LANARKSHIRE

PHILLATELLIC SOCIETY

Friday evening, November 15, was very much a ‘Boys’ (old and young) night at the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society meeting.

Guest, Alistair Burrow, President of the Boys Brigade in Scotland, presented a magnificent Display of stamps, miniature sheets, covers, postmarks, postcards outlining the history and activities of the worldwide Boys Brigade.

He began with a postcard with a view of Pennyland House, Thurso, where, on October 27, 1854, the Founder, William A Smith, was born. On October 4, 1883, the first meeting of the 1 st Glasgow Boys’

Brigade Company was held in Glasgow – in North Woodside Mission Hall – and in 1886, the first Camp was held at Tighnabruaich. Many postcards illustrated activities in these early years.

In 1926 there was the merger with the Boys’ Life Brigade and the dummy rifles – early postcard views showed these carried by the boys – were now banned. It was in this year that Badges began to be worked for – prior to this was the Ambulance Badge (1891) and in 1908 the Bugler’s Badge – 1926 saw the introduction of the Piper’s Badge – and more badges were introduced in the following years.

The name continued with the Life Boys for the youngest boys until in 1966 they became the Junior Section.

The display continued with many covers and stamps commemorating various Anniversaries - the Golden Jubilee in 1933, Diamond in 1943. Many postcards were shown of the Jubilee Camp and Review held in Queens Park, Glasgow in 1933. The Centenary Anniversary of 1983 was celebrated with many stamps, postmarks, slogans, covers – from throughout the Commonwealth – and some beyond.

The daily activities of many camps were illustrated – morning inspection; drill; sports; swimming; camp

kitchen; in the mess; campfire – and sometimes camping in mud – when the sun refused to shine.

The Vote of Thanks was given by John Neil OBE, Past Honorary President of the Boys Brigade in Scotland.

He remarked that Alistair Burrow had given a wonderful display of the history and continuing service of the Boys Brigade.

Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday, November 29, 2019, at 7:30pm when there will be displays of postal material by ‘Paul and Ken, the “Accies Men”.

Anyone with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to attend.

More details of the Society’s programme - and much more information – can be obtained from our web site – www.lanarkshireps.co.uk