1st Redditch Boys' Brigade celebrates 50th anniversary (From Redditch Advertiser)
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1st Redditch Boys' Brigade celebrates 50th anniversary
9:45am Monday 4th October 2010 in News
Nick Danks, mayor Kath Banks, Capt Bert Harris, Councillor Juliet Brunner and Ian Wardman celebrate 50 years of 1st Redditch Boys' Brigade
1st REDDITCH Boys' Brigade has just celebrated its 50th anniversary with a day of fun activities.
The Boys’ Brigade nationally is 127 years old on October 4, but in September 1960, a small group of boys and leaders met to start their own branch of the Boys’ Brigade in Redditch called the 1st Headless Cross, which later changed to the 1st Redditch.
On September 18, mayor Kath Banks and her consort, Councillor Juliet Brunner, along with James Haden-Walker, Worcester Battalion vice president, Sue Haden-Walker Worcester Battalion Anchor Boys’ secretary, Loz Gazeley, Worcester Battalion secretary, members, ex-members and friends of the 1st Redditch came together in Astwood Bank to celebrate.
A spokesman said: “We had lots of fun and games including a bouncy castle, large inflatable slide, gladiator jousts, super sumo suit battle, welly wanging, crockery smash and other field games in addition to barbecue, pig roast and a look back at the 50 years with photos and some original members who were present on that first night back in 1960.
“The mayor gave words of congratulations for our anniversary and the work of the Boys’ Brigade and encouragement for the future of both the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades in Redditch.”
The following day a service of celebration was held at the branch’s home church, The Bridge in Headless Cross.
The chaplain, the Rev Bob Thomas, led the service with testimonies from Bert Harris, 1st Redditch BB Captain for 46 years, talking about the many camps he has been on, Malcolm Haden founding member, talking about the early days and Adam Richards talking about current BB life.
Ben Phillips also told the large congregation about his missionary trip last year to Cameroon where he and small group of young leaders from across BB nationally raised money to enable the BB in Cameroon to become self sufficient.
During the service Mr Harris was awarded a long service award by Mr Haden, one of his co-founding members.
For more information, visit www.1stRedditch.com.
