Massey Shaw Fireboat

Massey Shaw Fireboat Massey Shaw was built in 1935 as a fireboat for the Thames. In 1940 she went to Dunkirk and rescued 5

Massey is located in West India Dock, Canary Wharf, London, E14 with the Docklands Scout Project. You can book a visit by appointment through our website or invite one if our volunteers to present at your local group or organisation. If you would like to arrange a visit please contact via our website www.masseyshaw.org and follow our social media channels for updates on the restoration.

We recently hosted a number of small groups from the The Worshipful Company of Firefighters who are a long term supporte...
12/09/2023

We recently hosted a number of small groups from the The Worshipful Company of Firefighters who are a long term supporter of Massey Shaw and regularly host events and fundraise to promote our work. We are proud to partner with such a dedicated organisation who's aim is to "promote the development and advancement of the science, art and the practice of firefighting, fire prevention and life safety." We support this aim and believe the sharing of our heritage is vital to the development of modern day firefighting.

Waiting for a message from above . Colin P is ready to engage the fire pumps on Massey Shaw .
27/08/2023

Waiting for a message from above . Colin P is ready to engage the fire pumps on Massey Shaw .

See our fellow Dunkirk little ships for the veteran cruise. Unfortunately we're still static without engines so cannot j...
25/08/2023

See our fellow Dunkirk little ships for the veteran cruise. Unfortunately we're still static without engines so cannot join this year.
Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (official)

There are lots of ways to support Massey without lifting a finger! Register for Give as You Live to help generate funds ...
19/08/2023

There are lots of ways to support Massey without lifting a finger! Register for Give as You Live to help generate funds as you shop or through eBay! Why not try out a Birthday fundraiser on Facebook!?

Find out more here: https://masseyshaw.org/donate/

Detailed work with the polish by Rodney on board Massey recently. The ships bell is an important part of Masseys history...
12/08/2023

Detailed work with the polish by Rodney on board Massey recently. The ships bell is an important part of Masseys history and for over 20 people it has also been used to baptise them on board! Check the comments for links to our video and blog post about the many uses of our ships bell!

Fire station open days: We're looking forward to attending various Fire Station Open Days in the coming weeks. We've add...
04/08/2023

Fire station open days: We're looking forward to attending various Fire Station Open Days in the coming weeks. We've added these to our events calendar and we would love to meet you!

Drop by to say hello, bring a friend or the family and enjoy fun activities, food and drinks. If you're able to help as a volunteer, please get in touch!

https://masseyshaw.org/about/events/

VIDEO: Join David Rogers and author Bill Hickin in the crew space discussing the disbandment of the National Fire Servic...
03/08/2023

VIDEO: Join David Rogers and author Bill Hickin in the crew space discussing the disbandment of the National Fire Service (NFS) and how it played a role in establishing the modern day fire brigade as we know it.

This is a follow on to the webinar we hosted on 'What did the NFS do for us' which you can watch back for a small fee of £3.00 which goes straight back into Massey's restoration.

Watch the video here:
https://masseyshaw.org/news/video-the-national-fire-service-nfs-75-years-on-from-disbandment/

This week our volunteers have been busy working on repairing the woodwork on the wheelhouse. Did you know the wheelhouse...
28/07/2023

This week our volunteers have been busy working on repairing the woodwork on the wheelhouse.

Did you know the wheelhouse was not part of the original specification of Massey. Comment below why you think it might have been added considering it hinders the full rotation of the main water monitor.

A few snaps of our volunteers on board today undertaking various maintenance jobs and enjoying the sunshine! We have vis...
12/07/2023

A few snaps of our volunteers on board today undertaking various maintenance jobs and enjoying the sunshine! We have visitors coming down soon, so lots to do to get Massey ship shape!
Keen to support? Visit our website or send us an email [email protected]

As we celebrate 75 years of the NHS, we're thrilled to share an exclusive article that delves deep into the history of M...
05/07/2023

As we celebrate 75 years of the NHS, we're thrilled to share an exclusive article that delves deep into the history of Massey Shaw and its hidden contribution to the formation of our beloved National Health Service (NHS).

👉 Join us on a captivating journey back in time as we reveal Massey's secret meeting that played a crucial role in shaping the NHS.

🌟 Don't miss out on this enlightening read! Click the link below to explore the untold connection between Massey Shaw and the NHS. Share it with friends and family, and let's celebrate the extraordinary impact of community-driven initiatives that have stood the test of time.

📚 Read more: https://masseyshaw.org/news/masseys-secret-meeting-to-help-form-the-nhs-75-years-on/

🚒 Together, let's honor the past, embrace the present, and build a brighter future!

As we celebrate the formation of the National Health Service (NHS) on 5th July 1948, we reflect on Massey Shaw's secretive role off the coast of Southend on an unconfirmed date in July 1947.

The Thames Traditional Boat festival is back! Get the dates in your diary! Unfortunately Massey is unable to attend due ...
25/06/2023

The Thames Traditional Boat festival is back! Get the dates in your diary! Unfortunately Massey is unable to attend due to our ongoing engine rebuild, but maybe next year!?

This week we moved alongside Lord Amory, then Portwey was moved to the Quay on the south side and finally we went alongs...
22/12/2022

This week we moved alongside Lord Amory, then Portwey was moved to the Quay on the south side and finally we went alongside Portwey. This was to make way for a large barge to take up our previous position as there will be some filming underway in the dock. We hope to be moved back to our previous berth in a week or so and are glad to see a slightly different view of the dock.
Thanks again to all of our volunteers who ensure everything was moved correctly and safely.
The Steam Tug Portwey Trust

Massey has had a covering of the white stuff over the past few days making us feel a little festive so our volunteers se...
15/12/2022

Massey has had a covering of the white stuff over the past few days making us feel a little festive so our volunteers setup our Christmas tree in the crew space over a cup of tea and cake! We're bunkering down for the winter and will be checking in on Massey remotely using our CCTV cameras.

From the Directors of the charity we would like to send a HUGE THANK YOU out to the volunteers who have dedicated so much time in restoring and maintaining Massey in 2022. As we look ahead to 2023 we are keen to engage with our local community in more ways and continue to share the unique story and importance of Massey Shaw.

We are in need of more help at Board level and as a volunteer, so if you can commit time in 2023 we would love to hear from you.

For now, please enjoy some photos of Massey in the snow and we'll be back in 2023!

The ongoing search for engine spares continues! Volunteers Colin, Derek and Mark have been scouring the countryside for ...
08/12/2022

The ongoing search for engine spares continues! Volunteers Colin, Derek and Mark have been scouring the countryside for Gleniffer engine spares that may be useful for us in the future. Last week they travelled to Frampton on Severn to recover some DC8 parts from a barge that had sunk and then re floated.

These have now been recovered back to Essex, jet washed and stored. Work is now starting on derusting, examining and preserving useable parts. A lot of the orange is mud and silt which as you can see once cleaned up leave us with a variety of useable parts.

It's great we have been able to source these spares which will hopefully all be useable, however there are still numerous pieces of the engines we need to have custom made costing upwards of £5,000 in some cases!

As we plan ahead for Dunkirk in 2025, we are actively looking for additional funds and support from the public. Please get in touch if you had any ideas to generate funds or wish to organise fundraising events in 2023.

With Amazon Black Friday deals you can support Massey Shaw without lifting a finger! Well maybe, one finger to click the...
24/11/2022

With Amazon Black Friday deals you can support Massey Shaw without lifting a finger! Well maybe, one finger to click the Amazon Smile link and sign in with your Amazon account before getting those great deals! Amazon Smile contributes a percentage of all Amazon purchases to your selected charity and we're registered as Massey Shaw and Marine Vessels Preservation Society. Just click the link to get started!
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/charity/select/search?q=massey+shaw&orig=&ie=UTF-8

Reminder: Our AGM is to be held on Wednesday 30th via Zoom. If you would like to find out our plans for 2023 and updates...
24/11/2022

Reminder: Our AGM is to be held on Wednesday 30th via Zoom. If you would like to find out our plans for 2023 and updates on the engine repairs, Dunkirk and more please fill in the form on our website and we'll send you the details.
You can also find details about fundraising, leaving a gift in your will, subscribing as a member and maybe try our Dunkirk word search with your kids?
https://masseyshaw.org/agm/agm-2022/

07 Nov Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2022 Posted at 21:12h in AGM, News by Massey Shaw Share We want to share as much information as possible to ensure our supporters are able to join and hear about the work we are doing to maintain Massey Shaw, so we will be hosting a hybrid AGM this year. Members o...

Essex Fire Museum volunteers have created a memorial plaque to honour the fire fighters who lost their lives protecting ...
11/11/2022

Essex Fire Museum volunteers have created a memorial plaque to honour the fire fighters who lost their lives protecting Essex during the second world war. The plaque was unveiled after a special Armistice Day ceremony at service headquarters today. This will accompany a similar plaque the volunteers previously created to honour fire fighters who lost their lives during the first world war.

Lest we forget.

11/11/2022

Volunteers have been working hard in recent weeks to fix the deck hose reel which was leaking and restore it to perfect working order again! One of the many task ticked off the list outside of rebuilding the engines.

If you enjoy seeing this type of content from Massey Shaw then please give it a like, share it, or why not join in by volunteering! You can also support us as a subscriber for as little as £3 per month!

Visit https://masseyshaw.org/support/membership/ to join as a member!

AGM 2022: This years annual general meeting will be a hybrid event with our Board meeting in person in London hosting an...
08/11/2022

AGM 2022: This years annual general meeting will be a hybrid event with our Board meeting in person in London hosting an online Zoom meeting for our members and stakeholders to join remotely.

All of the details, including the agenda, can be found on our website. You will need to fill in the form to get the Zoom details emailed to you: https://masseyshaw.org/agm/agm-2022/

Date: Wednesday 30th November 2022

At this time we ask existing members to check your subscription is up to date and for anyone wishing to support us further to subscribe and continue to support us.

Any questions, please email [email protected]

07 Nov Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2022 Posted at 21:12h in AGM, News by Massey Shaw Share We want to share as much information as possible to ensure our supporters are able to join and hear about the work we are doing to maintain Massey Shaw, so we will be hosting a hybrid AGM this year. Members o...

It’s time to celebrate Britain’s maritime heritage once again with the National Historic Ships UK Virtual Awards Ceremon...
02/11/2022

It’s time to celebrate Britain’s maritime heritage once again with the National Historic Ships UK Virtual Awards Ceremony 2022!

The ceremony will be streamed from our website at 7.00pm on Tuesday 22 November – and you’re invited!

Join us and guest presenter Ash Faire-Ring at Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent to learn the winners of our 2022 Photography Competition, Marsh Volunteer, and Excellence in Maritime Conservation Awards. We’ll also celebrate our Flagships of the Year and launch Historic Dockyard Chatham as our newest Shipshape Network Hub for the South East. Not to mention some very special behind-the-scenes content from the Dockyard, including the Ship Model Stores and a former Royal Navy submarine.

Follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and join us on the night to congratulate the winners as they are announced. Don't forget to use the event hashtag so we can see and share your posts.

Watch the ceremony live from our website at this link.

Filmed in The Historic Dockyard Chatham learn who this year's winners are for our Photography Competition, Marsh Volunteer Awards, Flagship of the Year, and Martyn Heighton Award for Excellence in Maritime Conservation, plus the launch of our Shipshape Network Hub. You'll also get a behind the scene...

Great to see a fellow Little Ship back in British waters/land for restoration!
28/10/2022

Great to see a fellow Little Ship back in British waters/land for restoration!

Did you know you might save £400 inheritance tax for every £1,000 you leave Massey Shaw in your Will? The best thing is ...
28/10/2022

Did you know you might save £400 inheritance tax for every £1,000 you leave Massey Shaw in your Will? The best thing is your adviser only needs our registered charity name and number to include! For more information, please visit our website: https://masseyshaw.org/support/leave-a-gift-in-your-will/

Gifts in Wills ensure that both Massey Shaw and the charity continues to share the vessel and it’s vast history with future generations.

Check this out from the LFB archive: Our final   is this ‘goliath’ pocket watch. This large sized timepiece wasn’t actua...
25/10/2022

Check this out from the LFB archive: Our final is this ‘goliath’ pocket watch. This large sized timepiece wasn’t actually made to be worn but instead features a stand to display it. It was presented to Chief Officer Captain Sir Eyre Massey Shaw in 1898. Learn more here orlo.uk/4G6by

“Our final is this ‘goliath’ pocket watch. This large sized timepiece wasn’t actually made to be worn but instead features a stand to display it. It was presented to Chief Officer Captain Sir Eyre Massey Shaw in 1898. Learn more here https://t.co/WTCJ2yloZ0”

EVENT: event  ! Join us to mark the 36th anniversary of the pilot movie showing of  ’sburning with a showing of the pilo...
29/09/2022

EVENT: event ! Join us to mark the 36th anniversary of the pilot movie showing of ’sburning with a showing of the pilot movie followed by an exhibition of London’s Burning related artefacts. Booking details to be released shortly on our website www.Firebrigademuseum.com ’sburning

event ! Join us to mark the 36th anniversary of the pilot movie showing of ’sburning with a showing of the pilot movie followed by an exhibition of London’s Burning related artefacts. Booking details to be released shortly on our website www.Firebrigademuseum.com ’sburning

25/09/2022

Great time lapse of the flotilla!

Here are a few photos from the Plaistow Fire Station Open Day! Thanks to all those who attended and our volunteers for s...
22/09/2022

Here are a few photos from the Plaistow Fire Station Open Day! Thanks to all those who attended and our volunteers for setting up and talking to everyone!

Our charities mission is "..To advance public education in the history of marine vessels in particular by the preservati...
10/09/2022

Our charities mission is "..To advance public education in the history of marine vessels in particular by the preservation and public display of the Massey Shaw fireboat."

One of the ways we facilitate this is through fire station open days across London, but naturally we can't take the boat with us every time! Instead our volunteers put together a stand with information about the restoration, Massey's history and some interactive elements too!

We would like to thank all the members of the public we've met over the past few weeks at Fire Station open days and the amazing London Fire Brigade staff who invite us along and do amazing work for their communities.

We hope to see many of you again soon on board or at another event!

📸Photos from Enfield Fire Station open day where over 900 people attended!

If you're able to support our work please consider a donation or organising a fundraising event in your local area!
https://masseyshaw.org/support/donations-and-fundraising/

David R recently attended the Headcorn Emergency Services Show and shared a few snaps from the event! Great to see the a...
09/09/2022

David R recently attended the Headcorn Emergency Services Show and shared a few snaps from the event! Great to see the authentic wartime uniforms and engines plus more modern day appliances! Visit the website to stay informed about next years event: https://www.headcornevents.co.uk/Events/Emergency+Services+Show

Our Board and volunteers mourn the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. God save the King.
08/09/2022

Our Board and volunteers mourn the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. God save the King.

The Association Dunkirk Little Ships mourns the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. God save the King.

The London Fire Brigade officially welcomed two new fire boats into their fleet, as part of a £40 million investment wit...
08/09/2022

The London Fire Brigade officially welcomed two new fire boats into their fleet, as part of a £40 million investment with the Mayor of London to expand their fleet of equipment and vehicles.

A flotilla event (1 September) with the Mayor of London was organised seamlessly between our Harbour Master team and the Fire Brigade’s Group Commander, Nick Harding.

Each of the fire boats has a flat bottom so that they can reach the riverside easily. They’ve been named Tanner and Errington in recognition of two heroic members of the London Fire Brigade, who received awards for their courage and bravery during the Second World War: Auxiliary Fire officer Gillian Tanner (1920-2016) was awarded the George Medal, and Auxiliary Firefighter Harry Errington (1910-2004) was awarded the George Cross.

Based out of Lambeth River Station, the fire boats will be used by the London Fire Brigade, who will work alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and RNLI in keeping the river safe.

Find out more https://hubs.la/Q01lCMZ00

Get up to date with the https://hubs.la/Q01lCPNK0

Subscribe now https://hubs.la/Q01lCK5l0

Maintenance update: It's been a while since we posted any updates so keep checking back over the next few days to see wh...
07/09/2022

Maintenance update: It's been a while since we posted any updates so keep checking back over the next few days to see what our volunteers have been up to!

Firstly, we've taken off the hatch leading into the crew space to sand and apply some varnish whilst the weather was sunny! Thanks to Bill H, Rodney M and David R.

If you're able to support Massey with a one off donation or a monthly/yearly subscription it goes long way!
https://masseyshaw.org/donate/

03/09/2022

Volunteers needed. We have a number of dates in the coming weeks where visitors would like to book tours of Massey. Due to holiday commitments we're struggling to facilitate these and hate turning people away. If you're available on the following dates to act as a tour guide, please email [email protected]
11/09/2022
17/09/2022
Thank you

Go and check out our fellow Little Ships this September! CONFIRMED - The  27TH Annual Veterans Cruise will take place ov...
08/08/2022

Go and check out our fellow Little Ships this September!

CONFIRMED - The 27TH Annual Veterans Cruise will take place over the weekend 3rd - 4th September.

On the Saturday 3rd September, we will be welcoming some of the very last Veterans from Operation Dynamo, Normandy Veterans, Chelsea Pensioners, Far East Prisoners of War, ladies who served in the WRENS during WWII and Coastal Forces Veterans. Leaving from Penton Hook heading upstream at mid-day and returning around 5pm, the route has many good locations to view the boats and their veteran guests such as alongside Penton Hook and Bell Wier Locks, the fleet will depart PHYC at 12:00 and cruise downstream turning before Chertsey lock back up towards Penton Hook lock with the first boats entering around 12:30. The flotilla will make its way through Staines and turn before Bell Wier and then make their way back to Penton Hook Marina. Laleham Pleasure Grounds, Staines Riverside and Penton Hook Lock will provide a wonderful vantage point to view the fleet.

On Sunday 4th September the Little Ships will be hosting some from the South Atlantic Medal Association, the War Widows Association, Korean War Veterans, the Not Forgotten Association, the Argyll and Sutherland Veterans and HMS Britannia Veterans. Departing at 10am heading downstream to Weybridge Mariners Club. Both Chertsey and Shepperton Lock as well as the Chertsey Meads will provide a fantastic opportunity to view the fleet and the ADLS welcomes support all along the designated routes and will be delighted to see the public greeting their nation’s war heroes.

Special thanks to New Penton Hook Yacht Club and Penton Hook Marina MDL Marinas who are hosting the Dunkirk Little Ships and providing safe access for the Veterans

Volunteer help required. Over the coming weeks we are in need of some more volunteers to help with preparation (sanding ...
08/08/2022

Volunteer help required. Over the coming weeks we are in need of some more volunteers to help with preparation (sanding etc) and painting. If you're good with a paintbrush and have some time to spare, please email [email protected] and we will send out dates when we're on board and hopefully you can join us!

Please like and share Essex Fire Museums next open day!A big thanks to everyone who came along to our open day on Sunday...
04/08/2022

Please like and share Essex Fire Museums next open day!
A big thanks to everyone who came along to our open day on Sunday. We hope you had a nice time.
We still have afternoon spaces left for our next open day on Tuesday 9th August. If you would like to come along, please email us at: [email protected] and tell us the number in your party and the time you would like to arrive. Thankyou.😀

We will be attending the Kingston Fire Station open day this Sunday 16th July from midday. If you're nearby and would li...
14/07/2022

We will be attending the Kingston Fire Station open day this Sunday 16th July from midday. If you're nearby and would like to support us please come along!

  Our volunteers have been recording and testing the hose we have stored on board. This is important to ensure we have e...
07/07/2022

Our volunteers have been recording and testing the hose we have stored on board. This is important to ensure we have enough hose available to operate all of the pumps on board. This raised a question from the team:
How much hose would Massey store on board when she was operational? We're running a pull on Twitter to vote, but if you're not on Twitter post a comment below with one of the following options and we will reveal all in a few days!
1️⃣ Option 1: 100 feet (30 meters)
2️⃣ Option 2: 6000 feet (1.13 miles)
3️⃣ Option 3: 1000 feet (304 meters)

Maintenance on our deck hose reel was undertaken at the weekend as we found a few leaks, which isn't great for a water h...
07/07/2022

Maintenance on our deck hose reel was undertaken at the weekend as we found a few leaks, which isn't great for a water hose! Once again our volunteers taking time and effort to keep everything operational on board.

If you're an Amazon shopper, and let's face it, who isn't?! On 12th-13th July it's Prime day and by registering Massey S...
02/07/2022

If you're an Amazon shopper, and let's face it, who isn't?! On 12th-13th July it's Prime day and by registering Massey Shaw as your allocated charity we will received double donations over Prime Day! You can register for Amazon Prime and search for Massey Shaw to activate the donations from everything you spend!
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/charity/homepage.html

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Our Story

Massey is an unsung hero of the River Thames and is currently berthed in West India Docks, close to the Docklands Scout Project, Isle of Dogs. E 14. We are now able to provide visits to the vessel by appointment and will be taking part in a number of events during the summer on the Thames and beyond! If you would to stay up to date, or to arrange a visit go to our website- www.masseyshaw.org.


Comments

My dad used to be the coxswain on the Massey shaw in the late sixties can remember going on her
My great uncle William John gilliland served on the Massey shaw and did some of the trips to Dunkirk ( unaware one of his brothers was waiting to be rescued). His name is on the plaque on the Massey shaw. My uncle remembers him coming to see them on a fire engine. Obviously we are very proud of him being a part of history along side the other brave gentleman and we hope to come and visit one day.
We have pictures of him older but I was wondering if there are any pictures of his time on the Massey shaw
Thank you
In London on the weekend of 14-15 August? Pop along to Family Day at the Docks and get aboard National Historic Fleet fireboat Massey Shaw Fireboat! ⬇
Great family day out, put on by DLS Massey Shaw Fireboat

Details below :
From DSP
Seen this on talking pictures,the man who haunted himself,but in the background in 1970 the Massey Shaw fire boat passing
Hi hope this is OK to post i have just finished my rebuild of the Massey Shaw fire boat she went well and pumps water to.
A amazing chapter in a proud history.

when is it the Dunkirk next yr
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