125 Logo Competition

Here is an example of the winning design of the Battalion's '125 Logo Competition'. The logo will appear more regularly as we draw nearer 2008 and our Anniversary events.

A buttonhole badge based on the design is now available, it is hoped that members of the Battalion wearing the badge will help raise public awareness of The Boys' Brigade and of our 125th Anniversary. Badges can be purchased from the Battalion Office priced £1.50 each.

Ambassadors

Have you heard of the Battalion’s ‘Ambassador Programme’? The proposal is that EVERY Company within the Battalion be invited to nominate anyone who has been loyal in supporting the work of the Company. The people you nominate as Ambassadors can be a parent, a member of the Church, someone from the local community etc. - essentially anyone whose support you think should be recognised. Once we have a list of names our intention is to invite the Ambassadors to a social event and present them with a certificate and badge, which we hope they will wear with pride.

So what does all this cost? I hear you ask… Nothing! Our aim as a Battalion is to recognise the often quiet and unseen support given to local Companies by many individuals. We also hope the Ambassadors will talk about their local Company and the work of the Battalion. What better way to help raise the profile of the Battalion than through recognising the work of our many local supporters?

Help!

Is there a game that is popular within your Company or section that you would be willing to share with the Battalion? As part of the 125th Anniversary programme we hope to produce a booklet sutiable for every Section within the Battalion and each booklet will hopefully contain 125 games - hence we need your help! If everyone sends in a game we could easily reach the target. Send your games to Mary Armour c/o Battalion Headquarters.

Annual Christmas Carol Service

Boys, officers, ex-members, family and friends filled Shettleston Old Parish Church for the first annual Battalion Carol Service on 16th December. The service was led by Mike McCurry, Associate Pastor at Mosspark Baptist Church, with a song from the gathered Anchor Boy and Junior Sections and a re-telling of the Nativity from the 145 Glasgow Company Section. We would like to thank Mr McCurry for leading such enjoyable and meaningful worship.

Service of Thanksgiving

The Brigade has scheduled a National Thanksgiving Service to be held in Glasgow Cathedral on 4th October 2008. Undoubtedly, the Battalion will be asked to be involved in this national service. More information will be published as plans progress.

Battalion Choir

The Battalion is proposing to form a Choir that can be involved in leading the praise during our celebrations. Those interested in being part of this venture are invited to join with the nucleus of those who have already expressed an interest.

We propose holding a number of rehearsals under the direction of Alan Craig (an Ex-BB Boy) who is very well known in music circles. Rehearsals will be held in Springfield Cambridge Church, Bishopbriggs (HQ 268th GCBB); where necessary it might be possible to arrange transport. The plan is to hold hour-long rehearsals between 2-3 o'clock each Sunday afternoon on the following dates in 2008:
31 August
7, 14, 21 and 28 September

Even though the rehearsal dates are not scheduled until 2008 it would help determine the feasibility of the Choir if you, or anyone known to you, preferably with a BB connection, is interested in supporting the Choir. Those interested are asked to contact either Ian Ritchie or Mary Armour. All are welcome!

A Conundrum…!

We all know that the 1st Glasgow is the oldest Boys’ Brigade Company in the world - but have you ever wondered which is the second oldest Company still operating in the Battalion?

Many Companies have closed over the years due to a variety of factors not least the redevelopment programme that severely impacted on the inner city during the 1950-60s. So, which is the second oldest Company, with an unbroken record, still operating within the Battalion?

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Glasgow Companies have elapsed, accordingly most would agree that the ‘5th Glasgow’ has the distinction of being the second oldest Company in the Battalion, and Battalion Records do confirm that fact. However, the title of the second oldest Company might actually belong to the 32nd Glasgow, which was founded in the Anderston District during May 1886. How can the ‘32’ be the second oldest Company in the Battalion? Well, the answer lies in one of those quirks of history.

The ‘32’ is an amalgam of Companies, which includes the original 9th - so the ‘32’ can claim to have connections going back to 1885. Wait a minute - the ‘5th’ must have been founded before the ‘9th’. That’s right, but I’m not finished yet. Included in the amalgam of Companies that make up the ‘32’ is the 17th Glasgow. “Hold on!” I hear you say, “This is getting ridiculous - the 17th must be younger than even the original ‘9th’. Well, according to Battalion Records they were, but the original 17th was founded by Lawrence Smith*, one of William Smith’s right-hand men, and according to tradition this group was actually the second Company to be formed, however there was delay in submitting their formal application and by the time their registration was completed the Company was allocated the designation of the 17th Glasgow. Hence the ‘32’ can claim through union with the 17th to be the second oldest Company within the Battalion.

* The keen eyed and those with a good knowledge of Battalion history will have been noted that while Lawrence Smith is the first recorded captain of the 17th the company was founded by John Roxburgh, later, Sir John served as Brigade President from 1919 right up to our Jubille Year, 1933.

If you have a story to share send it in to Battalion HQ, marked for 'The Bulletin'.