Editor's Notes

Next year is our Centenary and I am hoping for some bumper issues. It would be wonderful if we had an article, however small just 5 or 6 lines, or photo with caption from every Company in the District; at least something from every Battalion. Summer or weekend camp, Company display, presentation of President’s or Queen’s Badge awards, an evening that was different, Christmas party, an activity that was different, just a few ideas. Write it up and send it to me as soon as possible after the event, while it is still fresh in your mind.
Please use the new email address bb-west@boys-brigade.org.uk – it was changed when David moved to St. Helena – some articles are getting lost or mislaid because they are being sent to the wrong address. David has very limited internet access and cannot download large files. The new email address comes directly to me as well, so he can delete any files that are too large without opening them.

Hilary Malpas

Explanation

Firstly Welcome to all readers, especially those who may not know who The Boys' Brigade is, especially those in America, Germany and further afield.

This website is not intended for Public use, yet, and is a test bed for new ideas whilst our online presence is refreshed.

Please feel free to continue browsing, however to find coherent information on what we're all about please visit: www-bb-west.org.uk or www.boys-brigade.org.uk Our latest news magazine can be downloaded from here.

If you would like to know more and cannot find answers online please contact us at: blog@bb-west.org.uk

Dave Malpas, Webmaster

BB- West

Please follow the link below to access the latest copy of BB-West.

http://www.bb-west.org.uk/news/1305.pdf

Dave Malpas, Assistant Editor

You can now Email news directly to the Blog

By emailing your news to this email address your post will be notified to an editor for approval and uploaded quicker that by emailing the editors directly.

Dave Malpas, Assistant Editor

Welcome to the new look BB-West.

This blog is replacing the traditional website format and the traditional paper magazine with an updated information service bringing latest news from a variety of sources direct to members and Friends of the Boys' Brigade across the West of England and Channel Islands District (and further afield)

Dave Malpas, Webmaster

Sports Report

The Company Section Sportsday was held in Yeovil on the 2nd March. Nine Companies attended, these being 2nd Bath, 2nd Camborne, 1st Cheltenham, 4thCheltenham, 5th Gloucester, 1st Redruth, 1st Tewkesbury, 1st Torquay and 1stYeovil. It was a very busy and eventful day and everyone enjoyed themselves although we finished a little late due to a few scoring issues!!! Nevertheless these problems were solved and everyone just got on with proceedings in that true Brigade fashion. Thank you to all concerned for your patience.

With lessons learnt Yeovil again hosted the Junior Section Funday on the 20thApril. Again nine Companies, 6th Bristol, 2nd Camborne, 2nd Chard, 1stCheltenham,, 5th Gloucester, 7th Gloucester, 5th Swindon, 1st Tewkesbury and 1st Torquay made the journey to compete. This proved to be a truly brilliant Brigade day with events running to time, smiles and laughter, keen but friendly competition and great fellowship between young members and leaders alike. It was nice to welcome 6th Bristol, 2nd Chard and 5th Swindon who we have not seen in District events for a while as well as catching up with the more “regular” entrants.

As Convenor I must express thanks to a few people that made these days possible. So thank you to Ian Brailey, Malcolm Godolphin, Gordon Dale, Andrew Howell and Shaun Thorne who all took leading roles and helped me immensely in the organisation and running of these events. Thank you also to the other leaders and officers that helped to referee and officiate as well as Pat Bartlett and her crew for supplying a well-stocked and well used tuck shop on both days. Thank you also to Nigel Stocker of 3rd Yeovil who organised the FREE use of Yeovil College for both competition days once again this year.

A big WELL DONE to all young people in both events to make these days such a success and also a big thank you to the leaders who made the commitment to transport their Companies from the furthest reaches of our vast District. I really hope that all that took part enjoyed themselves and whatever the outcome of the contest carried home something positive from the day. Trying something different, making new friends, working as part of a team or simply finding out something about yourself are just a few things that these events can offer. All these experiences that the BB and our District offer our members could prove instrumental in what our young people discover about themselves, strive to become and what they can ultimately achieve.

Jason Frost, Convenor 2013

Junior Section Funday Results

Football
1st 6th Bristol
2nd 1st Cheltenham A
3rd 1st Tewkesbury A


Team (9 & Under)
1st 1st Torquay
2nd 6th Bristol
3rd 1st Tewkesbury


Team (10 & Over)
1st 1st Torquay
2nd 2nd Camborne
3rd 1st Tewkesbury

A big WELL DONE to all young people in both events to make these days such a success

Jason Frost, Convenor

President’s Viewpoint

This is my last item as President.....all say Aah!......The last three years have flown by and I am looking back to see what I have done. It seems, not much. I wanted to visit every Battalion and as many companies as I could but it seems I have nowhere near succeeded. I managed companies in Gloucestershire and Cornwall, as well as several in between, but was unable to visit more than a few. I wanted to get to Guernsey and Jersey but this is a pleasure I shall have to leave for a future occasion. I wished to make our meetings a little less business like and a bit more social. I have been, I think, successful in cutting down on the reading of reports, but whether we can be more social remains to be seen. I have managed to be present at almost every competition we have run, and on the whole run very well if I may say so. If there were any landmarks in my period in office, they seem to have been negative ones -missing a meeting due to Chicken-pox (I tell you I am younger than you think!) and probably the only cancelled AGM in the history of the District! Still I am handing over to Jason who will no doubt have his own aims and I hope everyone will back him over the next three years. These include our Centenary which will involve a massive amount of work for the few dedicated souls who keep things running. Please give them your support, and consider giving a little of your time to help run this momentous event. It will be a mighty advert for the Brigade if you make it so; after all You are the District.

Ian Brailey

New Vice President

Andrew Baldwin has been appointed as a new Vice President of the District.

Sandcastles

Somerset Battalion built Sandcastles at Weston-Super-Mare