Founder’s Day parade by BB
Great turnout in Tillicoultry for special church service
Members of the Boys’ Brigade were out in force for an annual event at the weekend.
On Sunday (April 24), 350 boys, young men and leaders from around Stirling & District Battalion descended on Tillicoultry for Founder’s Day Church Parade.
The event, which sees all members meet to give thanks for the organisation and its founder, Sir William Alexander Smith, began with a parade along main street, led by the 30-strong band of 25th Stirling (Dunblane) Boys’ Brigade. Parents, friends and supporters showed their support on the street, enjoying the music and the spectacle as a healthy turnout of BB members marched past.
An interactive service took place at Tillicoultry Parish Church, led by the local minister, Reverend Alison Britchfield, who spoke of her time as a padre on the navy ship HMS Invincible, Rev Lynne Mack, chaplain to the battalion, and Alan Hunter, session clerk of the church as well as training and development officer for the BB in Scotland.
Invited guests present included former Provost of Stirling, and now Honorary Vice-President of Stirling & District Battalion, Colin O’Brien, and former MSP for the area, Keith Brown, as well as BB UK & Ireland Vice-President Alistair Burrow.
All three spoke of their delight at seeing such healthy numbers in the BB and their hope that even more boys – and adults – would get involved in the future. They took the salute as the parade marched past after some refreshments following the service.
For more information about the Boys’ Brigade in Stirling & Clackmannanshire, please see www.stirlingbb.org.uk or facebook.com/stirlingclacksbb. Call 01786 821387.