Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
BOYS GIVEN TOP MARKS
Monklands’ BB members presented with highest award
Monklands members of the Boys’ Brigade celebrated a crowning achievement as they were presented with the organisation’s highest award.
A total of 22 young men from the Airdrie, Coatbridge and district battalion received the prestigious Queen’s Badge at the movement’s Lanarkshire District Fellowship presentation evening.
Candidates work towards the honour over two years, completing challenges including at least 60 hours of volunteering in both the church and community, plus physical training, developing an interest, undertaking an expedition and attending two residential courses.
Queen’ s Badges were awarded to 1st Coatbridge members Graham Arbuckle, Robert Ballantyne, Alistair Peat, Ewan Ross, David Stewart, Scott Thomson; Lewis Gibson and James Reid of 7th Coatbridge, Aaron Melrose of 10th Coatbridge and Scott Anderson of 15th Coatbridge.
Also presented with the prestigious honour were 3rd Airdrie members Cameron MacDonald, Callum McDonald and Greg McPake; Scott Ballantyne and Adam Connor of 1st Airdrie; Scott Waddington of 2nd Airdrie; Craig Truesdale of 6th/7th Airdrie; and 8th Airdrie member Jonathan Higgins.
Iain Bell and Sam Shanks of 1st New Monkland also both achieved the Queen’s Badge; as did Ben Hammond and Dean McDonald of 1st Viewpark, which is included within the Airdrie, Coatbridge and district battalion.
The Monklands awardees were among 71 Lanarkshire members honoured at the ceremony in Carluke, in which the organisation’s new “Queen’s Men” paraded through the town’s streets, led by the brigade’s Wishaw and district band.
Certificates were presented by John Sharp, performing his first official engagement since becoming the new director for Scotland for the Boys’ Brigade; with officials highlighting that the award recipients’ combined volunteering amounted to nearly 6400 hours of service to the community.
Lanarkshire Fellowship chairman David Sneddon said: “All of the young men are to be warmly congratulated, and it was my privilege to share in the recognition and celebration of their achievement.
“To gain the Queen’s Badge, young people must show commitment and resilience. This event is a highlight in the Lanarkshire Boys’ Brigade calendar.”
Parade adjutant Robert Cunningham added: “Achieving the Queen’s Badge says a lot about the young men who work towards it and recognise its importance.”
For more details on local Boys’ Brigade companies, who accept members aged between five and 18, visit http:// boys- brigade. org. uk/company-finder/
It’s a privilege to share in this celebration