BOYS' BRIGADE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 70, 20 September 1937, Page 16

BOYS' BRIGADE NOTES

(By "Skipper.")

A very interesting evening was spent at the Buckle Street Drill Hall on Saturday, August 21, when the inter-com-pany competitions were held in three branches of Boys' Brigade work. It was unfortunate for the spectators that the competitions had to be carried out simultaneously in separate parts of the building but arrangements were made for them to have a good view of the drill competition, which was in fact the most important. Four companies took part, each being put through the same movements by their own officers, under the eye of the judge, Mr. G. Lyon, Battalion Visiting Officer. The drill was generally of a high order and the result, which was very close, placed 3rd Wellington (Brooklyn Baptist Company) first and Ist Wellington (Miramar Baptist) second. Mr. Dutton, Wellington Division Officer, of the St. J.ohn Ambulance, who won a Boys' Brigade Ambulance Badge some 40 years ago, judged the Ambulance competition in applying first aid. The 3rd Wellington were again the winners, second place being taken by the 2nd Wellington Company (Mornington Baptist).

Two competitions -in signalling were held. In addition to the usual Morse flag competition for the Battalion Cup there was also a semaphore competition. The cup was won by the 3rd Wellington and the semaphore by the 2nd Wellington, and second place in both competitions was taken by the 4th Wellington (Miramar. Methodist) Company.

Before the King-.

In the "presence of the King and Queen thousands of boys and girls and young men and women took part in the Youth Festival at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, July 3.

The Boys' Brigade, as the first of all the organisations for boys, led the march past at the opening of the festival, when, to the music of the massed bands of the Brigade of Guards, some 1500 young people passed before the King.

Then followed the physical training display, when some 800 London boys filled its great arena in a demonstration of the high standard of physical fitness which has always been a feature of the Boys' Brigade.

'It was a proud day for the youth of Scotland when 30,000 boys and girls from all the youth organisations (including 6000 representatives of the Boys' Brigade) gave the King and Queen a tumultuous welcome at the Youth Rally in Edinburgh.

The programme was brought to a conclusion by the 8.8. physical training display. The King's Colour with a picked escort, of 8.8. boys then advanced in slow time across the field to the music of a B.B..pipe band, and, halting before the Royal Box, dipped the Colour in salute. It was an impressive finish to a momentous occasion. '

"Totof."

At. the famous camp of the Brighton and. Hove Battalion at Glynde Park, this strange word appears in large letters at the end of the mess tent. Its meaning? . . . "Think of the other fellow." And there, without any doubt, lies the secret of a truly happy week for all of us wherever we may be camping. Selfishness must always be kept well outside the gate of a 8.8. camp, but when it does creep in and you hear a forgetful chap yell "My turn first." just say "Totof" —it's a magic word! , j

The 8.8. in Summer

There is no "close season" in the Boys' Brigade until after camp. ■ The call of summer is the call of the open, a wonderful call for boys, and.one of which the 8.8. takes full advantage. In the summer programme of a 8.8. company, ■ boys of every type will find some activity that will appeal to them—cricket, athletics, outdoor signalling, cycling, and wayfaring, which includes rambling, nature study, mapreading, and compass work. And then. of course, there is camp, the peak of the summer session and, in fact, of the whole 8.8. year.

8.8. Week.

During the annual collecting week this year over £430 was raised throughout the Dominion. The 8.8. does not believe in house-to-house collecting, I but depends for its maintenance and I extension . upon the generosity of the parents and friends of the boys and the officers; and the feat is therefore very creditable. Last year, a record collection amounted to £338. The Wellington Battalion collected £58 I.Bs lOd, the Southland Battalion collected nearly £125. Other districts did well. One boy in Invercargill himself raised over £16. In addition to the financial benefit, 8.8. Week affords an oppoi--tunity far the boys of the Brigade to undertake and carry through a definite piece of service on behalf of their movement, and the fact that the Brigade has for some time been self-sup-porting in the Dominion speaks volumes for their loyalty and devotion.