April 2010 - The Boys' Brigade

News • News • News
The Stedfast Association working in partnership
with The Boys’ Brigade, Bromley & West Kent
Battalions present a Bugle Band Music & Training
Event on Sunday 23rd May 2010 from 1.30 – 4.30 pm
at Park Road Baptist Church (8th Bromley BB HQ)
Widmore Road, Bromley. Please contact:
David Kemp Tel: +44 (1634) 581 649
Email: lsabugleband@aol.com or
Mike Ford Tel: +44 (20) 8464 0689
Email: bbmford@aol.com
The Bugles & Drums of The Stedfast Association seek new and additional
members to embark on an exciting new music venture – a combined bugle/
wind/brass marching band, which can also play in a concert/formal setting
when required. If you are interested in being part of this exciting new venture
then please contact us at www.stedfastassociationbugleband.btik.com –
LSABugleBand@aol.com – +44 (7964) 019454
If you would like to contribute anything for future columns, please contact
Philip Daley, The Stedfast Association, Unit C1 Nutgrove Office Park, Nutgrove Avenue,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 or email boysbrigade@eircom.net or telephone +353 (1) 296 4622.
The Federation Annual
Council Meeting and
Fellowship Weekend will
take place from Friday
21st to Sunday 23rd May
2010 in the Best Western
Bromley Court Hotel,
Bromley Hill, Bromley,
Kent BR1 4JD England,
hosted by the London
Stedfast Association.
OBITUARIES
We pay tribute to BB members who
have died during the last few months
and thank God for their faithful service
to the Brigade and church and their
witness in the community.
MICHELLE OWEN and her two sons
CALLUM and ETHAN died in a car
accident near Grantown on Spey in
early December 2009. All three were
members of the 1st Scone Company.
Michelle was an officer in the Junior
Section and had just taken on the role
of Battalion Training Convener. Callum
was 13 and in his third year in the
Company Section; he took part in all
Company activities and was liked and
respected by his peers and also by the
younger boys. Callum was very proud
of his Welsh roots and proudly wore
his Welsh rugby shirt at camp. Ethan
was 11 and in his first year in Company
Section; he was like a younger version
of his mum, cheekily bright and always
smiling. Ethan was a keen footballer
and played for Scone Thistle.
Their deaths have left a large gap
in the Scone Company, but the boys
and staff have been greatly comforted
and helped by the messages and
support which they have received
from the wider BB family.
JAMES CHRISTOPHER BECKWITH
died unexpectedly on 10th October
2009. James was paralysed from the
neck down following a car accident
when he was two; his specially adapted
wheelchair enabled him to use his head
and mouth and carried his ventilator.
He joined the 25th South East Essex
Company in his home village of
Hullbridge in 2000 and took part in most
activities and events, never letting his
disability interfere with his sense of fun.
He was an inspiration to everyone he
met and the boys and officers of his
Company will miss his cheerful smile
and wicked laugh.
JAMES K CUBIE (89) had a life-long
association with the 130th Glasgow
Company and served as Captain
from 1952 to 1961. Under Jim’s
leadership, the Company thrived in
the post-war period. After stepping
down as Captain, Jim continued to
assist and support the officers and
boys as well as playing an important
role within Broomhill Church of
Scotland, serving as an Elder with
great care and dedication.
STEVE LOWER (52) began his BB
career in the Life Boy section of 2nd
Strood Company. He became an
officer and was involved in most of
the company’s activities. He loved
canoeing and enjoyed instructing on
its skills. Steve gained the Queen’s
Badge. In 1989 he joined the 1st
Sittingbourne and started a Company
band, which won the National Band
Competition in 2009. He was also
involved in Duke of Edinburgh
expeditions, the Honeyhill Campsite,
Barden Road Canoeing Centre and
the National Canoeing Club. Such was
his character that he was known as
‘Mr Dependable’.
ALEXANDER SOUDEN joined the Life
Boy Team of the 18th Paisley Company
at the Methodist Church in Central
Halls, Paisley. He moved through the
ranks and in 1972 was appointed
captain of the Company and remained
in that post until 1989, thereafter
becoming a Battalion reserve officer. He
also served as Battalion Band convenor,
was a member of The Christian
Education Committee, the Company
Section Activities’ Committee as well as
helping in civic and community events.
KEITH GUYLER became an Officer
in the 3rd Gravesend Company in the
early 1960’s and became active in the
North Kent Group and later North Kent
Battalion and North West Kent Battalion.
When the 3rd Gravesend closed, he
formed the 4th Gravesend Company
and became its captain, whereupon it
flourished under Keith’s leadership. In
April 1984 Keith received the Brigade
President’s Commendation, a rare
event for an officer, in recognition of
his work with the Company during his
illness. Retiring to Great Steeping in
Lincolnshire in 1994, he and his wife,
Stella, became active in the village
Methodist Chapel. Keith was a devoted
Christian and an inspirational leader.
April 2010 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 69