BOYS’ BRIGADE NEWS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13309, 8 April 1941, Page 2

BOYS’ BRIGADE NEWS

MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND This interesting description of a practical piece of co-operation between 8.8. and education authorities, was contained in a recent issue of the Boys’ Brigade Gazette: “The Ist St. Margarets Company is a by-product ■of the war, and when the gala day of peace comes its operations will cease, though its influence may continue and reach far forward into time and space. The original government intention —how long ago it seems —was that camps should be set up in country districts to which complete schools — boys and masters—should be sent from crowded urban districts for refreshers of a month or more in the summer. The scheme had not been put into operation when war came, confounding so many of the best-laid schemes of mice and men. One of the first camps to be ready for occupation was near the small Hertfordshire village of Great Gaddesden. The premises are not unlike an army hut camp, set amid “fresh woods and pastures new.”

To this camp was sent, not an established school, but a staff who had never met before and nearly 200 boys from 130 separate schools in Fulham and Stepney, Rotherhithe and Islington and many another London borough—a school in name, but without tradition or esprit de corps. The task of welding such a mass into a living community was hard, but on the testimony of the headmaster, the 8.8. has helped to solve it. One of the masters who had had experience as a 8.8. Officer was placed in charge of the enterprise which has resulted in a live Company of seventy keen boys. Most of the senior boys have joined, leaving many others eagerly awaiting the magic age of twelve. The normal activities of drill, physical training and gymnastics, first aid work and signalling were carried on in the open during the summer, when school work occupied the morning and evening hours. In the winter training is not so easy, as Indoor accommodation is limited, and 8.8. activities have to be carried on by half the Company at a time, whilst the remainder occupy themselves with club games. The long evenings have also been responsible for a new activity with dramatic possibilities, which Officers familiar with a certain famous Battalion camp will appreciate when they remember the antics of the Captain of the new Company as O.C. sing-songs. The boys prepare songs and sketches for presentation to the school on half holiday evenings; such performances being* popular and not without educational value. » ...

A bugle band has been started and proudly heads the march to the village church on Sundays, arousing the admiration of the villagers, young and old.

The Company Bible Class is held on Sunday evenings and, as always, is an inspiration to Officers and Boys alike.. Boys who come from homes in which religion has not the place it should have are, finding something new and precious in these services, and some to whom prayer formerly was without meaning are forming the habit of daily spending a few moments on their knees. The boys are quartered in dormitories, thirty to forty in each, and these compete on 8.8. camp lines for the inevitable cup. The London Secretary on a recent visit found a good turnout, great keenness and a high standard of steadiness. The boys are of their Company and proud of their school, and their school and their village are proud of them.

The 'Officers are finding a friendship and response not always given to schoolmasters. This war-tTme experiment is clearly proving its worth by giving Boys, away from home, activities and interests for which they yearn, and its influence is being felt by the school and we believe will leave its impression on the boys. When the war is over and the cstmp 'reverts to its original use, the present boys will return to their homes 8.8. enthusiasts, and their aid will be invaluable in rebuilding many a Company in London’s forlorn and desolate regions.”