Inspired by lockdown to get things done ...

Lockdown has perhaps inspired us to do things that really needed to be done anyway. Be it cleaning, reorganising or decorating, you will, I’m sure, recognise the syndrome. Dave Wilson the skipper of 1st Grangemouth Company (Abbotsgrange Church) was going through some vintage BB stuff and turned up the souvenir brochure for their Jubilee Year (1903-1953). My thanks for his letting me have sight of it. Their history related there, like most companies had its ups and downs, particularly as two world wars took their toll on staff. However they persevered and one of their fortes, which went on for a long time thereafter was their dedication to master drill movements, generation on generation, so much so by that time they had won 17 battalion drill championships. Such discipline is often reflected in the abilities of the boys in that other activities too are done well and as was the case with the boys of the then Kerse Church. So too was this fact not unnoticed by the founder, William Smith, in his belief that discipline in young lives was essential for a firm foundation for not only BB activities but also for later life in the Christian environment he promoted. I note from the brochure out of the 42 officers who had been registered over 50 years was a Dave Wilson in 1932 but, before you lose count on your fingers, it was in fact the uncle of the present skipper after whom he was named. Interesting too that part of the foreword for the booklet was written by one of the founder’s sons, Stanley Smith. Based on his long personal experience of the BB and of his father, his indication the BB would long be remembered by all the boys in whatever circumstances they found themselves their Christian dedication would stand them in good stead for later life. Perhaps only too true in our current circumstances. We will look back on this time with pride in our community involvement as he predicted.