History of the BB
The Boys' Brigade has been around for over 125 years and in 2008 we celebrated our 125th Anniversary. Our Founder Sir William Alexander Smith, included in our Object "The Promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness" and that has not been changed.
What has changed is how we go about promoting that object. We recognise that the influences surrounding our young people are not always helpful and that too many lose control at great cost to themselves, their families and the community. The answer is to catch the energy and enthusiasm of youth and to channel it purposefully.
Taken from the Boys Brigade main website
The Boys' Brigade has been around for over 125 years and in 2008 we celebrated our 125th Anniversary. Our Founder Sir William Alexander Smith, included in our Object "The Promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness" and that has not been changed.
What has changed is how we go about promoting that object. We recognise that the influences surrounding our young people are not always helpful and that too many lose control at great cost to themselves, their families and the community. The answer is to catch the energy and enthusiasm of youth and to channel it purposefully.
Taken from the Boys Brigade main website
Our Beginnings
The 1st Uxbridge Company was formed in September 1951 at the Methodist Central Hall Uxbridge. The church already had a well-established Girls' Life Brigade Company, and so it was thought that something similar should be provided for boys. The club, as it started out, had to meet several criteria before it could be accepted as a fully-fledged B. B. Company. Chief among these was the requirements for 20 boys to meet for 6 weeks and follow a laid down programme.
Recruitment was required, and Saturday morning pictures were the obvious place for this to take part. The Odeon gave permission for a publicity event to take place in the interval. So with a B. B. band playing and boys from other Companies, (because they could get in free) marching, the B. B. went down the High Street from one end to the other to launch the 1ST UXBRIDGE COMPANY.
All criteria were met and the Company was eventually enrolled on January 10th 1952 as part of the North West Middlesex Battalion. At first the Company was just for the older boys, but in May 1953 we successfully started a Life Boy Team and our Company grew. We became part of the new Hillingdon Battalion in 1965. For the first 20 years our Company was based at the Methodist Central Hall, Uxbridge, until 1972 when our Church joined together with the Uxbridge Congregational Church, and we moved to Christ Church.
Captains
We have had 4 captains:
William Hawkins: January 1952 - October 1959
Cliff Bosley: October 1959 - October 1972
Allan Hollaway: October 1972 - September 2006
Paul Edgeworth: September 2006 to the present day
Our longest serving member is Alan Hollaway, our previous captain, who was present at the very first company meeting.
The 1st Uxbridge Company was formed in September 1951 at the Methodist Central Hall Uxbridge. The church already had a well-established Girls' Life Brigade Company, and so it was thought that something similar should be provided for boys. The club, as it started out, had to meet several criteria before it could be accepted as a fully-fledged B. B. Company. Chief among these was the requirements for 20 boys to meet for 6 weeks and follow a laid down programme.
Recruitment was required, and Saturday morning pictures were the obvious place for this to take part. The Odeon gave permission for a publicity event to take place in the interval. So with a B. B. band playing and boys from other Companies, (because they could get in free) marching, the B. B. went down the High Street from one end to the other to launch the 1ST UXBRIDGE COMPANY.
All criteria were met and the Company was eventually enrolled on January 10th 1952 as part of the North West Middlesex Battalion. At first the Company was just for the older boys, but in May 1953 we successfully started a Life Boy Team and our Company grew. We became part of the new Hillingdon Battalion in 1965. For the first 20 years our Company was based at the Methodist Central Hall, Uxbridge, until 1972 when our Church joined together with the Uxbridge Congregational Church, and we moved to Christ Church.
Captains
We have had 4 captains:
William Hawkins: January 1952 - October 1959
Cliff Bosley: October 1959 - October 1972
Allan Hollaway: October 1972 - September 2006
Paul Edgeworth: September 2006 to the present day
Our longest serving member is Alan Hollaway, our previous captain, who was present at the very first company meeting.
