Families’ long links with local companies

A week or so ago I invited readers to let me know of BB family connections and I’m delighted to say that John put on his thinking cap and came up with his story going back to the time he was, along with his brother, Alastair, in the Life Boys at Graham’s Road Church, long since demolished. He recalls that under the command of Alex Veitch during the 50s and 60s, the Company produced future captains in the persons of Crawford Meiklejohn, Colin Mailer, Ronnie Wallace and Alaster Mochar. John’s uncle,, Thomson Stewart was also a lieutenant there and his numeracy skills, particularly at computing ross Ccountry results as they happened, has been highlighted here before. Although work commitments precluded full BB involvement beyond Company level John was frequently involved in teaching First Aid classes and invited to judge Battalion First Aid competitions. He married Mary when she was the young captain of the 1st Grangemouth Girls’ Brigade where she served for more than 50 years including two terms as Central GB Commissioner. Their son Kenneth began in the Anchor Boys at 1st Polmont (Brightons Church) where Audrey Herriot was in charge; progressing through the ranks and became a lieutenant. In turn, his daughter Louise joined 1st Grangemouth GB (Kerse/ Abbotsgrange Church) and has progressed to doing her officer training. John’s wife Mary’s brothers, Ian and Roy, served at 1st Grangemouth when John Campbell was captain; succeeded by the present incumbent and my correspondent ‘‘Boss’’ Wilson. Ian became a lieutenant and takes the Anchor Boys at 1st Polmont where Billy Rankine is captain. Ian for a few years was convenorof the Battalion Pulpit Fall competition. John also makes mention of two other families who had extended BB connections; the Mitchells at 1st Falkirk (Grahamston Church) and the Callaghans at 1st Polmont.

A week or so ago I invited readers to let me know of BB family connections and I’m delighted to say that John put on his thinking cap and came up with his story going back to the time he was, along with his brother, Alastair, in the Life Boys at Graham’s Road Church, long since demolished. He recalls that under the command of Alex Veitch during the 50s and 60s, the Company produced future captains in the persons of Crawford Meiklejohn, Colin Mailer, Ronnie Wallace and Alaster Mochar. John’s uncle,, Thomson Stewart was also a lieutenant there and his numeracy skills, particularly at computing ross Ccountry results as they happened, has been highlighted here before. Although work commitments precluded full BB involvement beyond Company level John was frequently involved in teaching First Aid classes and invited to judge Battalion First Aid competitions. He married Mary when she was the young captain of the 1st Grangemouth Girls’ Brigade where she served for more than 50 years including two terms as Central GB Commissioner. Their son Kenneth began in the Anchor Boys at 1st Polmont (Brightons Church) where Audrey Herriot was in charge; progressing through the ranks and became a lieutenant. In turn, his daughter Louise joined 1st Grangemouth GB (Kerse/ Abbotsgrange Church) and has progressed to doing her officer training. John’s wife Mary’s brothers, Ian and Roy, served at 1st Grangemouth when John Campbell was captain; succeeded by the present incumbent and my correspondent ‘‘Boss’’ Wilson. Ian became a lieutenant and takes the Anchor Boys at 1st Polmont where Billy Rankine is captain. Ian for a few years was convenorof the Battalion Pulpit Fall competition. John also makes mention of two other families who had extended BB connections; the Mitchells at 1st Falkirk (Grahamston Church) and the Callaghans at 1st Polmont.

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