SAVED FROM THE FLAMES

A History of the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire

Fire Information Group UK

“Mind the Gap” Seminar on Fire Wednesday 11 June 2014

Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London.

AN EARLY FIRE ESCAPE DESIGN (1830)

1836: THE SPLF FOUNDED

The original founders of the Society included: • Abraham Wivell: wigmaker, portrait painter & fire-escape designer

• Rev Henry Hughes, Minister of Bedford Chapel, Bloomsbury, becomes the Chairman

• William Spring, a bankrupt, appointed as Secretary

• Captain George William Manby, FRS, inventor of lifesaving equipment

Its early years were marked with financial struggles as it attempted to build a network of fire escapes. Queen Victoria became its patron in 1838 and the SPLF rebrands itself a ‘Royal’ society.

However, in deepening financial crisis, the SPLF splits in 1843.

WIVELL’S FIRE ESCAPE IN ACTION

CAPTAIN GEORGE WILLIAM MANBY

1843: THE SPLF REORGANISED

New ‘men of weight and influence’ step in:

• Sampson Low, snr, a publisher and philanthropist

• Sampson Low, jr, ‘a great invalid’, the new SPLF Secretary

• Henry Pownell, a magistrate and anti-slavery campaigner

The network of 85 fire escape stations staffed by 100 ‘conductors’ was developed across London. This was merged with the newly formed Metropolitan Fire Brigade in 1867. Fire escapes were then provided by the SPLF to 71 towns and cities across Britain.

SAMPSON LOW, SENIOR

HENRY POWNELL ANTI-SLAVERY CAMPAIGNER

SAMUEL WOOD & HIS DOG, BILL

RSPLF FIRE ESCAPES IN ACTION

RSPLF FIRE ESCAPE STATION SITES IN LONDON

The 1867 Annual Meeting

1881-1911: Reorientation with the Insurance Men

In 1881 the SPLF again reorients itself, ceasing to provide fire escapes and instead devoting its energies primarily to the recognition of bravery in saving life from fires. It becomes a Charity and draws its Trustees from major insurance companies.

In 1901 Edward VII declined to become patron and had to drop ‘Royal’ from its title. A decade later the Society sought the right to use the title following George V’s accession, which resulted in Winston Churchill stating that the SPLF had never been officially entitled to use the term in the first place.

THE LAST 100 YEARS

• The Great War 1914-18: air raids and new challenges • The Second World War: rationing & State vs Society awards • 1964: Dwindling income restricts the Society’s activities and

the award of medals ceased • 1974: At a low ebb, it is proposed the Society merge with

the Royal Humane Society • 1976: With several new trustees and a new Secretary (Ted

Gledhill), the SPLF slowly begins to be re-energised • 1981: The Society sought approval to use ‘Royal’ in its title …

and was again refused by the Home Office • 1983: The Society again began to award medals ‘in

exceptional cases’ • 2012: A major 424 page history of the Society, Saved from

the Flames, is published, marking its 175 anniversary • 2013: The latest medal design is introduced

THE SOCIETY’S AWARDS

• MEDALS

• CERTIFICATES

• WATCHES

• MONEY

1ST TYPE MEDAL (1836-1843) POLICE CONSTABLE LIPSCOMBE

2nd TYPE MEDAL (1843-1849) POLICE CONSTABLE SMITH

3rd TYPE MEDAL (1849-1891) CONDUCTOR LOW

4th TYPE MEDAL (1892–1902) POLICE SERGEANT COULTER

5th TYPE MEDAL (1902–1963) POLICE SERGEANT AYRES

6th TYPE MEDAL (1983 – 2011) ALAN AINSWORTH

7th TYPE MEDAL (2014 - )