October 2004 - The Boys' Brigade

Obituaries Obituaries Obituaries ObituariesIslington & East London Battalion,during a time of change in the citycentre and he helped to keep alive thetrue BB spirit. Denis was a MethodistLocal Preacher, being accredited in1958 and was often invited to traveloutside London to take services. Manywill thank God for the life and witnessof Denis; he will be sorely missed butrichly remembered with thankfulnessand gratitude. Our sympathy andprayers go out to all of his family.LEN MOYES (94) joined the 2ndBirkenhead Company (Beckwith StreetMission) as a boy and after promotionto Staff Sergeant, became a Lieutenantin the 6th Birkenhead (TranmereCongregational). When he moved toAtherton he became a member ofWesthoughton Congregational Churchwhere he was invited to form the 1stWesthoughton Company. For severalyears he was a member of the NorthWest District Executive and served asPresident of the Bolton Battalion from1972-83. He was the author of ‘TheHistory of The Boys’ Brigade in Bolton1887-1987’. Highly skilled in woodturning he made the Gavel and stand,which is still used at District meetings.Our sympathy is extended to hisdaughter Margaret and son Andrew.TOM SOMERVILLE (75) served in 3rdLurgan Company as a boy and after abreak of 12 years rejoined and becamefounder Captain of the 1stKnocknamuckley Company, attached toS Mathias Parish Church. He held thisposition for 40 years, 1959-1999. Tomwas a great motivator, innovator andencourager but above all he was a greatChristian. His enthusiastic Christianwitness, inside and outside the BB,played a major part in many youngpeople committing their lives to Christ.Although a teacher by profession, Tom’stalents extended beyond the classroom.He organised and conducted a localmale voice choir for 41 years, was localPresident of the Full Businessmen’sChristian Fellowship Institute, played aprominent role in the local CommunityGroup and still found time to run avery successful Bus Company for 25years. Thanks to his vision, devotionand hard work, the 1stKnocknamuckley Company developedfrom small beginnings to one of themost successful in N Ireland. From 23boys and staff in 1959 the presentcompany strength exceeds 140. Tom’sfuneral was a fitting tribute to one whodevoted the major part of his life‘advancing Christ’s Kingdom amongboys’.PAMELA WILLIAMS was never a BBofficer but she gave great support toher husband Allan, when he was amember, then an officer and finallywhen he became Captain of the 1stNewport Company. She was alwaysvery interested in the company and itsactivities and encouraged andsupported the boys in all theirendeavours. When Allan becamePresident of the Newport & GwentBattalion her support became evenstronger; she attended all Battalionevents, always with a kind word to allwhom she met. She became wellknown to the members of the Battalionand the fact that Havelock StreetPresbyterian Church was packed forher funeral shows just how much shewas loved. Her smiling face andsupport for the Brigade will be sadlymissed.We’ve got Mail!It was interesting to read the letter inthe April Gazette about age limitsand admission of girls. I think JimCurrie is quite right that we shouldlook into the 21st century and moveforward. I do not know enoughabout the ‘girls’ situation tocomment, but I can express a viewabout lower age limits.The Brigade is moving in the rightdirection by lowering age limits, buthas not gone far enough! For 15 yearsour church has had a separate CabinBoys group for boys who are 3 1 / 2 - 5years old. This has given us theopportunity to link up with boys andtheir parents much earlier and buildrelationships – relationships whichhave lasted until the boy, as a youngman, is finally discharged from thecompany.their boys to come to Cabin Boys –should we miss this opportunity byturning them away? I hear doubterssaying that these Cabin Boys will loseinterest in later years and leave thecompany. Not our experience – ourofficers understand that ourprogramme for all ages needs to bevaried, non-repetitive and progressive,to support our boys’ development.Since the formation of Cabin Boys wehave seen our company grow as thesenew boys have worked their waythrough the age groups – ourCompany Section has grown from alow of 14 in the early 90s to its currentstrength of over 40.So I say, well done BB, for lowering theage, but have the vision to follow thisthrough – and give us another tool tohelp us achieve our Object.Letter to the editor,Isle of Wight County PressI do hope that one of your reporters orphotographers was present at SandownPier at 7.45pm yesterday (Sunday) tosee and hear the splendid band of the11th Northampton BB company. Thisband has won the Youth MarchingBand Competition for the last threeyears. They had marched and playedfrom their camp in Yaverland to theMethodist Church for a service andafterwards to the pier, where theyperformed for about 20 minutes, andthen marched, still playing, back toYaverland. They were accompanied byother non-band members of theBrigade, and the appearance andbehaviour of the whole group was anobject lesson in what can be achievedby regular caring but firm discipline.As a former Scout leader I know theproblems that are faced by youthgroups today, but the example set bythis BB company was a good exampleof youth at its best. You may beinterested to know that they will berepeating their performance nextSunday evening at the same time.Many of our parents have noconnection with our church, but wantPeter McKechnie5th Lisburn CompanyMrs Judy Winter-GoodwinYaverland, Isle of WightVOLUME 112 No. 4 • October 2004 • page 109