The Armed Forces
There are now 40 City Livery Companies who have connections and sponsorships with the Armed Forces, and the Fan Makers are no exception. In 1888, Fan Maker and Lord Mayor Sir James Whitehead raised funds for equipment, and in 1899 Sir Alfred Newton, Lord Mayor and Fan Maker, inaugurated the City Imperial Volunteers to fight in the Boer War.
The Company is affiliated with the following units of Her Majesty's armed forces and makes an annual achievement award to a member of each of these units on the recommendation of the recipient's Commanding Officer.
The Royal Navy
Master John Hammond brought about the affiliation with HMS Westminster in 1993. Launched only the previous year, and built by Swan Hunter on the Tyne, she was commissioned in the Pool of London with a special service at Westminster Abbey. She is a Type 23 Duke Class Frigate (F237) and, initially, her main role was to search out and destroy enemy submarines. Today she is more likely to take up any appropriate task the Admiralty requires of her. HMS Westminster has been deployed operationally in the Gulf, off the West Coast of Africa - where she provided aid to Sierra Leone - and in the Falkland Islands. She also played a prominent role in the Millennium celebrations at Greenwich where she was moored to buoys positioned directly on the meridian line. Members of the Company have visited her on several occasions both in Portsmouth and in the Pool of London.
British Army
The Fan Makers adopted 56 (London) Division, Signals Regiment, TA in 1953; however, this was disbanded in one of the Army’s peacetime reorganisations. In 1962 the Company adopted 79 (City of London) Company, Womens’ Royal Army Corp (TA), but again the unit was disbanded in 1967.
In 1988 Master Patrick Bird, who had a long association with the TA, helped form an association between the Company and 217 (London) Field Squadron Royal Engineers (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) (Volunteers). The Squadron was founded in 1861 and its engineers served with distinction in the Boer War and both World Wars. It is one of the six Territorial Engineer units which comprise 101 Engineer Regiment (V). In peacetime the role of the Squadron is to clear and dispose of unexploded mines and bombs, both at home and overseas.
217 Field Squadron Update
October 2008 to March 2009 have been both busy and productive for 217 Field Squadron.
During October 2008, LCpl Stockwell and Cpl Green deployed for five weeks’ Explosive Ordnance Clearance in Canada. Over 150 items of unexploded ordnance were found and disposed of during the Squadron’s time on the Suffield prairie. This time also included some adventurous training – a week of ski mountaineering that proved to be emotionally challenging!
November 2008 saw a farewell to WO2(QMSI) Steve Williams after his 22 year career in the Army. He returns to civilian life as a qualified tree surgeon and maintains an interest in game hunting. In his place we are pleased to welcome WO2 (QMSI) Loz Day and we all hope to learn a great deal under his guidance.
In January 2009, Capt Greenhalgh and LCpl Adeyeye returned from Afghanistan having been the first Reserve Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal operators to have deployed to Afghanistan. During the tour they were in charge of Conventional Munition Disposal. Helping the civilian community is also a big part of modern operations and, as such, the team helped in safely delivering turbines to the Kajaki Dam. This will help the regeneration of Helmand for years to come.
Five members of the Squadron attended the Fan Makers’ February Dinner and, as ever, the invitations were gratefully received. The Regimental Adventurous Training programme in March 2009 involved eight members of the Squadron conducting 10 days of skiing in Les Deux Alpes. The training allowed personnel to work towards Basic Skiing and Ski Touring qualifications.
The Squadron continues to send personnel on development courses and we are starting to raise the bar on just how well the Territorial and Regular Army can integrate. With two more members of the Squadron earmarked for Afghanistan in October, never have 217 seen such a busy and testing time. However, we are keeping our standards up and still managing to retain a level head in our civilian jobs, at home with our families and, of course, as a Squadron.
We would like to thank the Fan Makers in their continued support of 217 Field Squadron and look forward to hosting you all in the near future.
The Royal Air Force
Following a suggestion by Liveryman (now Assistant) and former Wing Commander Michael Smith, in conversation with Past Master Godfrey Bilton a meeting was arranged with Air Chief Marshal Sir David Cousins. The Court visited RAF Marham in Norfolk in 1996 and were received by the Officer Commanding II (AC) Sqn, Wing Commander R F Garwood DFC. The Squadron was formally adopted at a Livery dinner on 17th October that year.
No. II (AC) Squadron was the first ‘fixed wing’ squadron in the World; it was formed on 13th May 1912 and saw service in both world wars and both Gulf wars. They moved to RAF Marham in 1991 and today fly Tornado GR4A, principally performing tactical and armed reconnaissance roles in support of army units on the ground. Their motto is ‘Second to None’.
The Company formally adopted the Squadron in 1996. Since that time friendships have been formed between liverymen and Squadron personnel and hospitality is enjoyed on both sides. A golf tournament is played annually between the Company's golfing society and a team from the Squadron.