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News
Kilbryde Hike 
The Hike took place on 7th and 8th June in the hills around Leadhills and Crawfordjohn. At times the weather was almost too hot, however, there was the chance to "cool down" in the water based incidents at some of the various checkpoints along the route. Some 150 young people took part in this annual event making up more than 40 teams, BB Companies from Central Scotland and the North of England, along with Scouts and EK Athletics Club. Well done to East Kilbride Athletics Club for winning the Expedition and Senior competitions and the 25th Stirling BB Company the Junior class, and special mention to the 1st Vale of Leven for winning the Sore Foot trophy again. Whilst there is the element of competition, the real joy is found in taking part and meeting with friends each year for what is an enjoyable and fun-filled activity. The reception in the packed hall at the close of the event says much for the fellowship that is established and credit goes to all the volunteers who put in hours of organisation year after year. Visit the Kilbryde Hike Page where we also have some photographs from the weekend.
Queen's Badge Certificate Presentation 2008 68 seniors were presented with their Queen's Badge Certificates at the Annual Ceremony in Glasgow City Chambers on Thursday 29th May.  The guest of honour was the Mr Tom Boyle, Director, Brigade Scotland. Mr Boyle inspected the Queen's Men, and spoke with many of them, outside the City Chambers before presenting the certificates and giving an encouraging address. Bailie Todd extended a welcome from the City and Rev Tom Nelson led the devotions. As well as receiving their Queen's Badge certificates, the Queen's Men received Millenium Volunteers certificates in recognition of the many hours of service they have given in their communities while working towards the award, and having completed an emergency first aid course as part of the Queen's Badge completion weekend the Queen's Men received Heartstart certificates. One of the highlights of the evening was the "Profile of the Queen's Badge", written and presented by three of the Queen's Men on the work which they had done in gaining the award. The Queen's Men receiving their certificates were from across Glasgow and East Kilbride with others from Bearsden, Clydebank and Dumbarton, all of whom had taken part in Glasgow's completion course.
Guard of Honour for the Lord High Commissioner 
15 Seniors from 7 Glasgow Companies travelled through to Edinburgh on Sunday 18th May to be part of the Guard of Honour for the Lord High Commissioner at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. A total guard of around 40 Boys assembled in the Castle esplanade, and marched down to St Giles Cathedral, accompanied by the Colours, a pipe band from Musselburgh and the 'Stedfast' Silver Band from Greenock. Once the Guard of Honour had been inspected and the dignitaries had made their way into the Cathedral the Guard of Honour marched down to St Andrew's and St George's Church where they participated in an enjoyable Service. After the Service, the Guard of Honour and Bands paraded, marched past and were dismissed. Then it was back to the Church Hall for a late breakfast.
Evening Times BB Supplement We were delighted that the Evening Times published a special BB Supplement on Wednesday 27 February to mark the Brigade's 125th Anniversary this year. The 24 page colour special featured photographs from 60 of the companies within the Battalion. If you missed the Evening Times that evening or are visiting from outwith the circulation area you can view the supplement as a pdf on the Evening Times website at www.eveningtimes.co.uk
Carol Service Boys, officers, ex-members, family and friends filled Shettleston Old Parish Church for the 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. It was an enjoyable and meaningful service and we would like to thank Mr McCurry for leading the worship and the committee who organised the service. It is planned that this will be an annual event and we look forward to next year.
Annual Report
Parents Directory
Twice a year 12,000 copies of the directory are distributed to schools and libraries across the West of Scotland for parents to pick up for free. The Directory contains details of activities for children and young people. Our advert, above, was in the 16th Edition of the Glasgow & West of Scotland directory.
Brigade President's Commendation Ian Wilson, a member for 25th Glasgow Junior Section, was presented with the Brigade President's Commendation by House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin. 
The award, presented at Springburn Parish Church, recognises the courage Ian has shown, despite several major heart operations – the first when he was only two days old. Ian still gets involved in the full range of activities at the Boys' Brigade including swimming and football with determination, commitment and enthusiasm. Mr Martin, MP for Glasgow North East, said: "It was an honour to meet such a brave young man. He is a credit to himself, his family and the Boys' Brigade".
Adventure Race 2 
Two teams from the Battalion entered the second Adventure Race at Pollok Park on Sunday 25th March. The teams of 3 boys aged 14-16 had to find 30 check points around the park during the 3 hour race. At some of these points challenges had to be undertaken. These included the Mountain Biking Circuit, kayaking across the pond and river crossing. The boys all had a great day out - with the 119th Glasgow coming third in the race with 345 points and the 83rd Glasgow winning with 380 points.
The Trophy Centre Battalion staff recently held constructive talks with directors from The Trophy Centre. The Trophy Centre have a wide range of trophies and medals and can engrave items to your specification. There are likely to be cost advantages in purchasing items and including the engraving from the Trophy Centre over purchasing elsewhere and taking them for engraving later. A wide selection of personalised items are also available and modern techniques can mean that the minimum production run is negotiable. We are also looking into incoming technology that will allow one-off personalised items – more on this later. See the Trophy Centre website at www.trophycentre.co.uk for a range of their products.
Carol Singing at Pollok House Early in December, members of the 9th Glasgow Company Section were invited by the National Trust for Scotland to provide entertainment at Pollok House, the Boys sang a number of Christmas Carols as guests arrived for Dinner.
Brigade President's Commendation 
We are pleased to announce that Graeme Tannahill of the 72nd Glasgow Company, Dennistoun, who gained his Queen's Badge in April 2006, has been awarded the Brigade President's Commendation in recognition of the additional work, commitment and effort against a background of long-term health difficulties. Graeme's family have been deeply involved with the BB and GB for generations. Graeme was determined to fulfil every aspect of the programme just as any other member, despite the challenges that he faced. He is now helping with the Junior Section and Anchor Boys. The commendation reads:-
119 Glasgow visit Soccer Circus
Members of the 119th Glasgow got a surprise when they visited Soccer Circus at the Xscape Centre at Braehead for a football training evening. Their coach was none other than Kevin Keegan, former England internationalist and Premiership Manager. There he was taking the boys, aged 8 to 16, through the sprints, dribbling and team events as a few of the fathers stood in awe as an icon of football took their sons through their paces. Despite the training, experience won the day as the team of leaders and parents, triumphed against the team of boys in the final penalty shoot out.
Youth Adventure Race 
Three teams from Glasgow Battalion took part in the first Youth Adventure Race to be held in Glasgow. The race took place in Pollok Park on 22 October and involved mountain biking, orienteering, canoeing and climbing, with teams of four competing together. 
The 119th came in 2nd place, the 9th and the 83rd also took part and everyone had a great time and went away having enjoyed the experience and with a goody bag courtesy of the event sponsors. 
The event was the idea of Rob Sanderson an Adventure racer from Glasgow and was organised by Phil Robinson from Glasgow City Council. More information on adventure racing can be found at www.sleepmonsters.co.uk
Blink (& u won't miss it) 
Blink is a new magazine for young people (YP) by YP in the BB aged between 16 and 25 from all over the UK. It’s going to be fun, inspiring, and be all about YP. Blink is going to tell you about opportunities in the BB, allow you to shape its future and contribute your ideas, and give you a chance to share what is going on in your own area with others. Click the logo to visit Blink online.
Dave Bilbrough and his Band in Concert 
Dave Bilbrough and his Band led an evening of praise and worship on February 4th at Springfield Cambridge Church, in celebration of 120 years of the Battalion's work with young people in the city.
45th Glasgow presented with the
Anchor Boys raise money for BBC Children in Need Anchor Boy Sections from across the Battalion held a series of 'Pudsey Parties' and theme nights to raise money for this years BBC Children in Need Appeal. Well done to all who took part in the fundraising. A snippet of the activity at one Pudsey Party was shown and it looked like a lot of fun for those involved.
Battalion Strategic Plan Following feedback from companies the Battalion Strategic Plan has been added to the Useful Information page, along with the minutes from the March 2003 Battalion Council at which the plan was endorsed unanimously. The plan was distributed to Captains in both February and June 2003 and is featured in the Annual Review of Session 2002/03 which also remains available for download.
ABC Consortium We announced last year that we have taken up associated membership with the ABC Buying Consortium. This is the main purchasing consortium for Local Authorities and Educational establishments and has huge buying power, resulting in very significant discounts on many items. It covers, not just stationery, but also sports, musical instruments and other equipment. One company has already received two orders with significant savings. The catalogue is extensive – and can be viewed in the office.
East Kilbride Companies Towards the end of last session and through the summer we had discussions with Companies in East Kilbride over potentially joining with Glasgow Battalion. As with so many others, they have faced an increasing lack of manpower resources over recent years in order to maintain separate Battalion functions. These discussions were very positive and they are clearly pleased with the facilities and services that we can offer. At their own Council meeting they unanimously agreed to work in partnership with Glasgow over the coming session, with a view to taking up full membership in 2006-2007. They will continue to host the Kilbryde Hike which is an added bonus to our range of activities. Our own Battalion Council and Executive welcomed this development with the hope that an open invitation will be extended to all Companies in East Kilbride to take part in local activities. We trust that all will extend a true Christian welcome.
Glasgow Kidz Cards and Young Scot Cards Of interest to all Companies based within the Glasgow City boundary, Glasgow City Council is advancing a scheme where voluntary groups within the city can apply for a Group Card, with many of the benefits of the individual Kidz Cards and Young Scot Cards. This is certainly an advantage and could benefit your programme, we hope that many Companies will apply for a Group Card and benefit from the scheme. Further information is available in the Officers Resources Area.
World Mission Fund - Block Making Project Gordon Grant of the 205 Glasgow Company visited BB Ghana this summer from 24-31 July to see how progress was going on the Block Making Project which had been the focus of the World Mission Fund appeal 2001-2003. The visit was made possible through the Church of Scotland World Mission Department.
Whilst the centre in Accra has an electric press to help with production, the instruction covers how to make blocks without this facility, as, in the villages, there may be no electrical supply. Gordon also saw the tailoring project, also based at the national headquarters and set up a few years ago, where similar skills instruction was being carried out and local uniform items produced. This again provides employment and income as well as local sustainable resources for BB Ghana.
The warmth, Christian commitment and welcome of the Ghana people will be remembered as well as gratitude for what was made possible through the support raised by BB Companies here in Scotland.
Paisley & District Battalion Supplies Shop Paisley is the closest BB Supplies Shop to Glasgow, you may wish to phone first to check that the items you require are in stock. You can also order online from the BBUK Website. The Boys' Brigade
Paisley & District Battalion North Croft Street Paisley PA3 4AD Opening hours: Monday - Friday, 10am - 1pm; Saturday, 10am - 12noon. Tel: 887 3942 Find the location of Paisley & District Battalion on the map
Over £3,500 was raised through this years Miles for Malawi cycle run around Arran, which brings our total for the two years to over £11,000. In terms of Malawi this is transmitted into a huge amount of practical and life-saving benefit. Thanks to all boys and officers who took part.
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Our Annual Report is now being distributed and we hope that you find it of interest. Having completed one, it is never too soon to start thinking about the next, as one of the biggest difficulties in compiling it is having sufficient information and photographs, covering the full range of activities in the Battalion. Remember that the Annual Report should be a report of all the work handled throughout the Battalion – not just central events – and including Company Camps, projects, events at Districts, football, special activities and so on. When it comes to photographs, often captains and officers who know and work with the boys are in a best position to be able to take action photos of activities. Copies of the report are provided to church denominations, leaders in local authorities, as well as to Trust Funds and others who support our work each year and relieve the need to direct Company support. It is in everyone’s interest to make sure the report is positive and that it portrays the breadth of work undertaken across the city and beyond. Please pass in information as soon as it is to hand.
The Rt Rev David Lacy presented the 45th Glasgow with the trophy for the highest amount raised by a Company Section at the World Mission Evening in Bearsden on 18 November. It is good that companies in Glasgow are taking an active part in this Church of Scotland appeal. Funds raised during the current session will go towards the establishment of mobile skills training for young people in Bangladesh where the Church reaches out to some of the most needy sections in society and is achieving remarkable results.
He visited the project centre in Accra, located next to the national office, where work was already well under way and students would be given instruction on the manufacture of concrete blocks. The idea is that, once trained, these young people return to their own village areas and are able to start up their own production ventures, providing much needed income to families, local villagers and even BB companies.
Gordon was able to sample local cuisine – which was quite adventurous and visited several churches, schools and BB companies as well as an officer training course, travelling up the coast to Sekondi and Takoradi. He visited Almira Castle where which was one of the many centres for the slave trade in past centuries and reminded all of the impact of history and some of the less welcome aspects of human existence.| The BB in Glasgow - Building Young Lives © 2003 - 2008 The Boys' Brigade, Glasgow Battalion |