recruit firefighter to command and management and fire safety, on short and long term contracts. Pay and conditions are extremely attractive, especially given the favourable UK exchange rates at present.

What are you doing on Sunday 14/05/01

Contact the Elderly are Brewing Up for Friendship National charity Contact the Elderly helps nearly 2000 elderly people enjoy Sundays - sometimes the loneliest day of the week. One Sunday a month Contact groups meet regularly for tea and companionship. Each elderly member is assigned a volunteer driver and together they become part of a small group invited to a volunteer host's home for tea with all the other members. They visit a different host each month but the group remains the same and relationships grow. A warm welcome, a family home, meeting old friends and new provides elderly members with a vital link with the community and gives them something to look forward to. The charity is actively looking for: volunteer drivers with cars and an afternoon to spare once a month. volunteer hosts willing top put on a simple tea in their homes - the only thing needed is a downstairs toilet. If you've recently retired and are searching for ways to fill your free time constructively, particularly now that you'll be spending less time with work friends and colleagues, perhaps you might think of setting up your own Contact group with help from the charity. Contact's free service is aimed at helping people who live alone, are well into their 70s and over, have little support from family and are unable to get out without assistance. Comments from group members confirms that Contact the Elderly are filling the void. Harold Asquith,89 says,"The time I feel most lonely is after six o'clock. But when I've been out to a Contact tea I don't feel lonely at all. I have just fresh memories of a lovely afternoon out with friends. It has made all the difference to my life. If you'd like to find out which of the 210 Contact groups is nearest to you, or would like to volunteer, please call FREEPHONE 0800 71 6543 or visit:- www.contact-the-elderly.org