Details

The 130th Glasgow Company, The Boys' Brigade is based at Broomhill Church, Glasgow. The Company was formed in 1904 and recently celebrated it's centenary year. The current Captain is Scott C. Martin.

The Company's website can be visited at www.130thglasgow.co.uk

History

In 1904, the elders of the recently opened Broomhill United Free Church decided that a company should be started here so the then Minister of the Congregation, the Rev. James Henderson, secured the services of Mr D W Thomson, who was an officer in the nearby 97th Glasgow to command this new Company, and he, with Messrs Young, Macdonald and Smith as his Lieutenants, started “the work.”

Recruiting was announced around the area and an enrolment meeting was held on Tuesday 4th October 1904 (coincidentally the Brigade’s 21st birthday) and the first Parade Night was held on Friday 7th October 1904. By the end of that first session, over 20 Boys had joined the Company and on 7th December 1904, the Company was formally enrolled by the Glasgow Battalion Council as the 130th Glasgow Company.

Under Mr Thomson’s enthusiastic leadership, until he retired in 1925, the Company grew in strength and became well known in the Glasgow Battalion. In 1910 it won the Battalion “Smith Park” Challenge Shield for Drill and the team appeared in the Battalion Display that year in Hengler’s Circus.

During this early period, the Pipe Band was formed and for many years it played a leading part in the success of the Company. At first, they were only equipped with half-size Bag Pipes and it was some time before the original sets were disposed of and full-size sets were purchased.

In May 1914, the Brigade suffered the great loss of the death of its founder, Sir William Smith, and two members of the Company had the honour of forming part of the Guard of Honour at the graveside.

From the outset, camping was a very popular BB activity and, during the summer of 1922, a number of officers and Boys attended the Battalion Camp at Elie, where our then Minister, the Rev J A Turner Kennedy MA was Camp Chaplain.

In 1925, The Brigade discontinued the use of the rifle, not without opposition. Boys of that time experienced a great thrill when issued with a rifle for the first time, and how proudly it was exhibited to their families. That year, the amalgamation of the movement with the Boys’ Life Brigade and Boy Reserves saw the addition of the Cross to the well known Anchor Emblem and the start of the Life Boys for younger members.

In 1933, the Brigade celebrated its Golden Jubilee and the Boys marched all the way from Broomhill to Queen’s Park, stopping en route to allow the then Captain, Mr Willie Muir, to take the reins of the horse he was to parade on. After the celebrations, the Company marched smartly back to the church for a party.

The difficulties which arose during the two world wars did not stop the work of the Company, though the period of 1939-1945 brought problems unknown during the First Word War. Evacuation halved the Company strength overnight. It must have been a curious experience to parade with gas masks and convoy escorts had to be arranged to get the Boys home during the black-out. The evacuated half of the Company was kept in touch by letters and many of these boys joined local companies. Those at home gained the new National Service Badge acting as A.R.P. Messengers and First Aid Post Orderlies and some of our members were on duty in Clydebank following the “Blitz” in 1941. Such was the spirit of the Company that Drill and Bible Class continued and the only Parade Night missed during the war was the second night of the Clydebank Blitz. Boys also carried out fire-watching duties to protect the church.

The Company won the coveted Garroway Drill Cup of the Glasgow Battalion in the years 1942, 1943 and 1945 and, at many civic receptions of the time, Boys of the 130th were continually in demand as Colour Escorts of Guards of Honour.

Sports were always popular too and some of the Boys took part in Inter-City Rugby matches in Ireland. At Battalion Sports, our tug-of-war team managed to out-pull all others for a number of years.

In 1952, when James Cubie became Captain, the Company had only 12 Boys but when he stepped down in 1960, the Roll was over 50 Boys. As new houses were built and more families moved into the area, the Company and the Lifeboys section grew in size. The post-war “baby boom” saw the strength increase in the 1960’s and 70’s, when Watson McKinnon and Gordon Smith were Captains, to almost 70 Boys.

With the large numbers, the Company could compete against the other companies in the Partick District and the Glasgow Battalion and in the 1970’s, the Company enjoyed much success in Drill, bands, sports, swimming, table tennis and football. BB was not just a Friday evening event because, on every night of the week, there were classes in First Aid or expedition planning, band practices, badge tests and District competitions.

Encouraged by Officers who enjoyed the “great outdoors”, the Company did a lot of hill-walking, expeditions and went for week-end camps. The “Winter Expeditions” gave Boys the chance to go hill-walking in the depths of winter. They stayed in a specially opened Youth Hostel and did their own cooking and walked in some spectacular scenery.

The fellowship enjoyed by the Boys was strengthened further by the annual Ex-Members’ Reunions organised by Mr Hugh Allan and his committee. The old-Boys did not all remain in the local area and, every year, letters were sent to many countries around the world. In updating the list of Ex-Members this year, we were interested to see addresses in Canada, Australia, Bermuda and around Europe. Several former members, influenced by the Company’s example, are Ministers of the Church while many others are in the medical profession, the armed services, or serving the community in other ways.

In the mid-1970’s, the Company’s old tradition of putting on shows was developed. “Café Noir” was an evening of food and cabaret in the large hall. Gradually, the emphasis switched from the food and hospitality to the actual show and by the 1980’s, the Company was putting on a full, scripted “comedy-drama” on the stage every two years. These “starred” every Boy in the Company and many hidden dramatic and musical talents were un-earthed.

When Gordon Cubie became Captain in 1988, the Company had a very good core of Boys and were encouraged them to enter as many competitions as possible. Very soon, the Company won the District Drill Championship for the first time in many years and the District Bible Quiz, General Knowledge Quiz, Swimming Gala as well as the Table Tennis, Darts, Chess, Pool, Badminton and Sports were all won by our Boys. This resulted in the 130 being crowned as District Champions in 3 years and runners-up in another 5 years. The Boys also reached the National Final of the Masterteam Quiz on two occasions and competed in many Glasgow Battalion events with great distinction.

The Company Section of the 130th Glasgow was postponed for a year in 1998 following the retirement of Gordon Cubie. In 1999, Scott Martin accepted the invitation to become Company Captain and the 130th Glasgow was able to continue once again. One of the first decisions was to adopt the new, less formal uniform bringing the Company into the 21st century. The Company, in all sections, is now thriving and numbers are increasing despite there being fewer young families in the area these days.

By its very nature, a BB company is self-perpetuating. Boys join; grow up; they are taught things; they become adults and they join the staff to pass on their expertise to the next generation of Boys. And, so it continues. Although it has been impossible to mention everyone by name, nobody’s contribution is deemed any less important. The Company owes a deep debt of gratitude to all Officers, Leaders, Instructors, and all who, in any way, have given their time and abilities for the past hundred years for “the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom among Boys.”

External links

• 130th Glasgow Company, The Boys' Brigade
• The Boys' Brigade UK (National Website)
• The Boys' Brigade Scotland
• The Boys' Brigade, Glasgow Battalion
• The BB Directory - Boys' Brigade Around the World

See also

• Boys' Brigade
• Girls' Brigade
• The Boys' Brigade in Singapore

Non-aligned Scouting organizations | Youth organisations of Scotland