Brigade’s Queen’s Men receive their certificates
Boys’Brigade members from Dunblane and Clackmannan were among those presented with their Queen’s Badge, the highest award in the organisation, at a parade and ceremony recently.
Marching through Carnoustie at the Mid-Scottish District Parade were 15 new Queen’s Men from Stirling and District’s companies, who then attended a service at Carnoustie Panmure Church where they were given their certificates by the Lord Lieutenant of Angus Georgina Osborne .
The Queen’s Badge represents the culmination of many years’work in the Boys’Brigade. Having first gained their President’s Badge during P7-S3, boys then embark on an independent programme of skills development, volunteering, service to the BB or church, physical activity and outdoor expeditions.
On average, each of the 72 BB members gaining the Queen’s Badge in the Mid-Scottish area had completed at least 80 hours’of service to the community in gaining the award.
Collectively, if their volunteering had been completed by a paid youth worker, it would have been at a cost of £60,000.
Boys also attend two residential courses to gain the award, as well as regular consultations with their adviser.
Queen’s Badge adviser for Stirling and District Battalion, Ian Brown, said:“It’s been a privilege to watch the development of 23 young men from our local companies. They have given so much time and commitment not just to the award but to others. We are very pleased that so many BB boys want to work for the award in 2018, which perhaps recognises the huge value it will have in aiding their future education or employment prospects.”
Fraser Boyd, officer in charge of Company Section at 25th Stirling (Dunblane), which had 13 boys presented on Sunday alone, added:“To have one or two boys presented with the highest award in the organisation is a source of great pride for any BB company, but we’re particularly honoured this year to see a fantastic group of 16 boys from Dunblane alone achieve the Queen’s Badge. We’re incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work they’ve shown over the past few years and know it will stand them in good stead for the future.”
The Queen’s Badge and President’s Badge is part of the programme on offer in seven companies in the area: Alloa, Bridge of Allan, Clackmannan, Dunblane, St Ninians, Stirling and Tillicoultry. Meetings will re-start soon after the summer holidays. For more information, call 01786 821387 or see facebook.com/stilringclacksbb.