Highgate Cemetery is a large cemetery in North London that was built to take London’s dead when London’s churchyards could no longer cope with the expanding population. It is one of London’s “Magnificent Seven” cemeteries, built in the Victorian era, but which became neglected and overgrown by the late 20th century. Today, with a lot of care, Highgate cemetery is both an historic site and wildlife haven. Within Highgate East Cemetery can be found Fireman’s Corner, one of London Fire Brigade’s memorials to those lost on duty. It is to be found down a short path in a tranquil woodland glade where sunlight filters through the trees casting an ever changing pattern of shadow and light accompanied by a random soundtrack of songbirds. Every year in June, the Fire Brigade Chaplains hold a memorial service in the open air with a small congregation to remember Firefighters lost on duty. The memorial has a paved area surrounded by a small, shin high, wall. On the southern edge is the original memorial that stands about two metres high and almost the same width. Along the top edge of the memorial are the words "London Fire Brigade" and beneath are three columns of names. The memorial was erected in 1934 to the 97 firemen already buried in Highgate Cemetery. The memorial was paid for by The London Fire Brigade Widows and Orphans Fund also know as "The Captain's Club". Attached to the small wall are other plaques listing the names of firemen with dates when they died and the station at which they served. Near Fireman’s Corner, there is :- Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, first Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Gravestone of Richard Long and Joseph G Thatcher
