BB Notes: Money makes the (BB) world go round

Fortunately unlike other ‘‘professionally run’’ organisations and clubs, all BB officers and helpers, despite their thorough training, are volunteers who give of their time and talent free of charge, so help keep costs down. Recently the Battalion ‘‘TurnaBBouT’’ event which costs over £1000 each year, again cleared its feet thanks to sponsorship from the Church of Scotland and the Co-operative Society. Similarly sponsorship is being sought to meet the costs of the Battalion hosting the national five-a-side football competition to make the experience for visiting teams as enjoyable as possible. One fundraiser I hear from regularly is 3rd Falkirk (Peoples’ Church) which had their sponsored Munro climb on March 19 when 21 members of the Company Section scaled 3231 foot Ben Vorlich in Perthshire and 27 Juniors climbed to the top of Dumyat in the Ochils. The weather was kind and the enjoyment of the day is reflected in the photographs on their website. Such funding helps support their recent innovation of a monthly seniors night activity programme which they hope to combine with the BB Challenge Plus badge programme to help retain enthusiasm in the BB for that older age group. Their proposed weekend away to Scott Lodge in March, cancelled due to weather damage on that site, now looks to be going ahead in September.

The omission of the name of the former Battalion president, honoured by Grangemouth Rotary Club, reported in this column two weeks ago, has caused some intrigue. (Perhaps it should be done more often to see the outcome on buying the next Falkirk Herald?). It is of course our current Hon. President, who as well as being a cross country champion is also a BB Queensman, the highest BB award, which he wears proudly as his kilt-pin. Who? Oh yes it is the Rev. Colin Mailer!