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PLUS: Queen’s Badge Review 2008–2009
Volume 117 No. 4 October 2009

The Boys’ Brigade
Patron: H.M. The Queen
President: Professor Sir Kenneth
Calman KCB
Brigade Secretary: Steve Dickinson
Headquarters: Felden Lodge,
Felden, Hemel Hempstead,
Hertfordshire HP3 0BL
Tel 01442 231681; Fax 01442 235391;
Email: enquiries@boys-brigade.org.uk;
Website: www.boys-brigade.org.uk
Our Object
The advancement of Christ’s Kingdom
among boys and the promotion of habits
of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline,
Self-Respect and all that tends
towards a true Christian Manliness.
The Gazette
The Gazette is the official publication
of The Boys’ Brigade. Official notices
to members appear under Brigade
Announcements. Opinions expressed
in any other articles are those of
the author of the article and do not
necessarily reflect Brigade policy.
Design & Print
Christian Publishing & Outreach,
Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road,
Worthing BN13 1BW;
Telephone: 01903 264 556;
Website: www.cpo.org.uk
Editorial Team
Mary Care, Steve Dickinson, Chris
Norman, Jan Williamson
Submission of copy
All material submitted with a view to
publication in the next issue of BB
Gazette should be addressed to the
Editor at Brigade Headquarters to
arrive by 23rd October 2009.
Small Advertisements
Small Advertisements should be sent
to BB Headquarters;
email: gazette@boys-brigade.org.uk
Display Advertisements
Enquiries regarding display
advertising space should be to
Chris Norman: Tel 01442 288 552;
Fax 01442 235391;
Email gazette@boys-brigade.org.uk
Scotland
EDITORIAL
Being the very best
Striving to reach potential is a commendable personal quality. Working with
young people to support them to be the very best is what thousands of BB volunteers
do weekly. As I travel around it’s great to hear the gratitude of our young people for
their leaders, “Mrs *** is great. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be able to do this”. And
one young man told me that it was only because of one particular leader that he was still
in BB; an older leader who had persevered with him and didn’t give up even when there
had been great difficulties.
Each of us can think of people in our own lives who have made that difference and have
wanted the very best for us, maybe a family member, a teacher or a BB leader. Maybe
we remembered to show our gratitude, but maybe not.
We are acutely aware that for many children and young people such influences can be
lacking and for some a life born of potential is stunted through lack of opportunity; young
people with little confidence and little self-esteem because they have been given little
encouragement or value.
BB has an admirable record of working with children and young people who have
struggled in other settings. Lives changed and turned round because of the involvement
of that significant adult. No one has ever said it will be easy, but it is immensely rewarding.
I heard recently of one group who was told that the Queen’s Badge was only for the “elite”
and a Captain told me that KGVI wasn’t for his type of Company. Such misperceptions
limit the chances we offer young people. Being the very best is individual and BB is about
individuals not arbitrary standards. At the start of the new session let us all commit to
supporting our members be the very best they can be.
Steve Dickinson
Diary Dates
7/13 Dec CS JW Morgan Scripture Assessment
31 Oct – 1 Nov Brigade Leadership - Sports Leaders
31 Oct – 1 Nov Brigade Leadership – Trailblazers
14-15 Nov Brigade Leadership – Enhancing Your
Skills
21-22 Nov Brigade Leadership - Leading Sports
5-6 Dec Brigade Leadership - Enhancing Your
Skills
Republic of Ireland
8 Oct Training & Activities Committee
3/10 Oct Youth Leader Training & Practical Skills,
Carrick-on-Shannon
10 Oct JS Hike, Co. Dublin
16 Oct Roll ‘n Bowl Activity Evening, Portlaoise
17 Oct Ten Pin Bowling, The Dome, Carlow
18 Oct Annual Founder’s Thanksgiving Parade
Service
6/8 Nov Company Section Weekend
7 Nov Indoor Football, Collooney
9 Nov Regional/Executive Meeting
14 Nov 5-A-Side Football (Over 10’s), Bunclody
14 Nov AB Funday at ENRG, Rathcoole, Dublin
28 Nov CS Hike, Co Wicklow
5 Dec Swimming Gala - 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.,
Portarlington
7/13 Dec JS Scripture Assessment
10 Dec Training & Activities Committee
Northern Ireland
3-4 Oct First Aid Course (REC)
9-10 Oct JS Quiz - First Round
9-11 Oct Youth Leader Training
9-11 Oct Skills for Queen’s Badge (Ganaway)
16-18 Oct Skills for Queen’s Badge
23-25 Oct BTO Training Part 1
24 Oct JS Quiz Final
7 Nov Junior Section Officers’ Conference
9 Nov Drill Instructors’ Course
17 Nov CS Ten-pin Bowling
20-22 Nov Skills for Queen’s Badge
England
10th Oct Brigade Training Officer’s Update
(Felden Lodge)
10th Oct English Ten Pin Bowling
Championships (Luton)
6th-8th Nov Brigade Leadership / Skills for
Queen’s Badge (Felden Lodge)
7th-8th Nov Youth Leader Training –
Part 1 (Felden Lodge)
14th Nov Captain’s Training (Felden Lodge)
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 110

CONTENTS
116
2nd Witham
The adenture begins here
118
Project You
(Youth Organisations –
Uniform)
121
Sam Douthwaite
– Street Pastor
134
–
133
President’s
Commendation –
Stephen Griffith
Palm in Palm – Cameroon
Backpacking or
138
Volunteering
138Duke of
Edinburgh’s
Award
140
The Boys’ Brigade
Kilbryde Hike 2009
40th Anniversary
Other items
112........Brigade Council 09
113.........Children’s Hospices UK
114........National 125
133........Reflections on two years as President
140 .........The 2009 Cleveland Hike
Regular Features
119........Brigade Announcements
132........Chaplain’s Corner
130........Around the Regions
136........Here and There
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 111

BRIGADE COUNCIL 09
BB_AD:Layout 1 30/10/2008 14:33 Page 1
C’ead Mile Fáilte – a hundred
thousand welcomes was indeed
what greeted Council members
who had travelled from all parts of
the British Isles to the comfort of the
Stillorgan Park Hotel in County Dublin.
Guests were officially welcomed to
Dublin at the Friday evening Reception
at Christ Church Cathedral hosted by the
Stedfast Association and attended by the
Lord Mayor. Refreshments were served in
the crypt followed by the welcome in the
Cathedral itself.
On Saturday, Council was held in the
hotel and opened with worship led by
Revd Derek Sargent, Chaplain, Republic
of Ireland Region. Council then stood
to receive messages of greeting from
Her Majesty the Queen and from
Her Excellency the President of Ireland.
Mr Arthur Vincent, Chair of the
organising committee welcomed Council
to the Republic and his friendly hospitality
set the tone for the meeting.
Mr Chris Row, Brigade Vice President,
presented the Annual Report for the
session 2008/09 referring to the increased
numbers of young people on Regional
Committees and the Brigade Executive
and the registering of Girls’ Associations.
He spoke of the stabilisation of the
numerical strength of the Brigade and the
increasing interest in our work amongst
the churches. Mrs Janice Dando, Brigade
Vice President, seconded the Annual
Report and highlighted some of the
special events, community activity and
extraordinary young people which have
contributed to a remarkable year.
In his final report to Council Mr John
112 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009
Williams, Brigade Treasurer, presented
the Annual Accounts for the year ended
31 March 2008. Mr Williams highlighted
several key matters including a deficit of
£51,686 on the year after paying pension
fund contributions of £95,760. Legacy
income had been £22,000 in the general
fund with an additional £100,000 legacy
received restricted for development
within Scotland. Mr Perry Donaldson,
Brigade Vice President and member
of the Finance Committee, seconded
the Accounts which were accepted
by Council. Whiting & Partners were
reappointed as auditors of The Boys’
Brigade and the Brigade Executive was
authorised to fix their remuneration.
Mr Michael Elliott proposed and Mr
David Richmond seconded the following
Brigade Office Bearers for the 2009-10
Session who were approved by Council.
President Sir Kenneth Calman KCB, Vice
Presidents Mr C L Row, Mr N W Batty, Mr T
W P Donaldson, Mrs J A Dando, Treasurer
Mr C Bygrave.
The Capitation fees for the 2009/10 were
agreed as follows: Company fees £95;
Officers £25; Associate Members £27;
Young Person Members £10. Following
the financial reports Mr Perry Donaldson
paid tribute to Mr John Williams for his
stewardship of the Brigade’s resources
during his period as Treasurer and made
a presentation on behalf of the Brigade.
This concluded the statutory business of
Council.
Mr Norman Batty, Brigade Vice
President, hosted a review of the 125
year which contained a DVD presentation
highlighting the key events and community
involvement of the anniversary year. In
announcing that we had exceeded our
goal of raising £125,000 for the work
of children’s hospices, Norman invited
Mrs Jane McKenna of the Laura Lynn
Children’s Hospice Foundation to tell
Council of the work and she gave a
very personal and moving presentation.
Stephen Cowden and Jonathan Ferry who
had recently returned from Cameroon
showed a video of their experiences and
spoke passionately about the difference
the project had made not only in
Cameroon, but to them personally.
Following lunch, Brigade staff
highlighted issues relating to the year
ahead, including developing new
opportunities and further support for
existing companies. In an Open Forum
Executive and Staff members responded
to questions from Council members. Miss
Sharon Mackey and Mr Perry Donaldson
made an invitation to Brigade Council
2010 which will take place in Armagh.
The Council meeting drew to a close with
worship led by The Revd Derek Sargent.
In the evening Council members
enjoyed a Gala Dinner. Following the
Sunday Morning Service of Thanksgiving
held at St Philip and St James’ Church
where the preacher was the Archbishop
of Dublin, the Most Revd J. Neill, Primate
of Ireland, another Council weekend
concluded and members started on their
homeward journeys. Very grateful thanks
must be extended to all who helped in
any way with the excellent arrangements
which undoubtedly contributed to the
positive atmosphere and special thanks
must be made to Mr Philip Daley, National
Director, the Republic of Ireland who
worked tirelessly before and during the
weekend to ensure that all went to plan.

TOGETHER
you’ve made a lifetime of difference.
Thank you Boys’ Brigade for raising over £125,000
We want to convey our heartfelt thanks to you all for working so hard to raise
funds for Children’s Hospices UK over the last two years. We have been astounded
with the support we have received from Companies across the country and would
like to thank you for raising over £100,000 for children’s hospices across the UK.
This, together with the €25,000 raised in the Republic of Ireland and the £10,000
from RBS due to Mrs Elizabeth Brydson of Solway Battalion, means you’ve reached
your target – a staggering £125,000. Actually, you’ve exceeded the target and the
amount raised currently stands at £132,329.20 and there’s still money coming in.
We’ve loved hearing about all the wonderful ways you’ve been raising money
including buffet dances, giant sleepovers, Christmas carol services, and our very
own Swim for Kids and even attending some of our launch events to help the
whole event get off to a great start! You’ve not only raised money for us, you’ve
given your time. We were really lucky to have a willing team of volunteers
for the Bristol Half Marathon in September last year helping to marshal the
exhausted runners around the course!
Your contribution will make a lifetime of difference to children’s hospices
across the UK in the care they provide. Children’s hospice care is truly
unique, supporting life-limited children and their families from the moment
of diagnosis, throughout the course of the child’s illness and the process of
bereavement. Children and families who access their local children’s hospice
find it a real lifeline, giving them short breaks and time together as a family,
enjoying a variety of therapies and most importantly helping them to make
the most of life. The support we have had from each and every one of you has
meant they can continue to provide this essential care – you have made a very
real difference to the lives of these families and for that we are truly grateful.
The support we have received has been unprecedented and
we are extremely grateful.
Together we’ve made a positive impact on the lives of many
families around the UK who are facing a daily battle to
simply keep things going.
With our warmest wishes and sincere thanks,
Everyone at Children’s Hospices UK
Below is the list of donations we
have been notified about from
June 2009 to 31st August 2009
24th Hull.......................................................... 267.00
Norfolk Battalion............................................... 175.00
10th North Suffolk.......................................... 1000.00
The BB Collectors’ Club..................................... 43.00
2nd Romsey..................................................... 200.00
7th Southampton............................................. 192.98
BB in Hampshire.............................................. 509.95
East Cheshire Battalion.................................... 384.80
1st Haslington.................................................... 50.00
1st Kettering..................................................... 125.00
South East Essex Battalion............................... 645.63
1st Bromborough............................................. 200.43
4th Southampton........................................... 1650.00
7th Chelmsford................................................ 400.00
East Anglia District............................................. 13.50
Mid Scottish Queen’s Badge Committee......... 144.37
1st Altrincham.................................................. 169.40
1st Acomb....................................................... 127.00
Wirral & West Cheshire Battalion...................... 200.43
1st Enverurie.................................................... 250.00
10th Exeter....................................................... 379.53
3rd Halesowen................................................... 52.00
16th Cardiff...................................................... 271.26
2nd Bedford................................................... 1875.00
KGVI England................................................... 183.32
Bradford & District Battalion............................. 333.39
3rd Chester...................................................... 330.00
South East Hants Battalion............................. 3380.04
Sheffield Battalion............................................ 490.97
1st Falkirk......................................................... 300.00
1st Dronfield.................................................... 650.00
23rd Sheffield................................................... 725.00
2nd Chesterfield............................................... 535.61
Grimsby & District Battalion.............................. 797.00
1st Castleford................................................... 260.00
10th Sheffield..................................................... 58.00
Halifax Battalion............................................... 675.25
3rd Harrogate................................................... 375.00
1st Ossett.......................................................... 60.00
7th Hull............................................................ 130.00
5th Hull............................................................ 120.00
Hull Battalion.................................................... 100.00
Swim for Kids................................................... 180.50
Individual Donations....................................... 1489.53
1st Market Weighton......................................... 250.00
1st Old Kilpatrick............................................ 1400.00
1st Dunboe...................................................... 400.00
2nd Maidenhead.............................................. 512.34
South Bucks & East Berks Battalions............... 164.52
10th Wolverhampton........................................ 275.00
2nd Burgess Hill............................................... 100.00
1st Newbury..................................................... 288.00
3rd Galston...................................................... 501.00
1st New Deer................................................... 100.00
3rd/8th Edinburgh............................................ 500.00
2nd Alton, 1st & 2nd Fleet Companies............. 126.00
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 113

National
Little Havens CHILDREN’S HOSPICE
Set within 120 acres of woodland, Little Havens in Essex
celebrated its 10th birthday in 2008. It provides a home
from home for ill children, their parents and their siblings,
one in which they can take a break from the strain of
constant care and concentrate on being a family.
Prior to the start of the 125 appeal I made contact with my
local children’s hospice and was invited to visit and have
a look at the facilities. The first thing that you see as you
walk through the bright welcoming reception area is the
hydrotherapy pool used by the children and their families.
There’s a multisensory room packed full of toys and special
equipment designed to stimulate the senses of the children,
the garden with play equipment suitable for wheelchair use
and the chapel used for quiet reflection and music therapy.
There are nine bedrooms for the children each with a
private patio and accommodation for their families upstairs.
At the start of my visit I was told that I wouldn’t be able
to see all the facilities as there was a family spending
their last hours with their child, but from what I saw it was
obvious that Little Havens tries to fulfil its sated desire
“that all children with life limiting illness be enabled to
live life to the full.”
by Jane Holden
The Last Event
Four teams of young men of the
East Cheshire Battalion rounded
off their year of fundraising to
celebrate the organisation’s 125
years of Christian Youth Service.
The final event was a 12.5 mile canal
walk from Kidsgrove to Middlewich
covering a cumulative125 locks.
The grand total raised by all sections
of the Battalion over the year was
a magnificent £2344:80p, which
has been presented to the Donna
Louise Trust.
Burns’ Supper
Members of 1st Bearsden presented £600 to CHAS
following a Burns’ Supper arranged by the Seniors.
Coast to Coast ride
Boys and leaders of 8th Hartlepool completed a 146 mile
coast to coast bike ride from Whitehaven to Hartlepool
and raised £1827 for the Butterwick Children’s Hospice.
Money for Acorns Hospice, Walsall
10th Wolverhampton raised £275 for Acorns Hospice in
Walsall by baking cakes, planting sunflower seeds, growing
plants and taking part in a beetle drive.
East Antrim Battalion
Pictured is Brian Smith who has recently stepped down as
President of the East Antrim Battalion, presenting a cheque for
£500 to a representative from the Northern Ireland Children’s
Hospice. Looking on is the Battalion Treasurer, Drew Buchanan.
114 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009

West Anglia Battalion Show
West Anglia Battalion donated £1500
to the Keech Cottage Hospice,
proceeds of its Battalion Show to
mark the 125th Anniversary.
Pennies for Ty Hafan
The 16th Cardiff Company chose
Ty Hafan, the Children’s Hospice
in Wales, as the charity it would
support this year and raised the sum
of £271.26 by a collection of 1p, 2p
and 5p coins. At a parents’ evening
the cheque was presented by Alyx
Courtman to Alyson Rees, Head of
Fundraising at Ty Hafan.
SOUTH EAST HANTS BATTALION
As part of its fundraising activities
the South East Hants Battalion held a
sponsored walk and raised over £2000
for Naomi House Children’s Hospice in
Hampshire. Over all, the Battalion has
raised £3,380.04 for Naomi House.
Pictured are representatives of 20th and
23rd Luton Companies who visited the
Hospice to hand over the cheque.
4th Southampton supporting
Naomi House
All sections of 4th Southampton helped
to raise £1650 for Naomi House. The
Company Section held a sponsored night
walk. The Juniors and Anchors held a
coffee morning with a number of activities
and the Sergeants organised a ‘BB’s got
Talent’ evening for the whole Company.
Over £1000 RAISED
The 10th North Suffolk Company
raised £1000 for the local Hospice.
The cheque was presented to David
Went from East Anglia’s Children’s
Hospice. Since then a further £175
has been raised.
Celebration Camp
The Highland Battalion celebrated the
125th Anniversary with a weekend camp
at Carrbridge. Seven teams took part
in the Battalion Junior Section 7-a-side
football tournament with the 1st
Culloden being the winners.
7th CHELMSFORD supporting
LITTLE HAVENS
Members of 7th Chelmsford raised £400
for Little Havens Children’s Hospice with
a number of events, including a musical
quiz, beetle drive and coffee morning.
Time-Capsule Ceremony at The Boys’ Brigade
Memorial Garden
The witnesses from all sections of the Brigade assemble in the garden
On Sunday 5th July six
special Brigade ‘witnesses’
assembled at the BB
Memorial Garden along with a
Minister and many other BB members
and friends, for a brief ceremony
to deposit a ‘125 Time Capsule’ for
fifty years in a prepared chamber.
Sealed inside the capsule were 125
objects relating to young people and
the BB in 2009. The witnesses, one from
each section of the Brigade including
The Girls’ Association, took part in a
short service at the end of which they
were each given a printed invitation for
the opening in 2059!
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 115

The challenge of
whether ...“the
adventure begins
here” depends
on your view of
what this means
So far, in the BB Gazette, I have
only seen comments of keeping
Seniors, but I feel it should
reflect the need for adventurous
activities for all age groups –
even Anchor Boys! After all, most
of our members are in red or blue
sweatshirts ! Focussing on the
spiritual side of our work, what
adventures are there, as we bring
The Good News of Jesus too
This is what we attempt to achieve
in 2nd Witham ...
Over the last 37 years, real efforts
have been made in extending our
activity base in all age groups, to
reflect a progressive adventurous,
and challenging programme, always
linked to the BB badge programme.
In an attempt to broaden our approach
over a period of 25 years, with help
from a huge number of supporters,
the following has been introduced, in
partnership with other organsations
and individuals:
1. Conservation and board watching
work, on 18 acres of ancient woodland
and arable field, mainly in partnership
with BTCV, ((The British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers), including
board walk construction, use of heritage
tools and coppicing of hazel, the
construction of a one acre lake and
BMX track and countless bird, insect,
owl and bat box construction, stag
beetle pyramid homes and mini beast
hunts! Our partnership with BTCV is not
exclusive because we own the land, as
we also undertake conservation work
within our town at a local nature reserve
and church yard. Any BB Company can
partner locally with BTCV – it is so much
fun and worthwhile.
2. A wood turning programme was
established some years ago, with a
professional wood turner, who is also a
parent of a 2nd Witham boy. Over 300
young people including other groups and
individuals, have benefitted from a range
of teaching sessions, making anything
from a small spinning top to a 16 inch
vase made from Yew wood. Now the
programme is either operated by the
use of a small “portable” lathe on site
at BB meetings, or the use of a much
larger lathe, in our workshop facility.
3. Also from the workshop runs a
canoeing programme in local rivers,
having trained up BB staff and volunteers
from the local Volunteer agency and
County Council Outdoor Centre and
the BB Canoe Club.
4. Several volunteers offered a car
restoration programme, supported by
our local Community Foundation, and
currently a Golf Gti 1.8 l is being restored.
5. Finally, some three ago, some
staff realised there was a gap in our
programme with little sea–based
activities! Following successful fund
raising over a year, and the support of
local Trusts, the RNLI and interested
individuals, the powerboat “Blue
Whisper” was purchased and so a
training programme under the direction
of the RYA, created a strong leadership
base for those running the project, from
16 years of age upwards! The RIB is

often out at weekends and over the
spring to autumn time, and to date has
been as far as Wales and northern
Essex, taking part with the RNLI in a
yearly Boat Festival weekend.
Social inclusion and integration play
an important part in the life of our BB
company, and so we do activities with
those who have special needs, and share
our resources with other groups locally.
Within Anchor Boys and Juniors, Seniors
run a successful Cooking Club, and
together with BB staff, Animation, Film
making and special effects films are
made on a regular basis, before the
weekly meetings. These are sometimes
included on a dedicated website
acknowledging the successes of all
young people we work alongside.
It is clear to us that without the support
of so many people, these programmes
would not run or would cease. It does
take a great deal of effort to realise
this integrated approach, but the
rewards far outweigh the problems.
The partnerships are second to none!
Yes, the adventure does begin here ...
it needs to. Spiritually too we provide
strong opportunities for our young
people to be challenged toward a
Chrisitian experience and life with
God. This is particularly central to
our adventure theme as 80% of
our membership do not attend a
church, and we have members
from several churches over a
large radius from Witham.
So let the challenge really begin!
John Boon
Captain, 2nd Witham BB
BTCV have been working for many years in Essex with the 2nd Witham
BB. We started out helping on their site at Twinstead, which is used as
a camping and recreation site. However there is also a great deal of
conservation value to their work, and in the beginning we bought our
volunteers along to do basic maintenance on the site.
Over the years this relationship has developed, and we have managed to
secure funding to do more work on the site, and perhaps more importantly,
work more closely with the young people that come to enjoy the site.
This has allowed us to reach a new group of young people who may
have otherwise not had the opportunity to do conservation work, which
leads to them increasing their skills and hopefully giving them a lifelong
appreciation for the countryside and biodiversity.
From this point we are now looking to expand how we work with the BB,
not just concentrating on this site at Twinstead, but also reaching out to sites
in the local community where BTCV and BB can engage new groups of
young people to help create new areas for wildlife. We hope that this will
bring much wider benefits, allowing us to work with schools and youth
groups, fostering “ownership” of local green space by young people, helping
the community to appreciate and respect the green space in their towns.
I believe the partnership that we have has the potential to help a lot
of young people and also benefit the natural environment, and I would
encourage other Companies to contact their local BTCV office to see how
they can work together. The BTCV website (www.btcv.org) is a good
starting point.
Matt Waller
Essex Senior Projects Officer

PROJECT YOU
The lawns of Buckingham Palace
saw the official launch of Project
You (London) on a glorious July
afternoon in the presence of Their
Royal Highnesses, The Prince of
Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
Project You (Youth Organisations –
Uniform) is a collaboration between the
voluntary uniformed youth organisations
to promote the positive activities provided
for young people and thereby increase
membership and to encourage new
volunteers to come forward to work
with young people.
Their Royal Highnesses spent time talking
to leaders and members of all organisations
and were especially appreciative of the
London District gymnastics team. Following
evaluation of the work in London it is hoped
that with the Prince’s encouragement the
project will become a national initiative.
BB Goblins are Green for Go!
On Sunday 19th July 60 teams
arrived at the Goodwood Motor
Circuit in Sussex for the annual
Greenpower Gathering of Goblins
event. Among these were two cars from
the 8th North Staffs Company and one
from the 18th North Staffs. Company.
The Greenpower Goblin car is a kit car
that youngsters of Junior Section age can
assemble with some help from adults. The
car has a 24volt motor powered by two
12volt batteries
and has a
maximum speed
of 15mph. The
8th Company was
able to purchase
four Goblin kits
plus a set of
tracksuits and
crash helmets
from a grant from
the “Awards for
All Fund”. One
of these kits was
developed by 18th
North Staffs. The
winter and spring
months were spent assembling, developing
designs for the bodywork and testing the
cars out.
On Saturday 18th July, boys, officers and
leaders travelled to Chichester and had a
sleepover at the Christ Church Methodist/
United Reformed Church before travelling
on to Goodwood on Sunday morning. Once
the cars had been checked for health and
safety reasons and passed their ‘MOTs’ it
was straight into the “Drag” event – a 200
metre straight dash in the fastest possible
time. Then it was the “Driving Skills” test,
which meant driving around and through
two cones. The “Slalom” event followed
lunch where the cars had to drive in and
out of a series of cones set out in front of
the main Grandstand. The final team event
was the “Timed Lap” event at the main
chicane on the Goodwood track.
Finally, 60 Greenpower Goblin Cars lined
up for the “Race of Champions”. The
best drivers from each team now had the
opportunity to drive one complete lap of
the 2.4 mile circuit in order to challenge
for the title of Race Champion. It was an
impressive sight as the Union flag went
down and the cars set off. Cheers rang out
as each car raced for the chequered flag.
There were no trophies for the BB boys
from North Staffs, but they all enjoyed
a wonderful day and had many tales to
tell parents and friends when they
returned home.
Kevin Ford Captain,
8th North Staffs Company
(Greenpower is a registered charity
and details can be found at
www.greenpower.co.uk)
118 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009

Brigade announcements
MEETING OF THE BRIGADE
EXECUTIVE – 4th September
2009
The Meeting was held at the Stillorgan
Park Hotel, County Dublin. This is a
summary of the main items covered.
Brigade Executive
New members were welcomed by the
President.
Finance
The Brigade Treasurer reported on the
Brigade Finances for the three months
to 30th June 2009. The Brigade was
running a deficit in line with the budget.
There were still concerns with the utility
bills at the Training Centres.
Appointments
Mr Bill Archibald had resigned from his
position as Development Worker, North
Scottish Area and the Brigade Secretary
and the Director for Scotland were
looking at how best this position could
be progressed.
Business Director
The Executive endorsed the designation
of those Companies having returned the
Company Designation Form and agreed
procedures for those outstanding.
Director of Youth and Children’s Work
The Director of Youth and Children’s
Work updated the Executive on the
development of the NVQ scheme,
optional modules for YLT and the work
NEW COMPANIES
The following new Companies have been enrolled since the last Gazette
Company Captain Church
67th Belfast Gareth Walls (acting) Kilpatrick Memorial Presbyterian Church
1st Blackfield Deborah Potter Blackfield Baptist Church
6th East Kilbride Rev Kevin MacKenzie Westwood Parish Church
7th Gloucester Diana Dale Christchurch Abbeydale
1st Manhood Georgina Scears East Wittering United Reformed Church
37th Edingburgh Jez Dearing Niddrie Community Church
1st Wells Alison Hurford Elim Pentecostal Church
20th West Kent Roy English Sidcup Free Grace Baptist Church
of the Brigade’s Safeguarding Panel.
Reports
The Executive received reports from
Regional Directors and the minutes of
Regional Committees.
Chairman of Brigade Executive
Mr C L Row JP was re-elected as
Chairman of the Brigade Executive for
the 2009/10 session.
Brigade Council
The Executive reviewed the business for
Council and authorised the chair to vote
in favour of the motions when proxy
votes had been left to his discretion.
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS
The Brigade congratulates Drew
Buchanan, 8th Carrickfergus, awarded
an MBE for voluntary services to The
Boys’ Brigade in Northern Ireland.
Minibus Permits
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services
Agency) has introduced changes to the
issuing of minibus permits. The new
permits have an expiry date of five years
from the issue date. Old style permits
(brown) are still valid, but will expire in
April 2014, and a new permit will need
to be ordered from BBUK HQ. The
application form for permits has been
updated and is available on the BBUK
Website (see ‘resources’ and ‘forms’)
or from BBUK HQ.
INDEPENDENT SAFEGAURDING
AUTHORITY (ISA)
Registrations with ISA will start in June
2010 and all new leaders will then be
required to have an ISA registration
number (in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland). Registration with ISA will be
phased in for existing leaders working in
The Boys’ Brigade during the next 5 years.
BBUK HQ will manage the registrations
with ISA and individuals will not need
to approach ISA direct. The checks will
remain free of charge to volunteers. All
new leaders will be required to have
completed registration with ISA before
starting work with children & young
people. The ISA indicate that applications
will be turned around in 7 days. A
separate but aligned scheme is being set
up in Scotland under the Protection of
Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.
Further information will be circulated
in 2010 through the BB Gazette and
Website. Should you have any questions
please contact the Membership Team
at BBUK Headquarters or visit the ISA
Website at http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/.
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
ELECTED FOR SESSION
2009 – 2011/12
Representing England:
Mr M Elliott
Mr C Preston
Mr V Staples
Mr G Stobbart
Representing Scotland:
Mr D Love
Mr D Richmond
Mr D Sneddon
Mr L Stein
Representing Northern
Ireland:
Miss S Mackey
Revd T McCormick
Mr K Niblock
Mr R J Thornberry
Representing Republic of
Ireland:
Mr R L Buttimer
Representing Wales:
Mr C Smith
OFFICE BEARERS
ELECTED FOR SESSION
2009 -2010
Sir Kenneth Calman, President
Mr C Row, Vice President
Mr N Batty, Vice President
Mrs J Dando, Vice President
Mr P Donaldson, Vice
President
Mr C Bygrave, Treasurer
Rev Terry Hurst, Chaplain
REGIONAL COMMITTEES
ELECTED FOR SESSION
2009 – 2011/12
England
Mr Andrew Baldwin
Miss Becki Daniel
Mr John Easton
Mr Michael Elliott
Mr Anderson Esnard
Mr Lee Hiorns
Mr Thomas Hornsey
Mr Ashley Lampard
Mr Stephen Lane
Mr Leigh Maydew
Mr Colin Preston
Rev Dr Ron Reid
Mr Vaughan Staples
Mr Graeme Stobbart
Mr Phil Timms
Mr Roger Vogel
Scotland
Mr Colin Forbes
Mrs Susan Gray
Mr Alistair Joss
Mr Andrew Kimmitt
Mr Michael Knott
Mr David Love
Mr Jamie McIntosh
Mr Ross McKillop
Mr Andrew Pool
Mr David Richmond
Mr David Sneddon
Mr Lindsay Stein
Northern Ireland
Mr Paul Ballentine
Mr Noel Clingan
Mr David Doggart
Mr Gary Grimes
Mr Stephen Hunter
Mr Richard Kincaid
Miss Sharon Mackey
Mr Michael McConkey
Rev Trevor McCormick
Mr Glen Miller
Mr Karl Niblock
Mr Stephen Osborne
Mr David Scott
Mr David Smyth
Mr Jim Thornberry
Republic of Ireland
Miss Elizabeth Armstrong
Mr Leslie Buttimer
Mr Richard Codd
Mr Mervyn Denner
Mr Wesley Galloway
Mr Alex Thackaberry
Mr Arthur Vincent
Wales
Mr Christopher Bracey
Mr Andrew Eccleston
Mr Stephen Miles
Mr Alen Pasley
Mr Norman Pybus
Mr Colin Smith
Mr John Winchester
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 119

changing lives
volunteering
Do you feel rushed off
your feet
Do you want
your Company to engage
more children & young people
Are you barely treading water
If your answer to any of these is yes, then it will come
as no surprise that you need more volunteers.
Boys’ Brigade changes lives! And that’s why we have
entitled our new recruitment initiative ‘Changing Lives’.
We all know that being part of The Boys’ Brigade is lots
of fun, but it also impacts children, young people and
leaders in a way that lasts and shapes lives.
There are so many children & young people out
there desperate for activities to join in with in their
communities who at the moment don’t come to BB.
There are also talented people who would like to offer
their skills if only they knew how.
We have a vision to Engage a Generation, and the only
way we can do that is if we can find more people like
you who are willing to support this work. Remember
you are part of a movement that has been bringing
hope to children & young people in communities
all around the world for over 125 years. Share your
passion with others, change lives!
RESOURCES
The resources include a Recruitment Tool
Box which brings together a range of ideas for
recruiting, and will help your Company decide what
it should do. To complement the Recruitment
Tool Box there are leaflets and posters available
from BB Supplies as well as additional ideas and
templates online.
The Recruitment Tool Box and samples of some of
the leaflets have been circulated to all Companies
with the October Company Mailing.
You can also find everything online at:
www.boys-brigade.org.uk/recruitment/
Can you imagine what one new volunteer
could mean to your group
Take this chance to refresh and reinvigorate your Company.
And remember, most people who don’t currently volunteer
say that they would if they were asked!
BB Supplies
A full range of leaflets and posters will
be available from BB Supplies from 1st
November 2009. For more information
about these resources check out the
online shop at:
http://shop.boys-brigade.org.uk
120 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009

climbing ● zip wire ● mountain boarding ● escape into the adventure!
• Schools • Youth Groups
• Corporate • Activity Breaks
Situated on the dramatic North Devon coast, where Exmoor meets the sea.
The Beacon accommodates parties of up to 41 – providing food, accommodation and a programme of exciting outdoor
activities arranged in consultation with each group. These include climbing, crate stack, zip wire, mountain boarding,
archery, and many more on our stunning estate.
As a self-contained centre, The Beacon is usually booked as a whole centre for school groups, youth groups and
corporate training days. But look out for some specific weeks and weekends for individuals to book in the Lee Abbey
programme, including Dads ‘n’ Lads and Men’s Retreats. Also the combined family activity weeks that will be run in
conjunction with the main Lee Abbey programme. www.leeabbey.org.uk
www.beacondevon.co.uk ● 01598 752621
Sam Douthwaite – Street Pastor
I
remember being told by my
grandparents that I was being
taken to the Anchor Boys and the
tears ensued. My grandparents won
the battle of wills and along I went to
join the 1st Cramlington Company.
Over the next few years I progressed
through to the Junior Section where
I gained my gold badge. Soon after,
I decided to leave the BB and
church for good. I was in my teens
and other distractions took the
place of church and the BB.
This was the case until the age of
24 when I had a “road to Damascus”
experience whilst out doing my shopping.
My life was changed and I gave my life
to Christ on 21st August 2006. Since
that date, the Lord has taken me on a
journey, which has now resulted in me
leading Street Pastors Newcastle. This
ministry seeks to provide pastoral care
to vulnerable, hurting and broken people
within Newcastle upon Tyne. We are on
the streets from 10pm – 4am on a Friday
and Saturday evening. We get involved
in everything from feeding the homeless,
to breaking up violent incidents, to
looking after someone who is ill as a
result of alcohol/drug abuse, to sharing
the gospel and praying with people. We
work alongside both Northumbria and
the British Transport Police. Through this
ministry, the streets of Newcastle are
becoming a safer place and the gospel
is being shared.
I believe my conversion was a
direct result of the prayers of both my
grandparents, who passed away in my
teens, and my leaders within The Boys’
Brigade. God heard their prayers and
He answered them. My time in the BB
gave me an understanding of both the
cost and the joy of following Jesus. I was
taught what it means to be a man of God
and I believe that it has played a pivotal
part in my journey to faith. My thanks and
gratitude goes out to the leaders in the
BB who do such a great job of speaking
truth into the lives of young men and
preparing them for a life of service in the
name of Jesus.
October April 2009 The The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 121 121

Christingle Programme Ideas
The Children’s Society has developed programme ideas in partnership with
BBUK Headquarters to fit the Anchors and Juniors programme zones. The
resources will allow your Company to explore and celebrate Christingle in
your regular meetings and how you could involve the wider community. A
selection of programme ideas can be found in this 4-page pullout, but you
will find even more online at www.christingle.org/boysbrigade including more
about how you can get your free resources.
Exploring Christingle
CREATIVITY
Aim: To bring to life the Christian
message in a creative and
interactive way, through the
symbolism of Christingle.
Time: 1 hour (adaptable)
Group size: No maximum number
Equipment:
• Oranges
• Red tape
• Wax candles
• Silver foil
• Cocktail sticks
• Dried fruits /soft
sweets
• Knife/apple corer
• CD player
• Festive music
• Matches/lighter
Instructions:
Part 1: The Symbolism of Christingle
Ask your group to form a large circle around the room. Turn off
some of the lights if this is not a hazard, as this will immediately
get attention and the Christingle will have more impact.
Stand in the circle with a lit Christingle, which can be made in
advance. Ask the children if any of them can tell you what they
think it is. They may know – they may not!
Tell your group that a Christingle is a symbol. Make sure that
they understand that a symbol is something that represents
something else, and give some examples, e.g. a rose is a
symbol of love, an anchor is the symbol of The Boys’ Brigade
etc. Get the group to guess what each element of the Christingle
symbolises. This can either be done in the circle with the lights
dimmed, or you could use the following interactive game:
For each element of the Christingle, give three suggestions for
what it could represent. For example; the orange – is it
a spaceship, the world or a house Designate three spaces
at your venue for each of your three suggestions and ask your
children to move to the suggestion area they think is right. This
physical movement will get them to think about each element
and engage more with Christingle.
By the end of the activity the children should know that the
symbolism of the Christingle:
o a lighted candle – symbolising Jesus, the Light of the World
o an orange – representing the world
o the red tape – indicating the blood/ love of Christ
o four cocktail sticks bearing dried fruit or sweets – to signify the
four seasons and the fruits of the earth.
Part 2: Making your Christingle
Next move on to the fun section – creating the Christingles. This
can be a fairly messy activity, so make sure surfaces/children are
well covered!
As this is a festive activity enjoyed at Christmas time, Christmas
music played would be a nice accompaniment to this activity.
The Children’s Society’s Christingle CD ‘Hope of Heaven’ is free
to order (see Activity Specific Resources), and features a few
festive songs sung by children. Maybe your group could learn
the songs in advance.
122 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009
Each child will need their own orange, some red tape, a candle and
a square of tin foil (both best cut to size before the session), four
cocktail sticks and access to a bowl of dried fruit/sweets.
Talk the children through these simple steps to making a
Christingle:
o Take your orange and fasten a piece of red tape around the
middle
o Make a small cross in the top or the orange using a knife or
apple corer and lay a square of silver foil (7.5cm/3” square)
over it
o Place your wax candle on top of the foil and wedge it firmly into
the orange
o Load four cocktail sticks with the dried fruit/soft sweets, so the
points are covered.
o Insert the sticks into the orange above the red tape.
Part 3: Christingle Celebration
Stand back in a circle, with each child holding their Christingle.
If it is not dangerous to do so, it is best if lights can be dimmed.
Explain that each child will have their Christingle lit and that you
trust each of them to be very careful.
From the inside of the circle, move round and light each candle.
With close supervision you could ask them to help light the
candle of the person next to them, thus passing on the light.
Singing a song whilst the Christingles are being lit is a great
idea. As the children won’t be able to hold song sheets, it is best
to choose a song everybody knows or maybe project the words
on a wall, if possible. You could ask your group to choose the
song in advance.
After the song, a short prayer can be said for all the children in
the UK. Suggestions can be found in The Children’s Society’s
Create-a-Christingle magazine, Page 28.
Give each child a Christingle sticker for taking part (see Activity
Specific Resources).
Safety Issues/Risk Assessments:
o Wash hands before handling fruits/sweets
o Safety using sharp objects – knife, cocktail sticks
o Lit candles – for information on glow candles,
an alternative to wax candles, see Page 8 of the
Create -a-Christingle magazine or visit
www.christingle.org.

Tips/Advice:
Invite parents and guests to either part of or the whole session
to make a full, festive celebration. See Activity 3, Part 1 for
suggestions on who to invite. The more the merrier! Hand
out The Children’s Society’s collection envelopes to all those
attending.
Alternatively you could take this activity outside of your meeting
and hold a Christingle celebration in your local church or in
the community. It could be the theme of your next Parade
Service. For a more formal service, you can add a couple
of readings and songs – suggestions can be found in the
Create-a-Christingle magazine (Pages 30 – 34). The children
can take the lead in each section and enjoy being part of a
large celebration. Invite other groups, friends or schools to
your service and use it as a recruiting event. Remember to use
some of the great new resources available through The Boys’
Brigade. Go to www.boys-brigade.org.uk/recruitment and find
out more.
Hand out collection candles to your group in a previous meeting
for them to take home (see Activity Specific Resources). These
can be taken home for them to fill with small change for The
Children’s Society and collected in at the end of your Christingle
celebration.
Activity Specific Resources:
The following can be ordered free of charge from The Children’s
Society; visit
www.christingle.org/boysbrigade
or call 0845 600 8585.
o Create-a-Christingle magazine – for a wealth of additional
activities and advice
o Christingle stickers – to give to all children involved
o Red tape – to make your Christingles
o Wax candles – to make your Christingles
o A4 safety poster – with advice on safe practice
o Christingle Song CD – to play during your session
o Collection candles – making it fun for young people
to collect for The Children’s Society
o Collection envelopes – to hand out to adults attending
o Giro – to pay in any money raised (one will automatically
be sent with any orders for materials)
* When ordering materials, please select ‘Adverts – Boys’ Brigade
Gazette’ when asked ‘Where did you hear about Christingle’.
Shining the Light
COMMUNITY
Aim: To develop your groups’
knowledge of The Children’s Society’s
work with disadvantaged children
in their community and remind the
children that God wants us to help
those less fortunate than ourselves
Time: 1 hour (adaptable)
Group size: No maximum number
Equipment:
• Magazines
• Large sheets of
paper
• Cut out candle
outlines
(see Activity
Specific
Resources)
• Coloured pencils/
pens,
• Scissors
• Glue
• Blue tac
• Laptop (if showing
video clip)
Instructions:
Part 1: Making a Community Circle
Children can either work in pairs, in a small group or the
Company could work together as a whole.
Draw a circle on a large piece of paper, making sure
there are a few inches of blank paper around the outside
of the circle. Tell your group that the circle represents
their community.
Ask the children what the word ‘community’ means to them.
Maybe it is the road they live on, the town where they live or
maybe they think the UK is their community There is not a
right or wrong answer.
Next ask them to think about the other children in their
community. Can they list where other children might be
in their community At school, in the park, at home, in
hospitals, other groups or clubs for example. Create a
list of all the places they suggest.
Ask the children to illustrate these children by drawing
them in the middle of the circle or using cuttings from
magazines. If working with younger children, it may be
safer to either have them drawing or tearing out pictures.
Stick all the pictures in the middle of the circle next to
the drawings and display the picture on the wall.
Part 2: The Children’s Society
For this part of the activity, please be sensitive to any
difficult situations within the group.
Tell your group that The Children’s Society works in their
community and all over the country, helping children and
teenagers with their problems and making sure that they
are safe and happy. These might include:
o Children who grow up in unhappy homes, with parents
who don’t care about them.
o Children who have moved to England from
another country.
o Children who care for their parents, brothers or sisters.
o Children who are being bullied at school.
If possible, show one of the suggested video clips
(see Activity Specific Resources).
Ask your group if they know any children in these situations
in their community that they could help or befriend
Explain to the group that The Children’s Society is a charity.
Ask if anyone knows what a charity is Tell your group that
lots of kind people choose to raise money for charities
to help others. From putting on parties (see Community
Christingle Party) to being sponsored to jump out of planes!
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 123

Queen’s Badge
Review of 2008 – 2009
The Queen’s Badge is the highest award a member can gain, and
the following young men gained the award in the 2008-2009 session.
ENGLAND
EAST ANGLIA
NAME
COMPANY
Joshua Snape 1st Haverhill
David Nicholson 1st Huntingdon
Andrew Sweetenham 1st Huntingdon
Ben Hazledon 1st Huntingdon
Christopher Numm 1st Mid Suffolk
Jonathan Walley 4th Norwich
Benjamin Lawrence 4th Norwich
Daniel Lawrence 4th Norwich
Stephen Spaull 23rd South East Essex
EAST MIDLANDS
NAME
COMPANY
Martin Field
5th Nottingham
Robert Milton 8th Nottingham
James M Ducker 16th Nottingham
Thomas Stokes 32nd Nottingham
Dominic Turner 32nd Nottingham
Dafydd Williams 32nd Nottingham
Matthew Foster 32nd Nottingham
Elliot Green
32nd Nottingham
Jack Maloney 32nd Nottingham
Mitchell Jones 32nd Nottingham
Lewis Roots
37th Nottingham
Liam Kitt
37th Nottingham
Matthew Brooks 39th Nottingham
Yusuf Mosager 42nd Nottingham
Jonathan Decker 1st Oadby
Adam Cook
1st Oadby
Matthew Wyatt 2nd Sutton-in-Ashfield
Steven Bunning 2nd Sutton-in-Ashfield
Christopher Portman 2nd Sutton-in-Ashfield
Christopher Luke 2nd Sutton-in-Ashfield
LONDON
NAME
COMPANY
Julian Onyelekere 4th Barking
Dylan Green 4th Ealing
Tom Middleton 4th Ealing
Thomas Porter 4th Ealing
Christopher Read 4th Ealing
Yohan Dharmachandran 5th Ealing
Andrew Johnson 10th Ealing
Elliot Bartle
10th Ealing
East Midland District
Pictured are the young men from the East Midlands
District at the Queen’s Badge Presentations held at
RAFC Cranwell.
124 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009
Stuart Shannon 1st Gillingham
Robert Simon 1st Gillingham
David Shannon 1st Gillingham
Andrew Kingston 4th Hillingdon
Theophilus Fasanya 5th London
Carl Humphries 5th London
Hayden Williams 10th London
David Oyenuga 10th London
Daniel Balegun 10th London
Robert Trehy 1st Richmond
Simon Lloyd
9th Waltham Forest
NORTH OF ENGLAND
NAME
COMPANY
Jamie Tower
2nd Consett
Andrew Wade 2nd Consett
Ben Nelson
1st Darlington
Adam Laidlaw 1st Darlington
Michael Morris 8th Gateshead
Oliver Woodhall 18th Gateshead
Paul Emington 1st Morpeth
Christopher Shepherd 1st Newton Aycliffe
Ricki-Lee Harrison 15th South Shields
NORTH WEST
NAME
COMPANY
Paul Malley
1st Ashton in Makerfield
Joseph Hacker 1st Burton in Kendall
Daniel Goodison 12th Liverpool
Elliott Paterson 12th Liverpool
Mark Fidler
35th Liverpool
Ashley Shackell 35th Liverpool
Ian Crawford 35th Liverpool
Michael Goodwin 48th Liverpool
Philip Hughes 48th Liverpool
Michael Bell
48th Liverpool
Timothy Bell
48th Liverpool
Daniel Jarmin 1st Morecambe &
Heysham
David Morris 1st Morecambe &
Heysham
James Dawson 1st Ormskirk
Andrew Ranson 1st Ormskirk
Robert Simmons 1st Oswaldtwistle
Jack Shuttleworth 1st Oswaldtwistle
Aiden Tate
1st Rishton
Ewan Linden 2nd Rochdale
Nathan Coates 2nd Rochdale
Aaron Calvert 3rd Trafford
Ryan Curphy 12th Wigan
William Fielding 12th Wigan
Liam Jayne
12th Wigan
Matthew Peacock 12th Wigan
Luke Sherwin 12th Wigan
SOUTH MIDLANDS
NAME
COMPANY
Matthew Gaunt 3rd Bedford
Stephen Miller 1st Holmer Green
James Sempill 1st Holmer Green
Stephen Grundey 1st Holmer Green
Daniel Douglas 1st Holmer Green
James Cruttenden 1st Holmer Green
Pictured are the young men from the West Midland
District who were presented with their Queen’s
Badges by the Brigade Secretary.
Scott Pickering 1st Kempston
Nathan Davis 2nd Luton
Jonas Imulani 22nd Luton
Adam Benjamin 22nd Luton
Warren Mayes 7th Northampton
Kris Holland
7th Northampton
Ben Jones
7th Northampton
Joe Harrison 11th Northampton
Matthew Exton 22nd Northampton
Andrew Padington 22nd Northampton
SOUTHERN
NAME
COMPANY
Owen Smith
2nd Burgess Hill
Joseph Stenning 2nd Burgess Hill
Lee Collier
1st Margate
Tim Shingles 1st Margate
Robert Malbon 1st Margate
Phillip Moffat 1st Newbury
Nathan Gregory 1st Thatcham
Matthew Collinson 4th Woking
WEST MIDLANDS
NAME
COMPANY
Robert Andrew 5th Birmingham
Clive Haslam 8th Birmingham
Benjamin Fowler 8th Birmingham
Stephen Knox 8th Birmingham
Antony Hardy 31st Birmingham
Andrew Barrow 33rd Birmingham
Stephen Baker 35th Birmingham
Alexander Woolgar 59th Birmingham
Adam Garghan 73rd Birmingham
Nicholas Bates 2nd Burntwood
Adam Moran 1st Chasetown
Nicholas Sargent 1st Cheslyn Hay
Liam Kennedy 1st Cheslyn Hay
Christopher Austin 8th North Staffs
Alan Wrench 20th North Staffs
Adam Luto
34th North Staffs
Thomas Collins 12th West Bromwich
Nathan Richards 12th West Bromwich
Alexander Collins 12th West Bromwich
Reuban Peumalu 12th West Bromwich
Christopher Jones 10th Wolverhampton
Joe Dugmore 10th Wolverhampton
WEST OF ENGLAND
NAME
COMPANY
Paul Coney
3rd Bridgwater
Andrew Hole 3rd Bridgwater
James Gillard 3rd Bridgwater
Daniel Buller 3rd Bridgwater
James Welch 4th Bristol
Fraser Middel 4th Bristol
Joshua Cook 4th Bristol
David Harris
4th Bristol
Mark Jones
20th Bristol
Daniel Davis 10th Exeter
Tom Bullock
3rd Yeovil

YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE
NAME
COMPANY
Matthew Parker 19th Bradford
Adam Young 2nd Cleethorpes
Stephen Cant 6th Grimsby
Andrew Murgatroyd 2nd Halifax
Richard Gill
16th Halifax
John Crabtree 18th Halifax
Jonathan Ward 4th Huddersfield
Michael Braithwaite 5th Hull
Pictured are the young men from the Yorkshire &
Humberside District who were presented with their
Queen’s Badges by the Vice Lord Lieutenant for West
Yorkshire, Mr John Brennan OBE.
Simon Austin
Ashley Kemp
Owen Hughes
Mathew Nichols
David McBride
Benjamin Neal
Elliot Banks
Andrew Judge
James Oakes
Christopher Hulley
17th Hull
17th Hull
24th Hull
7th Leeds
2nd Scarborough
2nd Scarborough
5th Scarborough
20th Sheffield
20th Sheffield
23rd Sheffield
Northern Ireland
NAME
Adam Currie
Alan McCann
Nathan Milligan
Alistair Bell
Alex Baird
Jason Clugston
Adam Hall
Matthew McKeown
Matthew Goodman
Evan Cusick
Jonathan Martin
Niall Walker
Keith Fulton
Steven Healy
Aaron Dunlop
David Dunlop
Jason Simpson
Timothy McCollum
Stuart Farquhar
Samuel Lockhart
Janusz McNeill
Gareth Irwin
Richard Irwin
Andrew Scott
Ryan Cherry
Scott Hill
Ryan Irvine
Mark Willis
Andrew Brown
Jonathan Mullan
Peter McAvoy
David Magill
Gareth McCandless
Ryan Skelly
Samuel McCormick
COMPANY
1st Annaghmore
1st Annaghmore
1st Annaghmore
1st Ballyclare
3rd Ballyclare
3rd Ballyclare
3rd Ballyclare
3rd Ballyclare
1st Ballycraigy
1st Ballylinney
1st Ballylinney
1st Ballylinney
3rd Ballymena
3rd Ballymena
1st Ballymoney
1st Ballymoney
1st Ballymoney
2nd Ballymoney
2nd Ballynahinch
2nd Ballynahinch
2nd Ballynahinch
1st Balteagh
1st Balteagh
1st Balteagh
1st Bangor
1st Bangor
1st Bangor
1st Bangor
2nd Bangor
2nd Bangor
12th Bangor
3rd Belfast
3rd Belfast
20th Belfast
58th Belfast
Kyle Magee
1st Cairnalbana
Joshua Rea
1st Cairnalbana
Michael Armstrong 8th Carrickfergus
Simon Clarke 8th Carrickfergus
Simon Kerr
1st Castlecaulfield
Leslie Gregg 1st Castledawson
Adam Buchanan 1st Castlederg
Glen Torrens 1st Castlederg
John Catterson 2nd Castlederg
James Taylor 1st Coleraine
Michael Wallace 1st Coleraine
Andrew Boyd 2nd Coleraine
Andrew Cunning 2nd Coleraine
Brent Haslett 2nd Coleraine
Conor McMullan 2nd Coleraine
Christopher Cunningham 5th Coleraine
Craig McKenzie 1st Cookstown
Kyle Irwin
1st Culnady
William Sufferin 1st Culnady
Matthew Craig 1st Donemana
Aaron Hamilton 1st Dromara
Robin Harte
1st Dromara
Ben Cartwright 1st Drumachose
Matthew Haslett 1st Drumachose
Richard Stewart 1st Drumcree
Charles Blair 1st Drumreagh
Samuel Campbell 1st Drumreagh
Marc Hegarty 1st Drumreagh
Stuart Mullan 1st Dungiven
Sam Cooke
1st Faughanvale
Alex Davidson 1st Faughanvale
Richard Keys 1st Faughanvale
Harry McCullagh 1st Faughanvale
Filipe Lamont 1st Glenwherry
David McIlwaine 1st Glenwherry
Philip Catherwood 1st Greenisland
Jonathan Duddy 1st Greenisland
Aynsley Gray 1st Greenisland
Mark Bleakley 1st Irvinestown
James Fallis
1st Irvinestown
Mark Gibson 1st Irvinestown
David Glover 1st Irvinestown
Kristofer Kinnear 1st Irvinestown
Darren Wilson 1st Irvinestown
Christopher Coulter 1st Kilbride
Andrew McNeill 1st Kilbride
Lindsay Beck 1st Kilkeel
Mark Cromie 1st Kilkeel
James Patterson 1st Killead
Ross McKane 1st Killinchy
Alan Stewart 1st Killinchy
Andrew Gilmore 1st Kilrea
Michael Knox 1st Larne
Lee Millar
1st Larne
Michael Platten 1st Larne
David Swann 1st Larne
Adam Keys
1st Limavady
Connor McGoldrick 2nd Limavady
Ryan Montgomery 2nd Limavady
Jonathan Allen 2nd Lisburn
Mark Hutchinson 2nd Lisburn
Adam Glass
3rd Lisburn
Christopher Adams 5th Lisburn
Andrew Cummings 5th Lisburn
Jonathan Harrison 5th Lisburn
Aaron Beattie 4th Londonderry
David Graham 4th Londonderry
Gareth Smith 4th Londonderry
Adam Smyth 4th Londonderry
Jonathan Wilson 4th Londonderry
Neil Cunningham 1st Loughaghery
William Galbraith 1st Loughaghery
Christopher Jones 1st Loughaghery
Paul Calvert
3rd Lurgan
6th Newtownards
Six members of the 6th Newtownards Company were
presented with their Queen’s Badges by Northern
Ireland’s Minister for Health, Michael McGimpsey,
MLA.
Patrick Craig 3rd Lurgan
Marc Fleming 1st Magheramason
Jonathan Rutherford 1st Magheramason
Philip Hutchinson 1st Mountjoy
Reece Killen 1st Mountjoy
David Matthews 1st Mountjoy
Simon Kerr
1st Moy
James McClure 1st Moy
Nathan McClenaghan 2nd Newtownabbey
Gareth McKeown 2nd Newtownabbey
Michael Crossan 3rd Newtownabbey
Daniel Kilpatrick 3rd Newtownabbey
Richard Smyth 3rd Newtownabbey
Samuel Dundee 4th Newtownabbey
David Jamison 4th Newtownabbey
Craig Edwards 7th Newtownabbey
James Wilson 7th Newtownabbey
Ross Scott
8th Newtownabbey
Jordan Watson 8th Newtownabbey
Jonathan Luke 10th Newtownabbey
Philip Stewart 10th Newtownabbey
Simon Frazer 16th Newtownabbey
Jonathan McMullan 16th Newtownabbey
Gareth Moore 16th Newtownabbey
Gareth Brown 6th Newtownards
Peter Maxwell 6th Newtownards
Adam Miles
6th Newtownards
Simon McMorran 6th Newtownards
Glenn McNamara 6th Newtownards
Andrew McNeill 6th Newtownards
Michael Culbert 8th Newtownards
Alister Barton 1st Pettigo
David Fitzpatrick 1st Pettigo
Andrew Loane 1st Pettigo
Christopher Lowry 1st Pettigo
Adam Wray
1st Pettigo
David Cox
1st Portadown
David Meek
2nd Portadown
Craig Patterson 2nd Portadown
John Robb
2nd Portadown
Andrew Reid 2nd Route
Thomas Skelton 2nd Route
Mark Campbell 3rd Route
David Smyth 3rd Route
Graham Thompson 3rd Route
William Beattie 9th Route
Samuel Bellingham 9th Route
Joshua Griffin 9th Route
Kenneth McAneaney 9th Route
Timothy McCurdy 9th Route
Peter Gilliland 1st Saintfield
Ryan Woods 1st Saintfield
Darren Ferguson 1st Stewartstown
Paul Leslie
1st Stewartstown
Roland Millar 1st Stewartstown
Glenn Henry 1st Tobermore
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 125

1st Bearsden
Three members of the 1st Bearsden Company were
presented with their Queen’s Badges by Rear Admiral
Mike Gregory, Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire.
Scotland
NAME
COMPANY
Gary Patterson 1st Bearsden
Ross Kirkwood 1st Bearsden
Iain Howe
1st Bearsden
Iain Sharp
1st Bearsden
Gregor Chappelle 1st Old Kilpatrick
David Campbell 1st Old Kilpatrick
Andrew McDermid 1st Vale of Leven
Robbie Maltman 1st Vale of Leven
Craig Gillespie 1st Vale of Leven
Gavin McWilliam 1st Vale of Leven
Alan Adair 1st Campsie
Gareth Ramsay 1st Condorrat
Ross McFarlane 1st Chryston
Mark Gammie 1st Cumbernauld
Calum McDougall 1st Cumbernauld
Neil Campbell 1st Cumbernauld
Craig Figures 1st Torrance
Kevin O’Donnell 2nd Cumbernauld
Allistair Cruickshank 2nd Cumbernauld
Lewis Dalgetty 1st Loanhead
Andrew Mackenzie 1st Loanhead
Ross Sinclair 1st Loanhead
Liam Anderson 10th Leith
Andrew Dove 10th Leith
Calum Doyle 10th Leith
Bruce Barclay 12th Leith
Michael Ewing 13th Edinburgh
Craig Shiells 41st Edinburgh
Kevin Backe 41st Edinburgh
Alastair Ritchie 61st Edinburgh
David New 61st Edinburgh
Adam Braby 61st Edinburgh
Andrew MacDonald 63rd Edinburgh
Gary McCaskell 63rd Edinburgh
Andrew Mooney 63rd Edinburgh
Daniel Mackenzie 65th Edinburgh
Logan Russell 65th Edinburgh
Graeme Ormiston 3rd Galashiels
Rory Hancock 3rd Galashiels
James Haining 3rd Galashiels
Michael Miller 3rd Galashiels
Craig Frater 3rd Galashiels
James Connor 2nd Linlithgow
Euan Rankine 2nd Linlithgow
Gordon Dalgleish 2nd Linlithgow
Scott Chalmers 2nd Linlithgow
Greg Colquhoun 2nd Linlithgow
Callum Pyper 5th Livingston
Kevin Farquhar 5th Livingston
Matthew Corner 5th Livingston
126 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009
Ian Marr
1st Uphall
Stephen Cullen 9th Glasgow
Parasutharan Sivapatham
9th Glasgow
Jonathan Lindsay 12th Glasgow
David Smith 16th Glasgow
Scott Clarke 25th Glasgow
Scott Ritchie 25th Glasgow
Fraser Mackay 27th Glasgow
Martin Stewart 27th Glasgow
Scott Campbell 60th Glasgow
Neil Greenhorn 60th Glasgow
Mark Regan 60th Glasgow
Steven Mair 72nd Glasgow
Craig Barbour 79th Glasgow
Greig Cunningham 79th Glasgow
Donald Lundie 79th Glasgow
Jonathan McKinney 79th Glasgow
Scott Sutherland 79th Glasgow
Iain MacGregor 111th Glasgow
Lewis McCabe 118th Glasgow
Ross McIntyre 118th Glasgow
Glenn Allan 128th Glasgow
Andrew MacLean 128th Glasgow
Scott McInnes 128th Glasgow
Mark Reynolds 128th Glasgow
Peter Shankland 128th Glasgow
Calum Shields 128th Glasgow
David Coull 137th Glasgow
Mark Woods 137th Glasgow
Adam Wilson 145th Glasgow
Luke Muir
182nd Glasgow
Stewart Aitken 195th Glasgow
David Hendry 195th Glasgow
Jordan Samson 195th Glasgow
Stewart Whitton 195th Glasgow
Sam Lland 200th Glasgow
Colin Smith 200th Glasgow
Chris Shearer 205th Glasgow
James Miller 223rd Glasgow
Scott Linich 231st Glasgow
Murray Scott 231st Glasgow
Callum Turner 231st Glasgow
Greg Wilkie 231st Glasgow
Barry Cathie 246th Glasgow
Daniel Johnson 246th Glasgow
Graeme Leask 246th Glasgow
Peter Sutherland 268th Glasgow
Darren Dockrell 4th East Kilbride
Craig Drummond 4th East Kilbride
Lewis Ferguson 4th East Kilbride
Stuart McKinnon 4th East Kilbride
Ben Hardie 1st New Monkland
Craig Salisbury 1st New Monkland
Christopher Fenn 1st Viewpark
Darren Smillie 1st Viewpark
Andrew Martin 1st Viewpark
Graeme Martin 1st Viewpark
Christopher Knudsen 1st Viewpark
Andrew Leaker 10th Coatbridge
Craig Ross 10th Coatbridge
Mark Lynn 10th Coatbridge
James Woods 10th Coatbridge
Scott Carr
15th Coatbridge
David Strang 1st Dalserf
Scott Airey 1st Dalserf
Alistair Stewart 12th Hamilton
Colin Murray 12th Hamilton
Allan Robertson 7th/16th Motherwell
Craig Scott 7th/16th Motherwell
Jordan Price 7th/16th Motherwell
Scott McLelland 7th/16th Motherwell
Robert Johnstone 7th/16th Motherwell
Kyle Grier
7th/16th Motherwell
Daniel Baker 7th/16th Motherwell
Greg McLaughlan 13th Motherwell
Graeme Brown 13th Motherwell
Jamie Buchanan 13th Motherwell
Ross MacDonald 13th Motherwell
Jonathan Boal 13th Motherwell
Steven Walker 15th Motherwell
Graham Lang 1st Cambusnethan
Craig Boyd 1st Cambusnethan
Greg Meikle 1st Kirkmuirhill
David Robb 1st Law
Christian Stenhouse 1st Law
Jonathon Chalmers 1st Newmains
David Baillie 1st Newmains
Fraser Dickson 4th Carluke
Barry Spence 4th Carluke
Fraser Russell 4th Carluke
David Walker 4th Carluke
Robert Gibb 4th Carluke
Steven Chalmers 4th Carluke
Andrew MacKay 4th Carluke
Christopher Ferrier 1st Carnoustie
Greg Ryder 1st Monifieth
Liam Boath 1st Monifieth
Andrew Simpson 1st Monifieth
Mathew Boath 1st Monifieth
Gary Milne 2nd Forfar
Ewan Greenhill 2nd Forfar
Scott Findlay 6th/8th Dundee
David Harris 6th/8th Dundee
Jaq Inglis
6th/8th Dundee
Michael McKelvie 6th/8th Dundee
Neil McWilliam 6th/8th Dundee
Aaron Peters 6th/8th Dundee
Stephen Whyte 6th/8th Dundee
Liam Elder 6th/8th Dundee
Steven Stuart 12th Dundee
Scott Wallace 1st Tulliallan
Robert Cunningham 1st Tulliallan
Scott Reston 1st Tulliallan
Andrew Wedge 3rd Dunfermline
Sam Fenwick 3rd Dunfermline
Graham Scott 1st Falkirk
Fraser Thomson 1st Falkirk
Grant Profit 1st Falkirk
Russell Croal 1st Falkirk
Christopher Walls 1st Grangemouth
Colin Scott 1st Grangemouth
Marc Stewart 1st Grangemouth
Christopher Nelson 1st Haggs
Christopher Carr 1st Larbert
Darren Dibdin 1st Larbert
Kevin Purves 1st Polmont
Calum Rankine 1st Polmont
Darren Paterson 2nd Polmont
Jamie Lockhart 2nd Polmont
Alister Quinney 3rd Larbert
Ross McInnes 3rd Larbert
Christopher Hepburn 4th Falkirk
Andrew McLean 7th Falkirk
Calum McLean 7th Falkirk
Jamie McLean 7th Falkirk
Darren Robertson 7th Grangemouth
Aaron Dow 7th Grangemouth
Ross Mitchell 7th Grangemouth
Blair Gallagher 7th Grangemouth
Andrew Clark 4th Perth
Andrew Watt 8th Stirling
Robert Kimmitt 8th Stirling
Gordon Ferguson 8th Stirling

Keiran Penny 11th Stirling
Andrew Nicol 11th Stirling
Andrew Butchart 25th Stirling
Connor Wilson 25th Stirling
Leo Brown 26th Stirling
Callum Marshall 26th Stirling
Callum Boa 26th Stirling
Sandy Duncan 1st Inverurie
Andrew Yule 1st Inverurie
Rory Arbuthnott 1st Newtonhill
Daniel Moir 1st Newtonhill
Matthew Dickie 1st Newtonhill
Lewis Will
1st Newtonhill
Robert Peattie 1st Newtonhill
Jamie McGee 1st Newtonhill
Keith Low
1st Newtonhill
Andrew Duncan 1st Newtonhill
Fraser Mackay 1st Portlethen
Stuart Allan 1st Portlethen
Thomas Stephen 1st Portlethen
Stuart Craig 1st Portlethen
1st Newtonhill
Ross Moir
1st Portlethen
Eight members of the 1st Newtonhill Company were presented with their Queen’s Badges to mark the end of a
Cameron Strachan 1st Skene
memorable session.
Grant McGregor 1st Skene
Simon Davidson 1st Skene
Hayden Johnston 1st Girvan
Stephen Bolton 12th Greenock
Steven Burnett 1st Skene
Kieran Farrell 1st Girvan
Gavin Fairweather 12th Greenock
Craig Burnett 1st Skene
Jamie Duncan 1st Troon
Stuart Kennedy 12th Greenock
David Young 1st Stonehaven Greg Goodall 1st Troon
Ryan Lennox 1st Largs
Gary Bruce 1st Udny Green Scott McCutcheon 1st Troon
David Purdie 1st Largs
Peter Hutton 1st Udny Green Graeme Moffat 1st Troon
John Robertson 1st Largs
Stuart Shand 3rd Aberdeen Jack Philip 1st Troon
Joshua Nordbo 1st Largs
Finlay Mudie 48th Aberdeen Stephen Waddell 1st Troon
Graham Millar 1st Largs
David Shepherd 68th Aberdeen Lloyd Smith 1st Troon
Sean Hunter 1st Largs
Ross Bligdon 1st Banff
Stuart Nunan 8th Ayr
Alistair Deans 1st Largs
Christopher Farquhar 1st Buckie
Shaun Sutherland 8th Ayr
Scott Davis 1st Largs
Matthew Warren 1st Buckie
Scott McClymont 8th Ayr
Ross Boswell 1st Largs
Ryan Taylor 1st Buckie
Craig Cobbledick 12th Ayr
Neil Menzies 1st Largs
Joel Reid
1st Buckie
Gregor Queen 17th Ayr
Steven Bonn 1st Largs
Connor Murdoch 1st Buckie
Jonathan Watters 1st Stewarton Andrew Gilmour 1st Largs
Sean Mair
1st Buckie
Ross Local 1st Stewarton Robbie Miller 4th Irvine
Gavin Godsman 1st Buckie
Alistair McKenna 1st Stewarton Peter Martin 5th Irvine
Euan Cross 1st Buckie
Paul Stephen 1st Stewarton Oliver Wilson 1st Bishopton
Connor Cowie 1st Buckie
Daniel Pitt
1st Stewarton Thomas Nicholl 1st Bishopton
Richard McIntosh 1st Buckie
Evan Beggs 2nd Kilmarnock Jeffrey Webster 1st Bridge of Weir
Jason Gordon 1st Buckie
Michael Rutherford 2nd New Cumnock Colin Guthrie 1st Bridge of Weir
Andrew McNab 1st New Deer Cameron Paterson 2nd New Cumnock Callum Hawkins 1st Bridge of Weir
Gregor Brodie 1st New Deer Ross Murray 2nd New Cumnock Finlay McKenzie 1st Bridge of Weir
Matthew Capel 1st New Deer Conar Kerr 2nd New Cumnock Connor Stevenson 1st Bridge of Weir
Steven Muirden 1st Nairn
Adam Greig 2nd New Cumnock Stuart Mathie 1st Bridge of Weir
Andrew McLaren 1st Nairn
Colin Baird 2nd Sanquhar Alan Wilson 1st Bridge of Weir
Cameron Mackenzie 2nd Fort William Andrew Usher 2nd Sanquhar Christopher Palmer 1st Elderslie
Anders Hanson 2nd Fort William Iain Barnard 3rd Galston
Craig McNaught 1st Elderslie
Calum McIntosh 3rd Inverness Ryan Hogg 4th/5th Kilmarnock Greg Campbell 1st Elderslie
Stefan Hunter 3rd Inverness Craig Coughtrie 4th/5th Kilmarnock Fraser Pearson 1st Erskine
Calum Fraser 3rd Inverness Marc Stevenson 1st Greenock Scott Millar 1st Erskine
Ruari Benson 3rd Inverness Karl Stummer 1st Greenock Craig Hawthorn 1st Houston
Cameron Nelson 3rd Inverness Christopher Lawrence 2nd Gourock Adam MacAlister 1st Houston
Asa Black
1st Forres
Ross Aitken 2nd Gourock Douglas Holmes 1st Houston
Craig Macdonald 1st Forres
Ross Jackson 2nd Gourock Finlay Fraser 1st Houston
Jonathan Bisset 4th Lossiemouth Andrew McKelvie 2nd Gourock Michael Cumine 1st Houston
Jonross Williamson 1st Lerwick
Robert Baxter 2nd Port Glasgow Martin Whyte 1st Kilbarchan
Scott Evans 1st Lerwick
Louie Hoodless 2nd Port Glasgow Billy McKendrick 1st Kilbarchan
Callum MacGregor
Craig Jamieson 2nd Port Glasgow David Stark 1st Kilbarchan
1st Sandwick/Cunningsburgh David McGachy 2nd Port Glasgow Ross Miller 1st Neilston
Daniel Boyd 1st Alloway
Alan Hendry 2nd Port Glasgow Steven Kerr 1st Neilston
Christian Donaldson 1st Alloway
Darrin Ballingall 2nd Port Glasgow Mark Waldron 1st Uplawmoor
Andrew Jarvie 1st Alloway
Neil Bowes 3rd Greenock Ben Rodger 1st Uplawmoor
Andrew Ronning 1st Alloway
Paul Branchfield 3rd Greenock Mark Webster 2nd Barrhead
Andrew Lang 1st Alloway
Euan Ross 3rd Gourock
Blair Cochran 3rd Johnstone
Michael Lamont 1st Alloway
Euan McLean 3rd Gourock
David Ashton 15th Paisley
Olof Robertson 1st Alloway
Randeep Dhesi 3rd Gourock
Gregory Rusca 2nd Dumfries
Kristopher Sharkey 1st Girvan
Ewan McKechnie 3rd Gourock
Iain Rowan 2nd Dumfries
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 127

Can your group think of any good ways to raise money Maybe
they have done things for other charities or at school Write
down any good suggestions for later use.
Part 3: Shining the Light
Hand out an outline of a candle to each child and ask them
to colour it in bright colours (see Activity Specific Resources).
Whilst handing them out, tell the children that Christingle is a
celebration that happens in every community in the country to
raise money for The Children’s Society. See if they remember/
know the symbolism of Christingle (see Exploring Christingle).
Once the candles are all coloured in they can be stuck around
the outside of the circle representing the community, with the
children inside. Tell the children that the candles will now shine
light on all the children in their community and help to make
them happy – just like Christingle.
At this point, you could say a prayer with your group for
disadvantaged children in their community. You may also like
to sing a song (see Create-a-Christingle magazine – Pages 28
and 34 for suggestions). Perhaps your group could learn and
sing the Christingle song ‘Hope of Heaven’ (see Activity Specific
Resources).
Give each child a collection candle to take home and ask them to
fill it with pennies, if possible. They can also be given a Christingle
sticker to wear home for taking part in the activity.
Safety Issues/Risk Assessments:
Safety around using scissors
Tips/Advice:
The finished picture could be displayed on the wall at any
Christingle celebration you may be involved with.
Activity Specific Resources:
A wealth of information on The Children’s Society is available to
support this session:
o The Children’s Society videos – www.youtube.com/
childrenssociety (Recommended for a younger age group –
Sophie’s Story (Mentoring) and Emma’s Story (Bullying).
o Kids Zone – www.childrenssociety.org.uk/kids_zone
o The Children’s Society website – look up to see the nearest
project to your Company
o My Life 4 Schools website (schools resource) –
www.mylife4schools.co.uk
The following can be ordered free of charge from The Children’s
Society; visit www.christingle.org/boysbrigade or call
0845 600 8585:
o Create-a-Christingle magazine – including candle outlines for
colouring (Page 22) and project cards detailing information on
The Children’s Society’s work in communities around the UK
(Pages 10-12)
o Christingle stickers – to give to all children taking part in the
session
o Giro – to pay in any money raised (one will automatically be
sent with any orders for materials)
o Collection candles – making it fun for children to collect
o Sponsorship forms – should any of the children wish to do a
sponsored event for The Children’s Society
* When ordering materials, please select ‘Adverts – Boys’ Brigade
Gazette’ when asked ‘Where did you hear about Christingle’.
Community Christingle Party
COMMUNITY
Aim: To join together with your wider
community at Christmas time through
Christingle and help raise money for
The Children’s Society’s work with
disadvantaged children
Time: 1 hour (variable)
Group size: No maximum number
Equipment:
• Pens/pencils
• Paper
• CD player
• See activities for
extra equipment
Instructions:
Part 1: Planning Your Party
A Christingle party offers a real opportunity to reach out to the
wider community at Christmas time. Ask the children who they
would like to invite and draw up a list. Maybe family, friends,
other Boys’ Brigade Companies or uniformed youth groups in
the area
Christingle invitations are included within The Children’s
Society’s Create-a-Christingle magazine (see Activity Specific
Resources). If photocopied in advance, the
children can fill in the invitations and help hand them out
to those you agree to invite.
Perhaps the children could divide into groups, each
taking a different area of the planning.
128 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009

What music would they like to play What food and drink should
be served What role will each group take at the party Can they
talk to their guests about Christingle and The Children’s Society
Part 2: Fundraising for Children
This is a great opportunity to fundraise for The Children’s Society
– working with the children and your community to raise money
for disadvantaged children at Christmas time.
Ask your group if they can think of ways to raise money for The
Children’s Society at their Christingle party. You might get some
great ideas! Here are a few to get your started:
Selling items – Invited guests can either make a donation to
The Children’s Society on entry or pay for any food or drink at the
party. You could involve the children in deciding what to sell and
how much you would charge for each item.
Collecting – Your group could hand out The Children’s
Society’s collection envelopes to all those attending the party
and collect any filled envelopes at the end. If you have worked
with your group on Activity 2 the children could tell guests in
their words about the work of The Children’s Society.
Each member of your group could take a collection candle
home, with the tasks of filling it with coins. Ideas for collecting
change are included in the ‘Christingle Countdown’ section of
The Children’s Society’s Create-a-Christingle magazine (Page
23).
Passing the light – If the children’s parents are at the party,
they could promise to carry out some ‘good deeds’ at home in
exchange for their parents donating to The Children’s Society.
Tidy bedrooms, washing up etc!
Part 3: Food
Making Christingle foods to either eat or sell is a great way to
help the children get creative.
The following suggestions are very quick and easy for the
children to make. If you choose not to make food at the party,
you could ask your group to bring food items along that they
prepared at home in advance.
Christingle Biscuits
For this you will need: plain digestive biscuits, orange icing,
red laces (sweeties) and hundreds & thousands. Each child
can design their own biscuit Christingle with the biscuit as the
orange. If you talk through what each element symbolises with
the children they will in turn be able to explain this to your party
guests. Christingle biscuits can either be sold to eat, given as a
gift or taken home to remind people of Christingle.
Loaded Sticks: Representing God’s Good Gifts
For this you will need: bowls of cheese cubes and pineapple
chunks for savoury, banana slices and marshmallows for sweet,
cocktail sticks. Give each child a cocktail stick and access to
each of the bowls. Ask them to decide if they would like to make a
sweet or savoury loaded stick. Next they can start putting the food
items onto their stick – suggest alternating item or leave to them to
decide!
Those who are not that vegetable remain seated. Whoever ends
up without a chair/is the last person to sit then has a go at calling
out the vegetable names. More than one vegetable can be called
out at the same time and everyone should move at once when you
call out ‘mixed veggies’
Sleeping Seeds
Ask the children to spread out, lie down on the floor and pretend
to be seeds sleeping in the ground during winter. Ask one child
to move around the room and try to make any of the ‘seeds’
move, laugh or make any kind of sound without touching them.
Any ‘seed’ which moves is ‘out’ and joins in trying to wake other
‘seeds’ up. The game continues until everyone is awake or until
the last sleeping seed is declared the winner.
Give out Christingle stickers as prizes or to all children attending.
Safety Issues/Risk Assessment:
o Washing hands before handling food items
o Safety using sharp object – cocktail sticks
Tips/Advice:
A Christingle party would be a great culmination of all the
activities, but it could also be a standalone activity. If you choose
to hold a party in isolation, it may be a good idea to take a few
ideas from all the activities to give the children some background
on Christingle and The Children’s Society, e.g. Making a
Christingle, The Children’s Society etc.
It is advised to involve the children as much as possible in the
planning and execution of your event.
Invite other groups, friends or schools to your party and use it
as a recruiting event. Remember to use some of the great new
resources available through The Boys’ Brigade. Go to www.boysbrigade.org.uk/recruitment
and find out more.
Activity Specific Resources:
The following can be ordered free of charge from The Children’s
Society; visit www.christingle.org/boysbrigade or call 0845
600 8585:
o Create-a-Christingle magazine – containing Christingle
invitations to photocopy (Page 25) and a wealth of additional
food and games suggestions
o Christingle stickers – to give to all children involved
o Christingle CD – to play at your party
o Collection candles – making it fun for young people to collect
o Collection envelopes – to hand out to adults attending
o Giro – to pay in any money raised (one will automatically be
sent with any orders for materials)
* When ordering materials, please select ‘Adverts – Boys’ Brigade
Gazette’ when asked ‘Where did you hear about Christingle’.
Part 4: Games
If you would like to play games with your group at the party, either
choose from the following or visit www.christingle.org/boysbrigade
for more suggestions. All games are focused around the idea of
‘God’s Good Gifts’, as represented by the four loaded cocktail
sticks on a Christingle.
Mixed Veggies
Create a circle of chairs with a clear space in the middle of the
circle and enough room for children to move. Ask the children
to sit in the clear space in the middle of the circle of chairs.
Going round the circle, give each child the name of one of four
vegetables.
Stand in the centre of the circle and call out a vegetable. Everyone
who is that vegetable must get up and move to an empty chair.
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 129

Around the regions
Wales
23rd Cardiff Group Reborn
BB work was restarted with an Anchor Section at Cathays Methodist Church after a
successful holiday club and the realisation that the church needed a weekly group
to which boys could belong and have fun, develop skills and learn about Jesus.
The section has ten enthusiastic members and it is hoped to start a Junior Section
in the autumn and also increase the Anchor Section.
John Chapman,
2nd Llantwit
Major, wins the
Western Mail
Cup Winner
Congratulations from
everyone in Cardiff
and the Vale of
Glamorgan area to
this year’s winner of
the Western Mail Cup,
John Chapman from
2nd Llantwit Major.
John is an exceptional
young man who manages to balance
his commitments with the company,
church, chess club and work with
studying for 4 A-levels. When asked
about the award John said, “It was great
to be nominated and win, it’s a real
honour. I’ve really enjoyed my time in
2nd Llantwit and I hope I can give
something back in the future.”
England
Don’t miss Firm Foundations 2010
The theme for Firm Foundations 2010 will be based on iCan
– taken from the Bible verse Phillippians Ch.4:13 ‘For I can do
everything through Christ, who gives me strength.’
The event, which is jointly run by The Boys’ Brigade and
The Girls’ Brigade England & Wales, will take place between
Friday 28 May and Monday 31 May 2010 at Felden Lodge.
Information has been circulated to all Captains in England
& Wales with this Gazette, and is available for download
on the website (www.firm-foundations.org.uk).
It promises an action-packed weekend of worship, activities
and performances from well-known Christian artists.
In order to keep costs as low as possible we do not employ
a full time administrator for Firm Foundations. In early October a
list of times when you can speak to the Firm Foundations office
will be published on the website, but please do help us by making
as many enquiries as possible by e mail to firm-foundations@
boys-brigade.org.uk and allow as much time as possible for a
response. Your help in this regard will be greatly appreciated.
Northern Saints
Northern Saints
is a new Christian
Festival being held
over the August bank
holiday weekend
27th – 30th August
2010, at Hollybush
Christian Fellowship
Centre, near Thirsk in
North Yorkshire.
Northern Saints is a partnership between
The Boys’ Brigade, The Northern Dioceses
of the Church of England and The Girls’
Brigade (England & Wales).Accommodation
will be under canvas with self catering, but
a limited range of meals will be available for
purchase.
The programme will include worship, sports,
concerts, seminars and other activities and will
cater for young people moving into school year
7 and above.
This will be an excellent opportunity for
Companies unable to organise their own camp
to give their young people an opportunity to
explore the Christian Faith and a residential
experience in a safe environment.
Information has been sent with the
October Gazette Company mailing and
regular updates will be posted on the
website. If you have any queries please
contact Eric Hudson at Felden Lodge or
email eric.hudson@boys-brigade.org.uk
Visit the website at:
www.northernsaints.org.uk
130 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009

Around the regions
NORTHERN Ireland
BELFAST BATTALION ‘TRY IT’ ADVENTURE SPORTS
The Belfast Battalion’s ‘Try It’ Adventure Sports programme is in its second
year and was developed to promote the Outdoor Pursuits activities the
Battalion has to offer and meet the targets set out in the B4Sport2 Strategy.
These exciting action packed activities range from:
• canoeing, high ropes, indoor climbing, zip line and abseiling
at Ganaway
• hill walking expeditions from Shepherds Lodge to Surfing on
the North Coast or
• mountain Biking in the Mournes,
• paintballing in the forests and
• orienteering in the parks and forests of N.Ireland.
The aim of the programme is to create opportunities for young people mainly
from urban areas to enjoy the challenges and fun the outdoors has to offer
and provide these young people with experiences that will make a real
difference to their lives.
scotland
RECOGNITION FOR
CARRONVALE
PRESENTATION TO
TOM BOYLE
A hundred members of The
Boys’ Brigade
from all over Scotland and
beyond gathered
at the Inchyra Hotel,
Grangemouth, to honour
Tom Boyle as he retired after
28 years’ service to the
Brigade.
Gifts of a ‘Sat Nav’ for Tom
and jewellery for Susan, along with a cheque, were presented by
Margaret, Lady Thurso.
‘Carronvale House has been awarded a three star
Group Accommodation rating from VisitScotland. After
a lengthy application process and a huge amount of
preparation in anticipation of the first inspection, the staff
are delighted to have had their hard work rewarded. Ann
Dickson, Centre Manager at Carronvale said, ‘This is
an excellent marketing opportunity for Carronvale, apart
from having been compared to other similar centres and
shown that we too have excellent facilities and service,
we can now reach a much larger network of potential
customers. I am very proud of my staff for helping
to achieve this and we are all very excited about the
potential it holds for Carronvale’.
Sir George Reid, Lord High Commissioner, inspected the Guard of Honour, provided by
Scottish Battalions at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Magic Egg Puzzle Competition
The most recent competition for members can be found
on http//:Scotland.boys-brigade.org.uk
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 131

Over the years I’ve preached hundreds of sermons
on the life of Jesus. I have just finished a two
year preaching series in the Gospel of Luke,
which has been fascinating and enjoyable. What has
struck me more than anything else has been observing
how Jesus dealt with all the different kinds of people
he met. The disciples in the midst of all their innocent
enthusiasm, all their confusion and misunderstandings;
the women he allowed to sit at his feet; the gentiles,
non-Jews and apparent enemies of the people of Israel
whom he gave time to; his family and close friends;
and then, the religious leaders and Roman authorities,
centurions, Pilate, Herod and more.
Each encounter is worth considerable reflection and much
is learned about the way Jesus loved, accepted, challenged,
confronted, and encouraged people. It is through this study
into the life of Jesus that I have learned a tremendous amount
about my life as a leader. I have learnt that above all else, the
way I conduct my own life is far more important than anything
else I might say or do.
The most important element of any leader’s life is the
management of self. If we cannot manage our own lives,
grow in our own faith, gifts, skills and maturity then how on
earth are we to lead others If leadership is ‘creating an
atmosphere where people flourish’ (Jill Stamp) then I must
take seriously my own spiritual, emotional, relational and
physical life, recognising the potential development or
harm I can do to those around me.
If I am forever giving and not growing then I give up,
exhausted. If I am forever doing, never being, then I will
lack strength. If I am forever demanding and never
encouraging, then I will become isolated and lonely. If I am
forever laughing and never weeping, then I will be in danger
of being seen as superficial.
We know that Jesus withdrew to the mountainside; to a
higher place to simply be, to grow, to deepen his identity with
his father in heaven. He emerged more able to be the person
his father called him to be, and this enabled him to deal with
all the people he came across. I am sure this would have
qualified him to be an excellent BB leader!
The MOST important decision you and I can make today
is to seek God and deepen our relationship with him. The
ultimate impact of our ministries lay not in our abilities, gifts,
talents or even our natural character, but in hearts that are
truly submitted to Christ.
Developing our personal holiness on our knees before God
is THE most important time we can spend and yet so often the
pace of modern life distracts, prevents or even attracts us. I
have often wondered how Jesus would have coped with the
temptation to switch on and watch the Ashes, Wimbledon, the
FA Cup Final, the Masters golf, Top Gear, or whatever drives
your desire! (NB – none of those are bad, though it really does
depend on ‘who’ is playing in the FA Cup Final!).
I read a book recently by Tim Chester (You Can Change,
IVP, ISBN 978-1-84474-303-2) who speaks about those
moments when we are particularly vulnerable to temptation,
giving the mnemonic HALT. When we’re Hungry, Angry,
Lonely or Tired, we are most likely to drift from our focus
on being the child of God. We need to take special care of
ourselves when we feel like this.
May God bless and keep you all.
by Rev John Stannard
132 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009

REFLECTIONS ON TWO YEARS AS PRESIDENT
I
t has been a
remarkable
privilege and
pleasure to have
been President
of the Brigade
over the last two
years, coinciding
as it has with
the 125th
anniversary. What
a wonderful organisation, which
has stood the test of time and of
changes in the world.
It is the boys, of course, who make it.
Their enthusiasm, enjoyment, laughter
and sheer energy make it all worthwhile
for leaders and officers. The boys are
our best advert and show just how good
young people really are, and how they
can grow up and take their place as
citizens and leaders in our communities.
Through the activities of the Brigade they
learn in so many ways to gain confidence
and self respect. To respect others and to
learn that to lead you also need to obey
and retain discipline. These together
with reverence represent the objectives
of The Boys’ Brigade, written 125 years
ago and still relevant today.
I have been out and about and seen an
amazing range of activities and events,
from BB displays in church halls, to
receptions in Palaces and the House of
Lords. They show two things. First, that
the BB is in good heart, and second, that
the community out there values the BB
and recognises its worth. The Reception
at Holyrood Palace would exemplify this.
The Invitation was from George Reid, High
Commissioner of the Church of Scotland
to mark the 125th anniversary and was
attended by BB people from all over the
country. In the same way my attendance at
band competitions and drill displays shows
just how much is going on at local level.
There is another part of the BB which
supports and nurtures the Brigade, and
that is the BB Executive, Council, and the
regional and national offices. Those who
are part of these and those who work
at company level, do a huge amount of
work to ensure that the BB continues to
flourish and grow. Their efforts are often
unsung and I would like to pay tribute to
them for all the energy and care that they
put into the BB. It is humbling to see the
dedication and commitment they bring
and I would like to pay tribute to these
officers, leaders and helpers, which often
include spouses, family and friends!
At the end of the day the objective
of the BB is to develop “true Christian
manliness” in our boys. This remains
the key part of our objective and I am
heartened that such events as “Firm
Foundations” and other more local events
continue to support this aim. The role
models of our leaders also provide such
an important part of the process.
It is great to be President. Let the
adventure continue.
President’s Commendation – Stephen Griffith
Stephen Griffith of the 1st
Rugby Company was
presented with his President’s
Commendation on 28th June 2009.
Stephen has been a member of the
1st Rugby Company for ten years and
despite the daily challenges of coping
with Asperger’s Syndrome, during this
time his efforts, achievements and
loyalty to the Company were rewarded
when he received the Battalion’s Arthur
Beauchamp Trophy, in recognition of
qualities he showed in facing
these challenges.
Over the years he has grown in
confidence and ability to become the
young man he is today and despite his
challenging health difficulties has shown
great determination and total commitment
in achieving his Queen’s Badge and has
become a valuable leader in The Boys’
Brigade. He has founded Christian Unions
in two of the town’s schools and is now
leaving for college where he will
be studying theology.
Stephen has been a loyal and dedicated
member of the 1st Rugby Company. His
efforts, achievements and loyalty have
remained constant and his positive, cheerful
attitude and enthusiasm is an inspiration to
all who know him. He is a credit to himself
and his family and the Brigade is proud
to have him as a member.
Stephen Griffith
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 133

Over the last three years, many
of you have been supporting
the Palm in Palm Project – a
project that looked at The Boys’
Brigade family which stretches
all around the world.
Boys and officers around the
UK have been learning what
it is like to live and attend BB
companies in other countries, with
a focus on life in Cameroon (West
Africa). They have been learning
that families care, love, support
and encourage each other, and in
the same light, how we should be
showing this love to our BB family
as well. Many of you have taken
practical steps to support our family
in Cameroon by raising money to
help fund the start-up of their selfsufficiency
programmes.
Cameroon is a very picturesque
country with a population of around
16 million, but life is far from troublefree.
Cameroon has an average life
expectancy of 46; a mortality rate for
under 5’s of 14.9% and is a country
where 40% of the population live
below the national poverty line.
Amidst all these difficulties, The Boys’
Brigade movement remains strong with
around 6000 members in just over 300
companies.
During February half-term this year,
I travelled back out to Cameroon to
encourage them in their work with the
boys and also the men’s organisations
in the churches to support The Boys’
Brigade. I also wanted to see how
they were getting on with some of the
projects that you helped to initiate,
and you were able to read about these
in the April Gazette.
This summer, a small team of young
leaders from England and Northern
Ireland went to Cameroon for two
weeks. We were welcomed by Rev
Njerou (Brigade Secretary) and Rev
George (Brigade President) at the
airport and they accompanied us
throughout our stay. During the time
we met with a lot of companies from all
over Cameroon. We were welcomed in
the churches and spent time chatting
with the boys and officers to hear how
they were getting on in their companies;
the things that were going well, the
difficulties they were experiencing and
encouraging them to seek God’s help
to overcome their problems. We also
spent time playing games with the boys
where football was always a favourite!
We were able to share activities,
ideas and games equipment with
the officers of the companies.
We were also invited to the
first ever National BB Camp in Mankon
Baptist High School (NW Cameroon),
where just over 300 boys and officers
attended. It was a very busy programme
of devotions, singing and dancing, a drill
competition, a parade to Mankon Palace
to meet the Fon (the Chief of the area),
sports and evening talent/entertainment
programmes led by boys from numerous
companies – including us! Our team was
invited to lead singing and games and
very quickly I may never march with the
infantry became the favourite song of
the BB in Cameroon!
At the start of the second week, we
spent time at the BB Farm Project in
Mbaw, in the Sopp region of Northern
Cameroon. We helped the local BB boys
clear away overgrown grass from around
the 500 palm seedlings. This land, labour,
tools, fertiliser and seedlings have all
been sponsored and provided by you,
companies from around the UK who
134 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009

have been raising money.
Despite a few setbacks
along the way (including a
small fire and a dispute with
a local farmer whose cows
appear to have a taste for
palm seedlings!), the area
is now fenced and secure.
In around 5-7 years’ time,
these palms should start
to bear fruit from which
palm oil can be produced
for sale locally. The income should allow
BB Cameroon to make a dramatic change
in its work with young people.
Towards the end of the trip we had time
to see some of the sights of Douala, Tiko,
Mutengenne and the beautiful beaches of
Limbe, as well as the Del Monte banana
plantation, which supplies Asda, Tesco
and Sainsburys in the UK!
The theme for the camp and also
the sermons I was asked to preach
in Fountain Baptist Church (Ndop)
and Victoria Baptist Church (Limbe)
was Philippians 2:12-16, where Paul
encourages the church at Philippi, and
us, to “shine like stars in the universe as
you hold out the word of life”. For me,
that is one of the big lessons I will take
from the trip. Everyone we met in the BB
in Cameroon had the same goal as us,
the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.
However, it was so obvious how on
fire for God they were, how much they
depended on God for his provision
and protection and the importance
they placed on devotions within their
company programme. They certainly
were shining like stars and their boys
couldn’t have missed them! It really
challenged me to rethink the place I give
God in my personal life and also on my
company parade night – do I really give
enough time to teach my boys about the
Good News of Jesus Christ before we
dive head first into games and activities
Stephen Cowden
Palm in Palm Project Coordinator
Thoughts from the team…
It was great finally to see the palm
tree plantation in Mbaw after the
years of planning, discussion and hardwork
put in by all involved in the palm
in palm team.
The trip was very eye-opening as it
was difficult to imagine beforehand what to
expect upon arriving in Cameroon. What I
did encounter was a very dedicated Boys’
Brigade, with strong leaders and committed
captains. The boys really showed us
the enjoyment they have at BB, whether
performing their very energetic version
of drill, or putting us UK lads to shame
with their fantastic football skills. With the
encouraging relationship shared with
BBUK I am very confident and excited that
The Boys’ Brigade in Cameroon can go
from strength to strength in the future.
Mathew Anderson (4th Newtownabbey)
I
could never have imagined before we
got to Cameroon how many amazing
people and experiences that we would
meet. What struck me the most was how
welcoming everyone was when we first met
them and also how many photos people
wanted with us! The welcome made me
feel very comfortable and speaking to
everyone more enjoyable.
The part of the trip that I enjoyed the most
was the camp in Mankin (Bamenda), which
was the first one of its kind for BB Cameroon.
I especially enjoyed the singing and dancing
in the evening. On the last day of the camp
we played football with the lads, which I was
looking forward to while in Cameroon, but they
ran me out of breath within 5 minutes!
The trip has made me realise how well off
I am and how I should be more grateful for
the things I have and the safe environment
I live in. I would like to say thank you for all
the wonderful people we met in Cameroon
and how welcome they made us feel. I
would definitely like to be involved in any
further international projects and would
recommend it to anyone who wants a
challenge and wants to bring home so many
happy memories from a wonderful country!
Ben Phillips (1st Redditch)
Before the trip I was a little
apprehensive about being the
youngest in the team and not
really knowing anyone and not knowing
much about the culture of Cameroon.
During the trip, I was quite shocked at how
welcoming everyone was, when the ladies
prepared dinner and lunch for us all the
time and they didn’t even know us and
they didn’t expect anything in return. But
probably the most shocking thing was how
much us being there meant to everyone,
particularly, as we were leaving. Njerou
was very emotional, telling us how he
really didn’t want us to leave.
I have learnt so much from this trip and
look forward to getting involved more
with International projects in the future.
Jonathan Ferry (1st Cookstown)
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 135

HERE & THERE
1st Bearsden President’s Badges
The Brigade President, Sir Kenneth Calman KCB, pictured with eight members of
the 1st Bearsden Company presenting them with their President’s Badges. They
are Chris Cameron, Ross Curran, Craig Glover, Dennis Lindsay, Damian Light, Grant
McConnachie, Fraser Naughton and Craig Weir.
3rd/4th Bathgate
Party/Sleepover
The 3rd/4th Bathgate Company has
been helping the Royal Hospital for Sick
Children in Edinburgh “The Sick Kids”.
The members recently held a Party/
Sleepover and raised £844.50. The
photograph shows some of the boys
holding the giant cheque.
Olympics, iron age
style
During summer camp held at Pitlochry,
members of 1st Killearn Company took
part in the ‘Iron Age Olympics’ arranged
and run at the Scottish Crannog Centre
in Kenmore.
BB medal winners were Age 11-14
GOLD: Stuart McDonal, SILVER: Alex
Russell, BRONZE: Alan Beattie. Age 15-
18 GOLD: Kieran Irvine, SILVER: Fergus
Evans. The boys are pictured here with
winners of the age 7-10 category and
staff of the Crannog Centre.
1st New Deer stay
awake!
The 1st New Deer held a sponsored “24
hour stay awake” and raised £525 in
support of the Church of Scotland World
Mission Fund, focusing on the plight of
children in Malawi. They took part in a
bike run, cleaned up the church centre
car park and went swimming. They also
saw the launch of a marine ambulance
in Macduff harbour which will be used on
Lake Malawi.
Devon Battalion
Camp
The Devon Battalion at its summer
camp at Pembrey Country Park in
Carmarthenshire. Pictured are boys,
officers and helpers from the 1st, 5th and
10th Exeter, 2nd Bovey Tracey and 2nd
Paignton Companies.
Presentation Day
The Paisley and District Battalion recently held its Annual Presentation Day in
Johnstone Town Hall, the Guest of Honour being Alex Mackie, Provost, East
Renfrewshire.
136 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009
80 years a member!
Congratulations to Alf Smith, Honorary
Vice President of the Birmingham
Battalion, who this year celebrates 80
years as a member of The Boys’ Brigade.
Alf is pictured at the 125 Celebration Day
in Birmingham where he was interviewed
by BBC Midlands Today.

Captain ‘Davy’
Congratulations to Mr. David Wilson
(seen here with two of his grandsons)
who recently completed his 66th
session as a member of the 15th Belfast
Company (Newington Presbyterian
Church). Affectionately known to all as
Davy, he has been Captain for the past
25 years and is loved and respected by
staff and boys alike.
Cheque being handed over to representative
from Ayrshire Cancer Support Group
1st Stewarton
Seniors’ Overnight
Challenge
“Recently I and my fellow companions
of the 1st Stewarton Company had
a Seniors’ overnight challenge in the
church hall to raise points for our Senior
Challenge. It turned out to be a great
night with lots of laughs. We were
expected to sit through a movie and
talk about it, play the xbox and snakes
and ladders among other things and,of
course, eat the dreaded vindaloo. I
managed to stay up all night through till 7
in the morning, but a lot didn’t cut it and
just collapsed in the middle of the floor.
To begin with - the worst part of the
night – eating the Vindaloo for charity.
Although it was a good cause I felt that
our officers were taking a bit too much
pleasure from it all! We all managed a
few bites (each bite melting our tongues)
but one boy and his father managed to
eat most of it! In the end, however, we
raised £150 for a local charity.
I really would like it to happen again next
year, but I think the next time I’ll order a
korma!
by Martin Black
7/16th Motherwell
Company’s
achievements
Grantown-on-Spey; Rothiemurchus and
the Cairngorms National Park have acted
as “Base Camp” for 21 young men and
boys of the 7/ 16th Motherwell Company
who have undertaken their John Muir
and Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. This
year 15 boys have achieved various John
Muir Awards with seven boys gaining The
Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award.
Dunfermline and District Battalion held
its annual Sports Day at Pitrevie running
track. 3rd Dunfermline was the overall
winner for the Junior Section events and
4th Dunfermline, winner of Company
Section and Senior age events.
Mr Miliband pictured with the Company
Section boys of the 15th South Shields
Company.
Foreign Secretary
Visits Local Boys’
Brigade Company
On the evening of Friday 3rd July the
Rt Hon David Miliband (MP for South
Shields and Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
visited 15th South Shields Company. Mr
Miliband said “I was pleased to have
been invited to attend the 15th South
Shields Company and to meet members
and to see first hand the activities on
offer. The dedication of the company
officers was obvious, and I was delighted
to congratulate the boys on the 80th
Anniversary, and I wish them every
success in the future.”
‘Your Community
Matters’ award
David Holmes, Captain of 10th Liverpool
was presented with a “Your Community
Matters” Award by the City Council
Housing Renewal Team for his work
with The Boys’ Brigade and with elderly
people in the community. David does
not look upon the award as a personal
achievement, but as recognition of BB in
the area and the staff commitment in the
Company.
Award for 1st
Thatcham Company
1st Thatcham Company was recently
awarded a Civic Award in recognition of
its achievement of 50 years’ service to
the young people in Thatcham.
At the Celebratory Thanksgiving Service
Mr David Gibbons MBE, Deputy
Lieutenant, presented Nathan Gregory
with his Queen’s Badge.
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 137

HERE & THERE continued
Bluestone Company were presented
with their Gold Awards in the presence
of HRH Prince Philip in a ceremony at
Hillsborough Castle.
Duke of Edinburgh’s
Awards
Pictured are members of Lurgan and
District Battalion on their recent Bronze
Expedition in the Mourne Mountains
where they discovered a World War II
unexploded mortar.
In addition, five members of 1st
Paisley and District
Battalion
BB Boys celebrate
125 years of fun
Nearly 100 BB members recently had
a fun weekend at Lapwing Lodge
to celebrate the Brigade’s 125th
anniversary. The boys who were from
Renfrew, Paisley, Houston, Elderslie,
Uplawmoor and Inchinnan enjoyed many
activities, including Canadian Canoeing,
Archery, Crate Building, Mountain Biking,
Frisbee Golf, Assault Course, a Football
Tournament and on the Saturday
evening, a BBQ. To finish it all off there
was a special birthday cake. It was so
successful that it is hoped to make it a
bi-annual event.
DofE Presentations in West Anglia Battalion
Detective Superintendent
Paul Coombes of Bedford
Constabulary presented
ten Silver and eleven Gold awards
to members of the West Anglia
Battalion earlier in the year.
The young people had gained their
awards by taking part in a range of
activities from expeditions in
Derbyshire and Dartmoor, with one
intrepid candidate trekking in the
Himalayas. Voluntary service was
given to a variety of communities
and many new skills were discovered.
Backpacking or Volunteering
The Big Gap Year Question
A
gap year abroad is likely to be
the experience of a lifetime and
will be on many young minds
as A Level results approach. For many
years, backpacking was the traditional
gap year route, but volunteering abroad
is on the rise. Richard McKenzie of
Lattitude Global Volunteering explains
why gappers are keener to embrace
their inner Samaritan.
For most people, taking a gap year is
about seeing new places, doing new
things and meeting new people. Both
backpacking and volunteering can
provide these opportunities but in
comparatively different ways.
Backpacking allows the opportunity to see
as much of the world as possible. But how
much of one country can you see during a
five day stopover And is it ethical to create
such a large carbon footprint by flying to
ten different countries in one trip
Overseas volunteers tend to fly to just
one country, which can then be explored
extensively by foot, bicycle or public
transport. This considerably trims the
carbon footprint and can help to put money
back into that country’s economy. It also
means seeing areas off the beaten track
that are not listed in guidebooks.
Doing something new and different is
a must when on a gap year. Gappers often
seek out extreme activities like bungee
jumping or a parachute jump! Making a
positive difference to somebody else’s life
is different, challenging and also rewarding.
Caring for street children in India, helping
environmental conservation efforts in
Australia, or giving Fijian children a head
start in life by teaching them English, can all
make a real difference to the people of the
community as well as to the volunteer.
Volunteering provides invaluable life
skills and experience, helps to focus the
gapper’s mind on their career and to
appreciate and make the most of their
time away. It also enhances a CV, and
could positively influence university and
job applications. For people considering
a gap year, a short quiz at www.
whatkindofvolunteerareyou.org.uk can help
to decide what you are best suited to.
Gappers travelling around Australia,
hostel by hostel, are guaranteed to meet
plenty of people, who will more than likely
be other backpackers from a similar walk
of life to their own. Global Volunteers
staying in the same area for several
months not only get to meet people who
have a completely different life, culture
and background to them, but are given
the opportunity to live and work with those
people. This allows the opportunity to get to
know the country, its culture and its people,
for a real gap year experience. Gap year
volunteers often find that they have made
friends for life, sometimes finding a second
family within their new community.
Volunteering isn’t necessarily for
everybody and is often challenging; but
with the variety of projects and locations
available, there is a better chance of
finding something to suit you. Look for a
reputable organisation like not-for-profit
organisation, Lattitude Global Volunteering
(www.lattitude.org.uk).
It is important to choose an established
organisation that runs sustainable
projects to be sure that the volunteers
really do have a positive impact on the
communities. Lattitude Global Volunteering
has been assisting young people to make
a difference abroad for over 35 years.
The organisation’s projects range from
environmental conservation to child care,
from teaching to medical placements
and are available in 17 countries.
To find out the benefits of volunteering,
visit www.lattitude.org.uk 0118 959 4914.
138 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette April October 2009 2009

Top five tips on using
resources
Writing your own material is a great
idea, as it means you can tailor activities
to your group. However, it does take a
lot of time and effort (and heartache if
people start to criticise it!) and there is
plenty of good quality material out there.
Someone else has done much of the
hard work so that you don’t have to, and
in today’s time-precious society, that is
a very positive point. Here are five top
tips on choosing and using published
children’s and youth material.
1 Know your market!
Who comes to your group It is essential
to know the kind of children or young
people in your group before you choose
and start to use published resources.
Are the children and young people
from a church background If not, how
familiar are they with Christianity If your
group comes from outside a church
community, then you might want to
look at a resource that focuses on the
gospel message. If the group are mainly
church children or young people, then
you might want something that goes
deeper, explores other Bible stories and
challenges the group.
2 Know your aims!
You should have clear aims of what
you want to do with your group and the
direction you are heading in. Published
resources will have aims too (often these
are printed towards the front of the book
or magazine). Check these out and see
whether the aims for the resource come
close to your own. If they are wildly
different, then this is probably not the
resource for you!
3 Know your team!
Who helps you lead the group These
people will have lots of gifts and skills
that they can use to lead the group with
you, but you might have skills gaps too.
If you don’t have any leaders who like
drama, then don’t choose a resource
with a drama theme! Similarly, when you
have selected a resource, there may be
elements in the material that you can’t do,
because you don’t have team members
who can do them. If this is the case, then
miss them out and focus on something
that is a strong point for your team.
4 Know your space!
Where do you meet What facilities do
you have These will dictate what kind
of activities you can do when you have
chosen a published resource. Keep
in mind the restrictions on numbers
of children in a room (see www.
scriptureunion.org.uk/holidayclubs) and
any health and safety issues you might
have.
5 Know your options!
You don’t have to do everything as it
is laid out in the resource. Resources
are written with general groups in mind,
but only you know the needs of your
own group. Select activities with your
group in mind, and use other material
to supplement your chosen resource.
Websites such as www.lightlive.org and
www.max7.org, and books such as the
Ultimate series (Ultimate Craft, Ultimate
Games etc, published by Scripture
Union) can help you find extra activities
to create a rounded programme.
Alex Taylor, Scripture Union
Scripture
Union
Resources
A range of Scripture Union resources
for the 5 to 11 age group are now
available from BB Supplies to
supplement the BB programme
resources. See what’s available below:
SO WHY GOD (36 3510) £9.99
So, Why God is a 12-week discipleship course for
children aged 7-11.
Each session takes a genuine question that children
ask and seeks to answer it through exploring Bible
passages and using the testimony of group leaders.
Children are given time and space to explore the
questions and are also given the opportunity to ask
questions of their own. Fun activities and ways to
engage with the Bible are outlined for leaders to use, as
suits their groups.
HIGH FIVE (36 43500) £9.99
Eight sessions
for a midweek
club or special
event for
children based
on a Bible
reading structure
from Mark.
It explores how
Jesus touched the
lives of the people
around him, healed
sick people, told
everyone about God’s way and gave up
his life to conquer death. It encourages
leaders and children to then find out the
ways in which they can touch the lives of
people around the world!
ULTIMATE CREATIVE PRAYER (36 3520) £9.99
Do you work with children or young people Need that
extra bit of inspiration to help your group explore the
Bible Want that extra idea to complete your session
Then the Ultimate series is for you.
Each Ultimate book is packed full of ideas that have
been used successfully by others and are more than
likely to work for you!
Ultimate Creative Prayer is crammed full of creative
and imaginative ways to help you and your group
get praying. Ideas include prayers to draw and
make, prayers to shout and sing, prayers to pray
alone and pray together. Inside you’ll find all the instructions and guidance you
need to help your group pray and grow together.
Available from BB Supplies on 08707 442 292 or
online at http://shop.boys-brigade.org.uk
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 139

The Boys’ Brigade Kilbryde Hike 2009
40th Anniversary
The Hike, inaugurated by Willie
Brownlie in 1969 is still seen
as a challenge today. The 2009
hike was one of the longest in recent
years, approximately 32miles, and
has now established itself as the
largest event of its type for youth
organisations. The 2009 hike
followed, as far as possible,
the original 1969 route with
minor alterations allowed
for the new Whitelees
wind farm.
A total of 47 teams (151
boys and girls) between
the ages of 12 to 18
gathered at the start in Darvel Church Hall
to have their kit checked before setting off
to start day one.
At almost every checkpoint the teams
had to attempt either a physical or mental
challenge to test their physical prowess
and mental agility. A water incident sited
along the Calder River, south of West
Browncastle farm set teams up nicely to
head for the campsite at South Fieldhead
farm overnight for a well earned rest.
At 8am on Sunday the hike resumed
and the youngsters were joined by the
first ever winners who looked their age, but
did not shirk the task in hand to prove that
age is no barrier.
Hike positions were as follows:
Winners Main Hike, Fastest Team,
Highest Incident Points – EKAC “H”
Winners Junior Hike
25th Stirling BB “E”
Winners Ladies Hike
EKAC “D”
Highest Placed Expedition Team
EKAC “G”
The hike was well supported from
past and present members and will
always be grateful for assistance
from farmers and landowners, with
sponsorship and support from Robert
Wiseman’s Dairies, David Urquart
Travel, Paul Revill –Gas-Elec, Campbell
‘O’ Benlair, Rolls-Royce PLC, South
Lanarkshire Council, B&S Colour Labs,
AG Barr Group, 52 Signals Squadron
TA and Greggs the Bakers.
Any companies that are interested
in next year’s event, which takes place
on the second weekend in June, should
contact Stuart McIlroy 07717 887142
for more details.
THE 2009 CLEVELAND HIKE
On Saturday 27th June over
200 young people
set out on the 46th
Cleveland Hike.
Starting at Wilton
Lane the teams
passed the Kit
Check and Map
and Compass
check before being
given the grid reference
for the first checkpoint.
The day progressed over a series
of checkpoints where teams were put
through a variety of incidents. At the
overnight camp the teams were marked
on their campcraft – some teams
struggled with a few poles left over.
On the Sunday after more incidents,
the teams arrived at Danby Village Green
where a hot meal awaited prior to the
presentations. The Vicar of Stokesley
led an act of worship following which
140 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009
a new trophy was presented in memory
of the late Tom Parkin, former Chairman
of the Hike, by his wife.
This concluded a very successful venture
with teams walking around 30 miles
although inevitably some walked a
little more!
The winners of the Tom Parkin
Memorial Trophy were:
Young People
1st 17th Teesside
2nd EK Athletic Club
Veterans
1st EK Athletic Club
Next year’s hike will be held
26/27 June – look out for details
Phone: 01302 869006
E-mail clevelandhike@geocities.co.uk
Or Garbet29@hotmail.co.uk
and request your Boys’ Brigade
Cleveland Hike Pack and Entry Form
for 2010.

SMALL ADS
Small Advertisements Copy to BBHQ, Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP3 0BL. The Boys’ Brigade takes no responsibility
for statements made in any advertisements here or elsewhere in the BB Gazette. Advertisements for the January 2010 issue
should be received not later than 23rd October 2009. The cost is 20p per word.
Approved Campsites
The following sites have been officially
approved, having met Guidelines laid down by
the Brigade, and local Fire and Public Health
Authorities.
AUCHENGILLAN OUTDOOR CENTRE
offers a choice of camping areas and modern
indoor accommodation in an unrivalled setting
in the central Scottish Highlands near to Loch
Lomond. Visiting groups can undertake an extensive
range of challenging and adventurous activities (onand
off-site) and there are lots of places of interest
to visit close by. Free colour brochure available
from Auchengillan Outdoor Centre, Blanefield,
Stirlingshire G63 9AU. Tel: 01360 770256;
Fax: 01360 771197;
E-mail: centre@auchengillan.com
Website: www.auchengillan.com
FELDEN LODGE CAMPSITE 2010.
BB canvas campsite (operated by 10th Enfield)
fully equipped for up to 70 (smaller camps
welcome) at the BBUK HQ in Hertfordshire (from
June to Sept). Contact Chris Norman on
(t) 07703 571915
or (e) chris@boys-brigade.org.uk
NORFOLK CAMPSITE 2010.
BB canvas campsite operated by 10th Enfield
fully equipped for up to 70 (smaller camps
welcome) in West Runton (near Sheringham/
Cromer). Contact Chris Norman on (t) 07703
571915 or (e) chris@boys-brigade.org.uk
HONEYHILL CAMP (NW Kent Battalion).
12 acres Bearsted near Maidstone. Easy access
to coast, places of interest, sports facilities.
Building with kitchen, gas, electricity, mess tent.
Contact Dennis Hatt, Tel: 01795 873392 Mob:
07749 790413. Email: dennis_1stminster@
talktalk.net
WEST MIDLAND DISTRICT CAMPING
CENTRE, DYFFRYN ARDUDWY. The Boys’
Brigade Camping Centre at Dyffryn Ardudwy
has available 3 camp sites all suitable for mixed
camps. The largest main centre site caters for
up to 90 people, has a fully equipped kitchen
and dining area. Also provided is dormitory
accommodation for 40 people and meeting
room/Chapel. Ridge tents are provided on the
adjacent 3 acre field which can also be used for
sports. The smaller 2 acre sites each cater for up
to 50 people and include individual kitchen and
store with gas range, grill, instant hot water heater,
fridge & freezer. Tents and marquee are supplied
for each 2 acre site. All three sites have their own
flush toilets, wash and shower facilities. Details
from Jamie Copson 01905 480 955. Email: dyffryn.
camping.centre@boys-brigade.org.uk
Website: http://dyffryn.boys-brigade.org.uk
VECTIS YOUTH CAMPS. Three beautiful
campsites on the Isle of Wight with permanent
kitchens, showers and toilets. Each site is self
contained and is in easy reach of safe beaches
and all the attractions of the Island. All tenting
and equipment supplied. Prices from £35 per
person per week. Ideal for organized camps
of between 25 and 150 people. Telephone
01344 430203. Email: siteadministrator@
vectisyouthcamps.org.uk website:
www.vectisyouthcamps.org.uk
GLENGARRY CAMP 2009/10, Chideock,
Dorset (near Lyme Regis). Fully equipped
approved BB site 10 minutes from beach. Brick
cookhouse, running hot and cold water, gas
cookers and grills, chip fryer, new fridge freezer
etc. White canvas for 30 – 70 including 45’ x 30’
marquee. Nearby leisure centre with indoor pool
10 mins. Contact Mark 020 8903 1116 or email
mark.myhan@talk21.com
CRAGGAN, the Outdoor Centre of Edinburgh,
Leith and District Battalion. Set in glorious
countryside by Loch Tay, Perthshire. The Centre is
recently refurbished, has disabled access, sleeps
30, is self-catering and is ideal for weekend and
other camps. Well situated for outdoor and water
activities with own canoes and jetty. Contact
craggan@thebb-edinburgh.org.uk or
0131 551 1200 ext 20.
Campsite on NORTH DEVON COAST, NEAR
WOOLACOMBE. Accommodates 70. Large field
with showers, toilets and permanent cookhouse.
Phone: 05601 332713.
Email: info@warcombe.org.uk.
Camp 2010/11. Popular site at FRESHWATER,
ISLE OF WIGHT, available August. Fully
equipped, flush toilets, mains gas/electric
cooking, electric fridge, freezer and lighting.
Close to safe, sandy beaches and leisure
center. Minimum charge 20 campers. For free
information pack and further enquiries contact
Kirk Lakin, Freshwater Camp Equipment Trust,
100 West Court Road, Worthing, West Sussex,
BN14 7DP. Tel: 01903 205353.
Email: info@freshwatertrust.com.
Website: www.freshwatertrust.com.
WOOLACOMBE NORTH DEVON. Overlooking
the sea our campsite accommodates up to
70 people. We have a permanent cookhouse,
showers and toilets. Call Geoff Hills at the
farm 01271 870501 or visit our website www.
warcombe.org.uk.
SWANAGE, DORSET. Booking now for 2010
(2 weeks available) and 2011. Excellent fully
equipped camp site run by Basildon and District
Camping Group. Close to delightful town of
Swanage and its sandy beach. Comprehensive,
well maintained facilities and canvas. Gas,
electricity, flush loos. For joint/single camps any
size from 35 to 100. Boys’ Brigade approved.
Brochure: Steve Nice, 29 Botelers, Basildon,
Essex, SS16 5SD. Tel: 01268 545907.
Email: s.nice@o2.co.uk See the facilities
on our website at www.bdcg.org.uk.
Camping/Holiday
Activities
BLACKPOOL AREA. Self-catering accommodation.
(1) Accommodation for 44 in comfort. 4 single
bedrooms for staff. 2 shower rooms, bedding and
crockery provided. Fully equipped kitchen. (2) Small
Party Unit for 16 persons, including two staff rooms.
Fully equipped as above. (3) Camp site with camp
kitchen/dining room, shower and toilet facilities. The
complex includes a large sports hall with climbing
wall and sports field. Quiet situation near Kirkham, a
market town on the Fylde Coast. Within easy reach
of Theme Parks and Lake District. For brochure
contact: The Warden, The Boys’ Brigade, Carr
Lane, Treales, Kirkham, PR4 3SS.
Tel/Fax: 01772-685000.
www.TheBoysBrigadeInTheNorthWest.org.uk
BARNABAS ADVENTURE CENTRES.
Bring your company/battalion to one of our
spacious venues. Carroty Wood (Kent),
Whithaugh Park (Scottish Borders), Frontier
Centre (Northants) and Halls Green (Kent). We’d
love to send you a brochure! Contact: Brian
Barnes, Barnabas Adventure Centres, FREEPOST
TN2 186, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9QX.
Tel: 01732 366766, www.barnabas.org.uk or
email: info@barnabas.org.uk
SOUTHERN SCOTLAND. Spacious Edwardian
house in its own grounds within the lovely town of
Moffat. Rent the Well Road Centre for a self-catering
conference/ activity weekend/week. Open all year.
Two meeting/ activity rooms. Large kitchen and
dining room. 13 comfortable bedrooms of various
size. Indoor sports hall. The beautiful Moffat hills for
hiking/orienteering. Suitable for groups of 20 to 65
in number. Only your group in occupation during
your stay. For brochure contact: Well Road Centre,
Moffat DG10 9JT. Tel: 01683 221040 or website:
www.wellroadcentre.co.uk
GREENMOOR CENTRE, S35 7DX, Sheffield
& District Battalion’s residential self-catering
Centre. Sleeps 28 (3 dormitories, separate 2-staff
bedroom and 2-staff/disabled bedroom). Toilets,
showers and fully fitted kitchen. Situated in the
Upper Don Valley, north of Sheffield on edge of
Peak District National Park, within easy reach
of M1. Grid ref SK280994. Contact Sue Cowie
01246-274021, email jmcowiefts@tiscali.co.uk
SKIPTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE.
4 acre rally field available, close to train station.
Tel: 07980 260727.
CAMP 2010/2011 – STOKE GABRIEL, SOUTH
DEVON. Come and camp in our fully equipped
white canvas next to farm/holiday park near
Paignton. Shop/telephone and showers on
Holiday Park. Many local attractions. Please
enquire to Clive Gordon 0121 544 0904 / 0771
876 1150. Email cliveg04@yahoo.co.uk or
Jim jimdrew@blueyonder.co.uk
More info/campsite photos on website
http://3warley.boys-brigade.org.uk
BROMLEY BATTALION SITE, WHITECLIFF
BAY, ISLE OF WIGHT. Fully equipped with
white canvas, male/female shower blocks, flush
toilets, mains, gas and electricity. Small or large
numbers (45/100). Details, George Francis,
“Kenwyn”, Beesfield Lane, Farningham, Dartford,
Kent, DA4 OBZ. Phone 01322 862401 or Keith
Francis 01474 705485.
Email: george.francis44@btinternet.com or visit
website for all details including availability:
www.bbcampsite.co.uk
BROADLEAS, HAYTOR, DEVON. Self catering
accommodation for 30, plus 2 staff bedrooms that
will sleep 5. Two shower rooms, fully equipped
kitchen and dining area. Camping facilities for up
to 55. Tentage provided. Fully equipped kitchen,
dining hall, showers and toilets. Outdoor swimming
pool and large hall. Tel: Don Reeby 01752 771699.
http://broadleas.boys-brigade.org.uk
Email: broadleas@boys-brigade.org.uk
GLASSHOUSES MILL. In beautiful Nidderdale, near
Harrogate. Hostel accommodation for 40. Access
to sheltered lake and Yorkshire Dales. Close to
Brimham Rocks, Ripon, Patley Bridge and Lightwater
Valley Theme Park. Weeks still available for this
summer. For details contact Mr D Barnes 07748
214786 or http://canoeclub.boys-brigade.org.uk
NEW CAMPSITE. Proving popular venue for Boys’
Brigade camps at IVY FARM, MERSEA ISLAND,
near COLCHESTER, ESSEX. Quiet site in beautiful
countryside adjoining River Colne Estuary. Exclusive
use of large field, car parking, toilets and showers
and large barn with facilities for washing up.
Cooking equipment can be easily hired. Activities
available on site, including sailing, table tennis, rural
crafts etc. Access to beach, foot-ferry and walks.
Close to shops and amenities and Colchester’s
tourist attractions.
Contact Ralph & Jenny Spence. Tel: 01206 384351.
Email: ralph.spence@tiscali.co.uk
October 2009 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 141

Federation
Annual Council
Meeting and
Fellowship
Weekend
Friday 21st to
Sunday 23rd May 2010
Best Western Bromley Court
Hotel, Bromley Hill,
Bromley, Kent BR1 4JD
England
If you would like to receive full
details of the weekend please
contact the Registrar, Roger
Wallis, Stedfast Association
London, 26 Hambro Avenue,
Bromley, Kent, BR2 7LS
Telephone
+44 (020) 8462 1235
Email:
roger.wallis2@ntlworld.com
So please book now – you
don’t have to pay until
February 2010.
Your contributions
If you would like to contribute
anything for future columns,
please contact Philip Daley,
The Stedfast Association,
Unit C1 Nutgrove Office
Park, Nutgrove Avenue,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 or
email boysbrigade@eircom.net
or telephone
+353 (01) 296 4622.
Diabetes
Support
Literature
New patient support literature,
designed for different age
groups: children, teenagers,
adults and other patients, is now
available through diabetes specialist
nurses, practices, hospitals and
individuals can obtain copies by
contacting bddiabetes@europe.
bd.com. There are clear and simple
descriptions of best practice for
blood sampling and self-injection
of insulin using language appropriate
for each age group,
plus essential information and
support for patients in the early
stages of living with diabetes.
OBITUARIES
LOUIS AUSTIN (8) died suddenly at
home on 13th July 2009. He joined the
Anchor Boys of 3rd Trafford Company
in 2007. Promoted to the Junior Section
in January 2009, Louis was a keen
member of the section and enjoyed
taking part in all the activities, only
recently enjoying the Fun Day at the
North West District Centre Kirkham. A
pleasant and quiet boy, Louis was liked
by all his friends and staff. The whole
Company was saddened by his sudden
death and messages of condolence
have been sent to his parents, brothers
and sisters.
ANDREW BURDEN (24), was one of
the founder members of 2nd Annalong
when he joined as an Anchor Boy,
later to progress through Junior and
Company Sections. As a young
Christian man Andrew returned to
the company last year to become a
Company Section leader, where he
showed enthusiasm and ability when
working with the boys. As a keen
sportsman and footballer Andrew was
well known within the local community
and he will be sadly missed by all who
knew him. We extend our deepest
sympathies to his family and friends.
142 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette October 2009
GEOFFREY A HARRIS (86) Brigade
Honorary Vice President
Following war service in the RAF
Geoff returned to Brighton and
volunteered as a BB Press Officer.
Later he took up the post of District
Organiser for the Lancashire and
Cheshire District, starting Companies
and initiating both the Blackpool
Display and the Capernwray Course.
Following this Geoff worked for the
ILEA and the YMCA. Always looking at
ways of serving the community Geoff
received the Mayor’s Audentior Award
for voluntary work and commitment to
Watford.
Geoff will be missed by his sons
Graham and Ian, together with their
families and many more.
IAN REYNOLDS (65) joined The Life
Boys of 53rd Sheffield Company and
worked his way through all BB ranks.
He became an officer in the 53rd
Company, and became Captain in
1992. He worked very hard in various
posts within his church, including
Church President. Ian was a kind and
loving man who always had time for
younger officers and whose calm
demeanour was a positive influence
on those around him. He will be greatly
missed by wife, Irene, and family and
all who were fortunate enough to know
him.
LESLIE RAWSON joined the staff of
the Brigade as Assistant Overseas
Secretary (assistant to William
McVicker) at a time when air travel was
becoming possible and as a result
during his service with the Brigade
and the World Conference visited
more countries and BB Companies
than anyone before or since. His wife
Maureen and he kept ‘open house’ for
numerous overseas visitors as they had
a worldwide circle of friends.
William McVicker and Leslie were
instrumental in drawing together not
only the Brigade but other kindred
organisations around the world and
after many years of planning when the
World Conference was set up Leslie
was appointed as its first Executive
Secretary. With Maureen as his
honorary secretary he nurtured and
encouraged unstintingly the work of this
great world family and saw, especially
in Africa and Asia, great development
taking place.
Leslie was a man of faith and his
commitment to the ‘advancement of
Christ’s Kingdom’ was seen in all he
did. The Brigade sends its condolences
to Maureen and the family.

MAKING FRIENDS
+
RAISING MONEY
=
FRIENDSHIP
FUNDAY
We’re on a mission! We want the Boys Brigade to
have fun, celebrate friendships and change children’s lives
for the better.
LOUISE DYRING NIELSON/SAVE THE CHILDREN
“Having fun with your friends at the same time
as helping other children all around the world is
just brilliant.” Save the Children Youth Ambassador
To request a FREE pack with loads of exciting ideas on
how the Boys Brigade can get involved call 020 7012 6400
or email p.grundy@savethechildren.org.uk
Belchamps Scout Centre
The friendly Scout and Guide
campsite near the seaside
6 buildings, 20 activities,
campfires and full
time staff
www.belchamps.co.uk
info@belchamps.co.uk
Tel 01702 562690
Holyoak Lane,
Hawkwell,
Essex SS54JD

Christingle
-----------------------------------
shining light into darkness
“Christingle is a great way to get all
the boys and girls together for a lovely,
warm service at Christmas time.”
Tracey Doswell,
13th Southampton Boys’ Brigade
FREE resources to help
your company celebrate
The Children’s Society is proud to be working with The Boy’s Brigade through Christingle this year.
Our Create-a-Christingle magazine has been developed in partnership with the Church of England
Children’s Work Advisers and is packed full of ideas on how your company can celebrate Christingle.
Activity suggestions have been tailored by BBUK Headquarters to fit Anchors’ and Juniors’ programme
zones and are featured in the centre pages of this magazine. Arts, crafts, games and fundraising ideas
will enable your company to join the celebration and help raise vital funds for disadvantaged children.
We hope you will join us by putting the Christian message of charity into action through Christingle.
Together we can make childhood better for all children in the UK.
visit www.christingle.org/boysbrigade
call 0845 600 8585
Order your FREE
Create-a-Christingle
pack today
The Children’s Society – making childhood better
Charity Registration No. 221124 | Christingle originated in the Moravian Church in 1747 | Photograph © Jeremy Enness