3rd Inverness

Boys' Brigade

News

Friday 9th May

The 2013-2014 session of the 3rd Inverness Boys Brigade came to an end on Friday 9th May with our Annual Display and Parents’ Night.  This year our Chief Guests were Ewan MacDonald (Scottish Curler) and his wife Amy.  Ewan told the boys how important some of the habits in the Boys’ Brigade Object have been relevant in his experiences as a curler – discipline, self-respect and reverence; as well as giving some very positive comments on the attitude and behaviour of all the Boys.  More than 60 Boys were in attendance at the  display and it was great to see a full hall of parents, grandparents and friends packed into the hall – we even had to put out more seats!!  Our theme this year was Games with the Commonwealth Games, World Cup and Ryder Cup (amongst others) all taking place this year.  Each section took part in their own items with the usual display of energy and enthusiasm.

Once again the highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Queen’s Badge to 5 young men.  Finlay Macleod, Andrew Kellock, Ross Craig, Mitchell Murdoch and Michael Macaulay all attained the highest award the Brigade can offer – they are all a credit to their families, the Company and the Church and I would like to take this opportunity to wish them all the very best for the future.  President’s Badges were also presented to Duncan MacKnight and Dylan Thomson.

The staff are all off for all well earned rest but we’ll be back raring to go again in August / September!!

Thanks to Richard Syred for the photos.

-----ooooo-----

Sunday 6th April

Congratulations to Andrew Kellock, Finlay Macleod, Ross Craig, Mitchell Murdoch and Michael MacAulay who successfully completed their Boys Brigade Queens Badge this weekend. Well done to you all.

Monday 31st March

Congratulations to The Junior Section for raising an impressive £219 for Barnardo's for taking part in 'The Sunflower Challenge' in which the boys grew sunflowers, learnt about young carers and some of the work of Barnardo's.

Sunday 9th March

Company and Junior section boys helping out at the water station for the half marathon. We all enjoyed ourselves and the help was appreciated by all the runners who took part

Friday 7th February

Battalion Table Tennis

Congratulations to Tom Fulton who won the under-13; further congratualtions to Ross Fulton and Lewis Hilditch who lost out in the semi-finals of the under-15.

Saturday 18th January

Battalion Badminton 

A photo from the Battalion badminton competition at Culloden Academy.

Ross Fulton won the under-15 singles and then teamed up with brother Tom to win the doubles. Mitchell Murdoch got to the quarter-finals in the under-19 singles and teamed up with Ewan Maclennan from 1st Ardgay to finish runners-up in the doubles. Craig Macaulay also took part but was eliminated in the 3rd round of the singles.

Michael MacAulay - Young Reporter Winner

Congratulations to Michael MacAulay on winning the Young Reporter competition for December. Michael wrote about his trip to London where he was in the Carpet Guard at the Festival of Remembrance.

Michael is pictured receiving his prize from Eric Halkett (Highland Battalion Treasurer).

Sunday 24th November

Battalion 10-pin Bowling

Congratulations to Tom Fulton, Ross Beaton and Dominic Syred who won the Battalion 10-pin bowling in the Under-13, Under-15 and

Under-19 categories respectively. Also well done to Jamie Macleod for finishing runner-up in the Under-15 competition.

Saturday 16th November

Battalion Football

Well done to the Junior Section Boys who won the battalion indoor football competition for the second year running. The team were undefeated in all the games they played. Thanks to the parents who supported the team and to all who helped organise the competition.

Saturday 9th November

Festival of Rememberance

Mitchell Murdoch and Michael MacAulay were part of the The Carpet Guard for the Chelsea Pensioners for the Festival of Remeberance In The Royal Albert Hall, London.

Here is Michael's report he entered for the Young Reporters competition.

Two boys from The 3rd Inverness Boys Brigade were selected to be part of The Carpet Guard for The Chelsea Pensioners.

This year The Boys Brigade were invited to attend The Festival of Remembrance at The Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 9th November 2013.

On Thursday 7th November Mitchell Murdoch and Michael MacAulay flew down to London accompanied by LT/BTO Lynn Forbes. When they arrived in London they were picked up at London Luton Airport and driven to The Boys Brigade HQ, Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead (just outside of London)

On Friday 8th November they we accompanied by 10 other boys. 2 other boys from Scotland, 4 from England and 4 from Northern Ireland. Before leaving Felden Lodge the boys were given security passes that would allow them to enter The Royal Albert Hall. The boys travelled to London Euston station by train then went on The London Underground to The Royal Albert Hall. When at The Royal Albert Hall the boys found out that they were the Carpet Guard for The Chelsea Pensioners. The boys were then told what they had to do.

On the Saturday morning the boys were up at 5 in the morning to again make a journey into London. They got a train at 6 then had breakfast at Euston station. They then set off onto the tube to South Kensington Station. From here the boys marched about half a mile to the Royal Albert Hall. On arrival at The Royal Albert Hall they boys got photos taken near the front of The Royal Albert Hall. The boys then went into The Royal Albert Hall from a full day of performing. The dress rehearsal went very well and everyone improved as they went. There was performances in the afternoon and evening. In the gap between the afternoon and evening showings, there was an added surprise the boys were asked to form a Guard of Honor for Her Majesty the Queen when she was unveiling the name change of the South Steps at The Royal Albert Hall to the Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps. 

Throughout the weekend the boys were escorted by officers from Scotland and England through the busy tubes, train stations and trains. LT/BTO Lynn Forbes said “The 12 boys, who only met for the first time on the Friday, made all the officers very proud in marching on and off at The Festival of Remembrance, they were all a credit to the Boys Brigade.”

Mitchell Murdoch and Michael MacAulay both stated “ We’ll probably never experience anything like this again, we all thoroughly enjoyed being part of it and we have found new friends with the boys who attended from Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.”

Mitchell added “I found the experience of being one of the two boys to represent the Highlands at this year’s festivals was a great privilege.  When we arrived at South Kensington Station we were made to march through the whole of London till we reached the Royal Albert Hall.  The first live recording was open to the public.  Then we had about a two hour break to do whatever we wanted.  So Michael and I got some programmes and went to meet some of the celebrities including Katie Melua and Alfie Boe.  Then we went outside and were in line for about 30 minutes till the Queen arrived.  We had a cold wind hitting our backs but we were not allowed to shiver.  It was an experience I will never forget as I was feet away from Her Majesty.  So we went in and made sure we weren’t going to muck up in front of the Queen and head politicians and, I don’t mean to boast, but we were amazing and it was the best it had been all weekend. So we headed back to our dressing room and I grabbed Michael, my phone, and my programme and we went to find James Blunt.  We were the only two people privileged to meet him all weekend.  So overall I found the whole experience amazing and would do it again in a heart beat.”

Thursday 7th November 2013

Annual Enrolment Service

The Company’s annual enrolment service took place in Church on Sunday 27th October.

It was great to see about 50 Officers, Helpers and Boys in Church for the service. The Colours were carried by 2 of our young officers, Lewis MacLeod and Andrew Logan.

 
Festival of Remembrance

Two of our Company Section Boys have been chosen to take part in the Guard of Honour at this year’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

To mark the Centenary of the King’s Badge Mitchell Murdoch and Michael MacAulay have been selected to represent BB Scotland at the event on the 9th November. Lynn Forbes will be accompanying the boys on the trip.

Annual Fundraiser - Quiz Night, Beetle Drive and Silent Auction to be held on Friday 29th November 2013. More information available here.

-----ooooo-----

Friday 9th August - Sunday 11th August 2013

The  new session of the 3rd  Inverness Boys Brigade started again for the Boys of the Company Section at our Annual Camp which was held this year at the Dalguise Activity Centre

15 Boys and 5 Staff attended the weekend, which saw us all partake in various outdoor activities including abseiling, climbing, rifle shooting, mountain biking, giant swing, zipslide, sequoia scramble and the challenge course.

Abseiling	Sequoia Scramble
Giant Swing	Challenge Course

The weather was kind to us and an enjoyable weekend was had by one and all. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their help over the weekend.

-----ooooo-----