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The Massey Shaw

The historic London Fireboat MASSEY SHAW is named after Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, founder and first Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade
Her history began when she was ordered from J.Samuel White at Cowes, Isle of Wight by the London County Council at a cost of £17,000.
She was commissioned in London in July 1935.Her first "shout" was in September that year at a huge fire at Colonial Wharf, Wapping...

Extracts are published here from a full history of this unique craft byJohn Furlonger which includes details of her service as one of the Dunkirk 'Little Ships' (where she ferried over 600 soldiers to safety, despite mine fields and water only 3ft 9in deep, rather than fighting fires as her volunteer crew had expected), as the first fire appliance to be fitted with wireless communication , her major role in firefighting during the Blitz (when shore side appliances were hampered by destruction of the water mains) to her unexpected role as a secret meeting place for Herbert Morrison and Aneurin Bevan as they worked to set up the National Health Service!

She was retired from service in 1971 (her last major "shouts" included a huge fire at Tate&Lyle at Silvertown and the steamship Jumna ablaze in the Royal Albert Dock).
Sadly she was then abandoned - used as a walkway during dock rebuilding at St Katherine's Dock and it was even proposed that she was put on a stick in the middle of the ornamental lake in Thamesmead (then a showpiece new development)!!

In 1980 Philip Wray gathered together a group of people to form a Charitable Preservation Society, negotiated a lease from the GLC (then owners) and set about restoring the Massey Shaw ...

Over 60 years after her launch her two massive Gleniffer diesel engines and pumping equipment from Merryweathers in Greenwich are still in working order and giving displays at charitable events up and down the Thames (and beyond!)
She was present at the Opening of the Thames barrier, had the honour of escorting HM The Queen at the VJDay Thames River Pageant and escorted HMY Britannia on her final visit to the Pool of London.

The Massey Shaw returns to Dunkirk every 5 years with the remaining Dunkirk Little Ships and the last survivng member of her original volunteer RWJ "Dick" Helyer BEM is president of The Massey Shaw & Marine Vessels Preservation Society which is a registered charity and depends entirely on support and donations from its members, sponsors and the public.

If you would like more information about where and when you can see this beautiful and unique craft in action, her history or how you can help the work of the Trust please contact them...

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The historic London Fireboat MASSEY SHAW is named after Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, founder and first Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Her history began when she was ordered from J.Samuel White at Cowes, Isle of Wight by the London County Council at a cost of £17,000. She was commissioned in London in July 1935.Her first "shout" was in September that year at a huge fire at Colonial Wharf, Wapping...
Extracts are published here from a full history of this unique craft byJohn Furlonger which includes details of her service as one of the Dunkirk 'Little Ships' (where she ferried over 600 soldiers to safety, despite mine fields and water only 3ft 9in deep, rather than fighting fires as her volunteer crew had expected), as the first fire appliance to be fitted with wireless communication , her major role in firefighting during the Blitz (when shore side appliances were hampered by destruction of the water mains) to her unexpected role as a secret meeting place for Herbert Morrison and Aneurin Bevan as they worked to set up the National Health Service!
She was retired from service in 1971 (her last major "shouts" included a huge fire at Tate&Lyle at Silvertown and the steamship Jumna ablaze in the Royal Albert Dock). Sadly she was then abandoned - used as a walkway during dock rebuilding at St Katherine's Dock and it was even proposed that she was put on a stick in the middle of the ornamental lake in Thamesmead (then a showpiece new development)!! In 1980 Philip Wray gathered together a group of people to form a Charitable Preservation Society, negotiated a lease from the GLC (then owners) and set about restoring the Massey Shaw ... Over 60 years after her launch her two massive Gleniffer diesel engines and pumping equipment from Merryweathers in Greenwich are still in working order and giving displays at charitable events up and down the Thames (and beyond!) She was present at the Opening of the Thames barrier, had the honour of escorting HM The Queen at the VJDay Thames River Pageant and escorted HMY Britannia on her final visit to the Pool of London.
The Massey Shaw returns to Dunkirk every 5 years with the remaining Dunkirk Little Ships and the last survivng member of her original volunteer RWJ "Dick" Helyer BEM is president of The Massey Shaw & Marine Vessels Preservation Society which is a registered charity and depends entirely on support and donations from its members, sponsors and the public. If you would like more information about where and when you can see this beautiful and unique craft in action, her history or how you can help the work of the Trust please contact them...