Obituary: Ronald Godfrey Cox, OBE, GM, CSt John, KPFSM, Life Fellow IFE

The influential Life Fellow of the IFE passed away on 18 June, aged 93

THE PASSING away of Ronnie Cox, an esteemed Life Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), marks the end of the dedicated life and career of this most influential of figures, someone who left his fingerprint on fire and ambulance services around the world.

Ronnie's post-nominals give a clue to what an extraordinary person he was, yet his humble beginnings did not suggest the significant role he was to play in the fire and rescue service.

Born in August 1913 in Wolverhampton, England, Ronnie was one of six children. An average student at school, he decided to leave the Midlands aged 13 and join the Arethusa, a naval training ship for boys, docked at Greenhithe on the River Thames in London. He later completed an apprenticeship to become a shipwright in 1931, before working as a cabinet-maker for five years.

It was in 1936 that he began his fire service career with the Coulsdon and Purley Fire Brigade in South London. His naval training, discipline and emerging leadership qualities were soon noticed and he rose through the ranks quickly. In 1938, he was appointed assistant to the chief officer to help with the establishment of the Auxiliary Fire Service. In 1939, he became assistant HM Inspector of Fire Brigades for Kent, Surrey, and East and West Sussex, with responsibility for some 80 brigades. That same year he passed the Graduate exam of the IFE.

International career

Ronnie's international career came after the Second World War. In 1947, he accepted a posting to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean where, as a superintendent, he helped to expand the fire and ambulance service. The St John Ambulance Service grew to 2000 volunteers with 12 divisions and, in 1953, he was made Commander of the Order of St John.

He was awarded the George Medal in 1957 for his command of the response to a major fire on a schooner laden with aviation spirit in Port of Spain.

He left Trinidad a year later to take up a position as deputy chief officer in Hong Kong and, by 1959, had submitted a plan for the reconstruction of its fire service. He was later appointed director of fire services in Kong Kong, overseeing a major growth in the numbers of personnel - which increased 500 to 3,500 - as well as equipment and facilities.

Australia was Ronnie's next port of call when he took up a position with Wormald Bros Fire Engineers in Melbourne. Some time later he moved to Sydney, working as technical officer and consultant for the Western Australia Fire Brigades Board.

In 1976, the Tasmanian Government appointed Ronnie to report on its fire service. In subsequent years, the authorities in South Australian, the Northern Territory and Canberra called on Ronnie to advise on matters pertaining to their fire services.

Outside of his fire service career, Ronnie had a vast range of hobbies. He enjoyed gardening, though did not have much of a green thumb. He liked to paint and play golf, and he was an avid reader.

Ronnie Cox passed away peacefully in Perth, Western Australia, on 18 June. Whether it be through love, respect, admiration or plain friendship, all of his colleagues in the international fire and rescue service will sadly miss Ronnie Godfrey Cox