The website for 1st Bothwell Boys Brigade
Welcome to the Website of the 1st Bothwell Company. This has been set up to keep Boys, Parents and friends up to date with all the latest news from all the sections.
Our Session is well underway and we are starting to work towards all the various competitions and badges. We are coming into a hectic time over the next few weeks, so please keep yourself up to date by visiting the Calendar Page.
The Boys' Brigade is a uniformed youth organisation for Boys whose objective is
"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"
There are around 70 Boys in the company, split into three sections based on age. All sections meet in the Bothwell Parish Church Centre on Friday nights from September to May.
Links |
 BB Scotland |
 Bothwell Parish Church   |
The BB session is now coming towards the end of the year and we have had a hectic time of events activity and competitions.
The Anchors have moved to a new start time and have been working hard playing some new games and learning about Noah and the Ark. Soon we will start practising for the display and have some good fun preparing for our end of year “spectacular”.
The Juniors have been working hard practising for some battalion competitions but also finding time to taste some different foods in a blindfold taste test. Competitions have come thick and fast with the Bible Quiz, Maze Marching and General Knowledge Quiz all taking place within the last few weeks. At the time of writing we don't know how we did in the Bible and the General Knowledge Quiz has not yet taken place but the Maze Marching was held at Bothwell on the 12th March and in closely fought contest the Boys managed to successfully defend the title they won last year. A fantastic result and hopefully the first of many successes this year.
The Company Section has also been working hard to earn their badges. This year we have three lads working due to gain their Presidents Badge and four hopefully getting the Queens Award. These are the two highest awards that a Boy can get in the BB and the boys are so far on track to make this a big year for themselves and the Company. Our new programme is settling in nicely and the boys having been learning some new skills over the year – and seem to be enjoying themselves.
The Company Section has been competing in events – the Battalion Quiz, the Elementary and Restricted Drill and the Bible Competitions have all recently been held, and in a sporting vein, we were also represented at the Swimming Gala by one Boy, Iain Scott. Iain did a great job and swam his heart out – and while he didn't win he earned his own ovation when swimming in a relay with two boys from the 9th Hamilton. Iain swam as a senior and made up ground lost by the other boys and his efforts were recognised by everyone present. A true sign of determination and spirit, well done Iain. We had two teams at the quiz – which we have won for the past 10 years. Unfortunately, all good runs must come to and end and this year we only managed to be second equal – rather embarrassingly losing out to a 5th Hamilton team that contained two of my sons – but still a good effort by the Boys. The following Friday, four of our Junior Boys, led by one of our NCOs went to the Elementary Drill and won both the main competition and also the the section for the Squad Commander. This was followed by the Restricted Drill in February where we entered two Squads and came First and Second, scoring 93 and 90 out of 100 respectively. All that remains is to find out the Bible results and then see if we can defend the Squad Drill title which we have held for the last 15 years.
Finally, as the year draws to a close, we naturally look back on the past year. There have been great successes from the Boys, both in competition and in the work that we do on a Friday. But the main strength of the Company is the dedication of the staff. We have an excellent team of people working in the Company, not just on a Friday night but feely giving up their time to further Christs Kingdom among Boys'. Sometimes we re approached to undertake special activities at National Level – 3 of our staff are Training Officers and recently myself and David Sneddon were invited to judge the Drill, Deportment and Turnout at the Scottish Band Contest. Without these dedicated individuals we would have no BB Company and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all and ask that you remember them by name in your prayers – thanks to:
A reminder to all that uniform should be worn on Friday Nights. Anchor Boys should wear Blue Polo Shirt and Red Jumper - joggers and trainers may be worn on Fridays; however, school trousers and shoes are required for parades. Junior Section and Company Section Boys are inspected each week and gain points for correctly worn uniform.
The BB runs from 17.45 to 22.00 on a Friday night, with all Sections meeting over the course of the evening. This requires planning by the Officers and staff, both in terms of activities and accommodation. It would be greatly appreciated if Boys could arrive in time for the start of their section. It is, of course, more important that Boys turn up even if late; however, this can disrupt the flow of activities and this should be kept to a minimum where possible.
The Company is always looking for new members - both Boys and Officers. We have a dedicated group of Volunteers who work with the boys - and get just as much out of being part of the Company. We will give regular updates to this page on what we are doing but if you want to see for yourself come along on a Friday night and join in.
