October 2004 - The Boys' Brigade

Company Spotlight 1st Hillingdon BB70 years young1st Hillingdon BB was formedunder the captaincy of Mr GeorgeMorris in April 1934, at NorthHillingdon Methodist Church in LongLane, Hillingdon, Middlesex. In thosedark distant days, there was nobattalion. 1st Hill (as it is affectionatelyknown) became part of the North WestMiddlesex Battalion in October 1950,where our then former captain becamethe first Battalion President. We thenbecame part of the Hillingdon Battalionfrom September 1965 and then in 1988we joined 27 other companies as part ofthe larger West London Battalion. MrWalter Payne took over the captaincyfrom May 1949. He saw the formationof the Life Boy Team, now known asJuniors. In November 1950, with theresignation of Mr Payne, the companybriefly closed, only to reopen in July1951 under the captaincy of MrLaurence Tarr.Our present captain Mr Alan Pannelltook up the reins of the company in1972, 32 years later he is still asenthusiastic as ever. March 1978 sawthe formation of our Anchor section.Like most companies 1st Hillingdon’snumbers have fluctuated over the years,but that has not stopped (it has at timeshindered) the company’s activities. Inthe last decade the Company sectionhas been most active, with activitiesincluding band, drill and of course theannual camp. The company tries toparticipate in as many competitions aspossible, both at battalion and nationallevel, sometimes with great success andother times not so. (Well let’s be honestbadminton is not their game!) They arethe current holders of the DevonshireCup (for band), having now won thetrophy for two years running. They arealso the current double drill champions,for the past 3 years, once againretaining the traditional and mixed drillsquads, ably assisted by the girls of 2ndUxbridge GB. They have showcasedtheir skills at Beating Retreat at ChelseaHospital, where the boys also formedpart of The West London Bugle Bandand Massed London Bugle Band. Beingmembers of the massed bands hasmeant great opportunities for the boys,including participation in the LordMayor’s Show, Duxford Air Show and in2003 a tour of Holland to name but afew! The Anchors and Juniors, althoughfewer in number are not to be outdoneby their older counterparts. The Juniorstake figure marching very seriously andalthough technically too few in numberto participate, they still showed the restof the Battalion how it should be done!The Anchors enjoy water andenthusiastically take part in the annualbattalion swimming gala.Camp 1st Hillingdon style began in1975 and hasn’t changed much! Thetoilet tents still fall down, the water iscold and trenches may still have to bedug if the weather is wet! But the boyslove it! This year’s camp was noexception with a week in sunnySwanage, with the only difference beingthat the whole company came together,with the Anchors and Junior sectionsjoining the Company to celebrate the70th Anniversary.Other annual events for the companyinclude Firm Foundations andRemembrance Sunday Parades. At FirmFoundations the boys are joined by thegirls from our sister company 1stHillingdon GB and once again the girlsfrom 2nd Uxbridge GB. RemembranceSunday sees the band leading both theBB and GB companies in a processionalong the Uxbridge Road accompaniedby the men and women of theHillingdon Royal British Legion. (Andthis year the fire engine from theHillingdon Fire Station!)Our crowning glory this year is theachievement of our five seniors. Notonly are the boys dedicated, loyal andhardworking (and they have a sense ofhumour!), they have all achieved theirQueen’s Badge! However not contentwith that all five have gone on toundertake their Duke of EdinburghSilver Award as well as taking their A’levels. They are a fantastic group oflads with a very strong bond and thewhole company is proud of them!So what does the future hold for 1stHillingdon BB? Numbers are beginningto increase again although the Anchorand Junior Sections are still quite small.The officers are still dedicated and theboys enthusiastic! This year willprobably see another 24 hoursponsored event of some kind, as theminibus is beginning to feel its years.(Will it be table tennis, volley ball oranother walk from West Drayton toLittlehampton?)This year we celebrate our 70thAnniversary with a reunion bringingtogether as many of the ex-members ofthe company as we can contact, achance to reminisce, but also a chanceto look to the future. The company willkeep its traditions that have led to itssuccess, but will continue to embracenew initiatives to keep the companyyoung and buoyant.page 86 • VOLUME 112 No. 4 • October 2004