THE
April 2009
No 50
Brigade
Magazine of The Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade
The order from the Bridge? Full steam ahead! ell as much steam as we can achieve
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anyway!
In the latest round of Government funding we were awarded a DCSF grant for the two years 2009/10 and 2010/11 for our ‘Bridge’ project. Whilst it is about a third of what we applied for, it is nonetheless welcome and gratefully received. It will enable us to fund development of new Companies in areas of greatest need – the grant isn’t for core costs. In an ideal world and as the grants were
restricted to England, we would have put a Development Worker in each of the English Government Office Regions. However, the funding will allow us to field three part-time Development Workers, one each for the NorthEast and the NorthWest and for the equivalent of two days per week per Region, and one, for three days per week, to cover the Midlands and the South. A real challenge but also a real opportunity.
established in the last few months without Development Workers, so with them, we are looking towards real GROWTH!
We have seen a few new Companies
There’s further information inside.
Our aim is to develop new Brigade Companies in areas not otherwise served by children’s and youth work opportunities, in areas of real social need and with local support from other existing Brigade groupings; hence the choice of deployments.
Members of the new Company at Tintwistle, Derbyshire which is in the Diocese of Chester but is afiliated to Tameside Battalion.
A Company Limited by Guarantee No 1395966 Registered Charity No 276821 Incorporating the LINK Magazine
THE MARTINS
THE
A pictorial overview of the Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade events, awards, presentations and communitybased activities
Brigade
Is it my turn now?
5 - 7 YEARS THE Y TEAM
7 - 10 YEARS
Snow arrives at NHQ Whoopee - well some of the staff thought so!!!
THE JTC
10 - 13 YEARS THE SENIORS
13 - 21 YEARS 2
Mum it’s tight enough!!!
HERE & THERE John Duffy celebrating his 60th Birthday at a Brigade Training day in Manchester.
Medals galore at Butlins.
The Sky’s the limit - St Mary’s Beverely aim high!
Members of the Martins and YTeam sections at St John’s Great Sutton HRH The Duke of Edinburgh chatting to a member of St. Celebrating 30 years as a Company. Mary’s Beverley Band during the Queen’s visit to Hull .
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Governor's Message t is with great interest that I received the news that the Brigade’s Championship Band, St Mary’s Beverley Company, has been asked to perform when our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, visits Hull in March. Later the same day, two members of the band will go to hospital together for the giving and receiving of a kidney!
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attending on Valentine’s Day evening and could have been forgiven if they had found reason to be elsewhere. There were small and large bands and one Company fielded its Senior and Junior Bands. Also typical of the Brigade, this was not a competition, but judging took place and
I was in attendance as Governor at the Manchester Bands’ night. As ever (in previous years I have attended in my casual uniform to help out behind the scenes) the enthusiasm and sheer enjoyment and pride that our members demonstrate ensured a most enjoyable evening
I wish them well for both events of their special and demanding day. Yet it strikes me that this is just absolutely typical of the Brigade and its leaders. They put their Band, its performance and members and, of course, performing for their Patron, before having a kidney transplant! That’s just how much bands mean in the life of the Brigade St Mary’s Band Beverley. and just how dedicated our Leaders are. for the appreciative audience; who were On another ‘band note’,
feedback was given. Certificates of
participation were presented and a prize was awarded, not for the best band of the night but for the most improved band performing on the night. Well done to all concerned! As 2009 is now well underway I am looking forward to attending and enjoying various performances by our National Band and the Brigade Bands’ Championships in Leicester; two firsts in my new role as Governor. It’s such a great pity that the cost of transport keeps many other good and great bands from joining in the Championships, and also prevents individuals from joining the National Band. Those who do manage to join in derive such obvious pleasure and show great pride in participation and achieve enhanced musicianship and marching skills from doing so. Please accept my best wishes for a very happy Easter and continued success in your Brigade Companies. Pamela J Corbishley, Governor.
Christ Church Band Ashton under Lyne.
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The Brigade Secretary's Message s I am sat writing this message, it is approaching dusk but I can still see the white and yellow crocus flowering in the lawn (Ancient Moat Site!) and the snowdrops at the entrance to Brigade NHQ. Yet it’s only just over a week since I was battling against being snowed in at home and at Brigade NHQ!
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I am thus reminded of our new Governor’s words at the Brigade’s Annual General Meeting this year, recounting not just the difficulties that we have been experiencing but also the positive features that are affecting the Brigade: “............. each time the autumn leaves fall and die it indicates that, after the bleakness of winter, new shoots of life will become visible again, to grow tall and strong. If we were to dwell on the negative and not build on the positive, we would not be worthy of or equal to our forebears, who brought this great organisation into existence, or the subsequent generations of officers and leaders who served it so well and from whom we have inherited custodianship of the Brigade and who would expect us to serve it well; as will the current generation of leaders and members that we serve. The Brigade is great, is still relevant and it still does great work, enriching so many young lives and
communities.
would happen and it hasn’t yet. The reasons cited were the very ones causing them to handover their instruments and uniforms, a lack of storage space, even when there is a suitable meeting place. In times past, Churches had their own Church Hall, or Church School or Parish
Yes there are challenges facing us. We must be up to the challenges. We must make and take opportunities. We mustn’t give up at the first or the twentieth difficulty that besets us.” Just this morning Martin Lambourne and I
Room or a combination of these or all three, and with additional storage. It’s the same cry as with visiting modern houses and new developments, ‘where’s the storage’? That’s something that will doubtless exercise all those wanting to start up new Companies, a suitable venue and adequate storage.
rendezvoused at St John’s Church Adlington, Lancashire, to collect some band instruments and uniforms no longer needed by the Church, as their Brigade Company closed in 1996. The former leaders recounted to me the problems that any successors will face if they want to restart a Brigade Company there, and it had been hoped since 1996 that this
I am delighted to report that we were successful in the recent application round for Government
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grants. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has awarded the Brigade £75,000 per annum for 2009/10 and 2010/11 to enable us to employ some additional staff, to develop new Brigade Companies. Whilst this is about a third of what I applied for, it is nonetheless helpful and appreciated and we have just received approval as to our modified project submission and budget, and are hoping to be able to get the project off the ground by 1st April 2009! It was interesting to note that we were the only uniformed youth organisation in the list of successful applicants and another, knowledgeable, observer commented that we were the only Christian group to have been awarded a grant. Our intention is to employ three part-time Development Workers, who will identify communities in deprived areas, which do not have any other form of youth and children’s organisation or provision, and to seek to establish Brigade groups in such localities and where local leadership can be
The Brigade Secretary’s Report continued from page 5
identified. We need to recruit two Development Workers, for the equivalent of two days a week in both the NorthEast and North-West Regions and one for three days equivalence per week for the Midlands and South, including London. Quite a tall order and a challenge but that seems the best way to use what we have been offered and accepted. The money can only be used for this project, it cannot be used for mainstream operational and running costs for the Brigade, and so fundraising for that still goes on. We are preparing to advertise nationally, openly and within the Brigade, to recruit suitably skilled, knowledgeable and enthusiastic Development Workers.
Unfortunately, our Officers’ and Leaders’ Conference had to be postponed, as there were insufficient bookings by the point at which we would have needed to pay a 50% cancellation fee, if we went any further. When the Governor told a meeting she was attending of this decision, she discovered several Leaders were intent on attending but had not yet submitted their forms to NHQ! Where have we heard that one before? We are continuing to hold discussions with two Christian charities that both want to acquire our Headquarters buildings and site and are seeking to achieve the finance to enable them to do so and with some degree
of optimism that they may be able to achieve the funds. A subcommittee of Brigade Council is being convened to look at the future of the Brigade and what actions need to be taken to achieve the desired outcomes. It will report back with its recommendations in June 2009. I am advised that this year’s Butlins was well attended and very enjoyable, with good weather and great friendship. When I enquired who had ferried any sports’ casualties to hospital, I was told that it had been unnecessary and that I was obviously a jinx on the event, as when I attended it experienced lashing gales, freezing
temperatures and I spent the Saturday afternoon ferrying casualties from the Unihoc tournament to and from hospital! Alan Millward, Brigade Secretary.
Stop Press
Johnny Conn, of the Brigade’s Historical Group, has had a 5 page illustrated article printed in the April 2009 issue of the popular magazine Practical Family History (ISSN 1367-1661) priced at £3.75 and widely available through major newsagents. The article shows the origins of and links between Church Scouts and the Brigade.
Musical Instrument Loan Scheme rigade Headquarters has been actively engaged in
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gathering in redundant instruments from closed and current Brigade Companies with surplus and redundant items. We currently have a range of marching drums (side drums, mostly snare drums; tenor
drums; bass drums) a limited range of bugles (valve less trumpet style), cornets, bell lyres, glockenspiels, cymbals and maces. Conditions of the instruments vary from being excellent to worn but playable. In some instances we have matched sets of drums and suitable accessories, e.g. drum slings, sticks, carrying harnesses, dress cords, etc. These instruments are available on a three6
monthly renewable (unless wanted elsewhere) loan basis and are intended to help new Companies to establish bands, whilst they achieve sufficient funding for their own instruments. However, existing Companies wanting additional instruments are also eligible to borrow instruments on the same terms. All enquiries should be addressed to the Brigade Secretary at NHQ.
Uniforms quantity of uniform items have been brought to NHQ from recently closed Companies. These are mostly used uniform items, mostly ‘new style’ uniform but with some older style items and
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some are ‘new’ (never issued) but dusty through storage. There are varying sizes of shirts, blouses, skirts, trousers, caps and hats, belts and colours of ties. Conditions vary but they are available to Companies where there
is a need for uniform items and where families find it difficult to meet the cost of new items. Most items of clothing will be free or for a suitable donation but costs of postage and package must be met by the Company
concerned.
Further Band weekends have been arranged for September 18th, October 23rd, December 4th 2009, January 29th, 26th February, 30th April, 18th June 2010 and all are at Smallwood Manor Preparatory School, Uttoxeter. As part of the Brigade’s Bands’ Competition, the National Band will be in performance at Alumwell School, Walsall on Saturday, 16th May 2009 and from 1st to 9th August 2009 the National Band’s Summer Tour will take place in the Moselle Valley,
Germany. For any further details, including how to join the National Band or to get input into the work of your own Company or Formation Band, see the website. National Band Personnel: Commanding Officer: Alison Macefield; Adjutant: Sue Hedges; Band Chaplain: Father David Arnold; Principal Band Master: Paul Roberts; Bandmaster: Natalie Adcock BA(Hons), MMus, PGCE; Senior Warrant: Martyn Hall BA(Hons), PGCE; Principal Musician: Sarah Lowe
BA(Hons), PGCE. Music Tutors: Drum Major: John Dines; Wind Tutor: Thomas McClure BA(Hons), PGCE; Drum Tutors; Kelly Brown and Scott Ramsbottom; Bugle Major: Stuart Squires BSc(Hons); Mixed Percussion: Michael McKenna BA(Hons), PGCE; Mallets (Tuned Percussion): Sam Barker BSc(Hons), PGCE. Auxiliary Staff: Officer in Charge of Lads: Simon Eshborn; Officer in Charge of Girls: Sam Barker BSc(Hons), PGCE; Head of Logistics Staff: Mrs. A. Burton.
If you are interested in any particular items or want further information, please contact the Brigade Secretary at NHQ.
National Band he Brigade’s National Band has recently established its own website: nationalband.org.uk The National Band is holding one of its Training and Activity weekends over 28th and 29th March 2009 at Smallwood Manor Preparatory School, Uttoxeter and will be performing at the National Memorial Arboretum, site of the Brigade’s own Memorial Garden on Saturday, 28th March 2009 at 2.15pm approx. As part of their Band Weekend on 2nd to 4th May 2009, the National Band will be in Concert at William Bradford Community College at Earl Shilton on 2nd May 2009 (tickets available via the Band’s website). The Band will also be performing at Marchington Summer Fair on Saturday, 27th June 2009 during their Band weekend 27th and 28th June 2009.
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Alison Macefield Commanding Officer of the National Band writes ell we are half way through the Band’s year and find ourselves busy and in unchartered water for the National Band! By this I mean that we are holding this year’s concert on a Saturday, putting ourselves under pressure to arrive, rehearse and perform all within a few hours! All I can say is it seemed like a good idea at the time – which was last August!! For non-members of National Band, who are unaware that we have a prize presentation evening and a celebration night at Christmas, it has been suggested that we announce the winners in the magazine as we do with the national sports. The awards are given out to the best and improved in each section, overall best lad and girl and then a series of leadership trophies are given to those who have demonstrated above and beyond the required elements. Many
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of the trophies have been given to the Band from past members, such as the Wendy Brumpton trophy. On leaving the Band 20plus years ago, Wendy donated the trophy to be awarded to someone who had continued to attend Band (and Brigade) against adversity. The award nominations are from the Band section leaders. I do get to choose some winners and Paul Roberts decides the best section for the year, which isn’t always a musical section. This year it was awarded to the men and ladies of the domestic variety, without them the Band could not function. Our staff may have their children in the Band presently or have had them in the past. As our premises are so very different to the original Darlaston Community school, as soon as our staff arrive they are out into Uttoxeter buying the food for the day, others
bring produce with them so they start the cooking but it is non-stop and the Band is grateful for the great food and the fun – the staff will not be left out of any games or competitions!! As we are now about to attend the March weekend it is my intention next year to get the winners to the magazine for you all to see. The March weekend brings for the Band a long overdue visit to the National Memorial Arboretum. We shall spend a few hours there and play – of course!! We embark on a trip to Germany this year, we have not been for several years and it will be great to be away making music in such beautiful surroundings. It gives me great pleasure to announce the arrival of www.nationalband.org. It is the hard work and complete dedication of several of our members, who thankfully had too
much time on their hands at the last half-term. Please take a look and enjoy! Please sign the guestbook. National Band like other areas of Brigade is short of members and we would like to remind you that, as long as you are a member of the Brigade, you can be a member of National Band, with permission of your CO – you do not have to have a Company Band. If you or anyone including the CO or Bandmaster would like to join us on our training weekends please contact either Sue Hedges or myself. This year we have found being busy for us is great but makes accepting visitors difficult, but I am sure we can find a way! Alison Macefield. Commanding Officer Alibongo36@yahoo.co.uk
Sue Hedges. Adjutant bunchesrule@hotmail.co.uk
Out Royal Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, visits Hull by Glen Redhead
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n arriving in Hull on the Royal Train the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were met by the sound of the Beverley St Mary’s Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade Band who had been invited to play on the platform, after leaving the Train the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stopped and spoke first to the CO and Band Leader Glen Redhead and
then continued to speak freely to members of the Band. The weather was
perfect with the sun shining onto the platform as she made her way out of the station to start
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her tour of Hull. All those who took part enjoyed this Royal
Occasion.
VC Roll of Honour ince I rejoined the Brigade as Brigade Secretary, I have been amazed that we do not have a memorial anywhere as to the 22 VC recipients who were members of the Church Lads’ Brigade. After all, the Victoria Cross is Britain’s highest award for gallantry that can be awarded to military personnel. (I am also told that the Guinness Book of Records shows that CLB is second only to Eton College for the largest number of Victoria Crosses awarded to its former members.) In time for last year’s Remembrance Service the Brigade’s Hon Archivist, Rob Bolton furnished me with a list of the names, CLB Companies and military formations of
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our VC recipients. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the 22 was not a ‘total’ count! There are two VCs where local knowledge tells us that the VC recipient was indeed in the local Brigade Company (as in the case of Joseph Lister and St Elizabeth’s Reddish, Manchester) but local Brigade records for the time are not available to us; and there were four holders of the VC who later joined the Brigade and these aren’t counted. Hence, I decided that after some 90 years it was about time that we had a tangible record and memorial at NHQ to our Brigade VC holders and this was achieved as a Roll of Honour in time for this year’s Annual General Meeting on 31st January 2009 when, appropriately enough, our Brigade Chaplain, Bishop Jack was able to be with us and all of the Brigade’s leadership was at liberty to attend. The Roll of Honour was dedicated by Bishop Jack prior to the Annual General Meeting commencing.
Bishop Jack dedicating the VC Roll of Honour.
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Nativity by Paul Matthews
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e’ve a new vicar, so time for a new start and a ‌‌..new stitch up! We were asked to do the Nativity play for the family service “YIKESâ€?; I’ve never done any drama! Where do I start? I asked friends and the local Sunday school and nursery school teachers but after a fruitless search I tried the computer, thank goodness for the internet!!
I then announced to the St Crispin’s Company that we were doing a Nativity play. It was a bit disappointing to hear some of the kids say “I’m at my Dad’s� or “we’re away� but we started casting. Betty from the church helped Margaret and Janet with the costumes, Gill and Donna started practicing drum and bell tunes with the appropriate kids, while I and Oliver (a very helpful Duke of Edinburgh participant)
started with the rehearsals.
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What a roller coaster ride, with good and bad nights, nights when I was ready to throw in the towel and nights when I came away glowing with pride at what the members had achieved. As we got closer to the Sunday it was really encouraging to have some of those “I’m at my Dad’s� and “we’re away� kids ask to be a part of the Nativity! As it turned out, Sunday 14th December was terrific, a great achievement. The performance went superbly with the members giving their all. A big humongous thank you to all our young members of St Crispin’s CLCGB of whom I have the privilege of being Commanding Officer. Also a big thank you to all my staff and church members, who helped make this a very special performance. Finally a special thank you to our new vicar Arthur Deegan for (stitching me up) and laying down a challenge that I think we met and dealt with superbly.
Prayer
God of Good Friday, Whose Son, Jesus Christ, gave His life for our salvation, Help us to keep our promise to be His faithful soldiers and servants to the end of our lives. God of Easter Sunday, Who raised Jesus Christ to life again to give us hope in believing; Help us to live our faith in all we do, knowing we serve a Living God who walks beside us every day. God of Pentecost, Who sent the Holy Spirit to empower your church to turn the world upside down, Give us the strength to persevere in changing the world for the better that your kingdom may come on earth as in Heaven. Amen
New Expedition Assessor Team The DofE is now accrediting assessors for all three levels of the Award. To enable the Brigade to maintain its ability to offer assessors for Brigade Companies, we have begun a process of training for all our leaders who wish to be accredited. The process has begun in the North West where we now have three Assessor Supervisors (including our National Training
Officer) who can supervise new assessors as they assess practice or actual expeditions at Bronze, Silver and Gold. Ten other leaders are also progressing towards their accreditation as assessors.
scheme, please let Martin Lambourne know at NHQ. We will shortly provide all Companies with
details of the Assessor Team who are available to assess your expeditions.
We can also run the induction days and training days required, so if any other regions wish to become engaged in this Sam Bennie (Centre), National DofE Officer, with new Brigade Assessors on the Manchester Training day in February.
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THE
results
Brigade
National Competitions UNIHOC AT BUTLINS
Y Team
Senior Girls
1st 2nd 3rd
1st 2nd 3rd
Manchester Durham Peterborough
Veteran Lads
JTC 1st 2nd 3rd
1st=
Oldham/Durham Peterborough Girls Peterborough Boys
3rd=
Senior Lads 1st 2nd 3rd
Longridge Durham Manchester
Durham Peterborough B Peterborough A Oldham
Veteran Girls
Durham A Oldham Durham B
1st 2nd
Durham Oldham
Congratulations to all who took part. What a great weekend it was.
Designed and Published by The Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade, 2 Barnsley Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, S63 6PY Registered Charity No 276821 Telephone (01709) 876535 - Fax (01709) 878089 - e-mail: Brigadesecretary@clcgb.org.uk - web site: http://www.clcgb.org.uk Printed by Dearne Valley Printers, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham
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