Celebrating 125 years of the Boys’ Brigade in Dumbarton

Sep 26 2008 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

MEMBERS of one of Dumbarton’s oldest youth organisations will celebrate a special anniversary.

The 1st/2nd Dumbarton Boys’ Brigade will mark the movement’s 125th anniversary with a service of celebration on Sunday, October 5, at Riverside Parish Church, at 11.15am.

And the company hopes that many people who have been involved with the organisation over the years will join them for the event which will be followed by a lunch.

The Boys' Brigade was founded in Glasgow on October 4, 1883, by Sir William Alexander Smith.

It was three years later that the 1st Dumbarton Company was formed, being joined less than a year later by 2nd Dumbarton which gave them the distinction of being the senior youth organisation in the town.

At the start of 1890, the 1st and 2nd Dumbarton companies held a public meeting, with a view to interesting the town’s other churches and Sunday Schools in the work of the brigade.

William Smith himself was the inspecting officer and said he hoped the next time he came to Dumbarton there would be six companies.

Although that never happened, the town did have five companies by 1908, but only for two years with the 4th and 5th companies folding.

Company captain Alan Prior explained how the organisation had moved with the times to meet the needs and aspirations of young people.

He said: “We recognise that the influences surrounding our young people are not always helpful and that too many lose control at great cost to themselves, their families and the community.

“The answer is to catch the energy and enthusiasm of youth and to channel it purposefully.

“The Boys' Brigade provides a balanced programme of activities for young people from five to 18 years old.

“We hope that through these programmes, we will be able to make a positive contribution to a young person's life and be able to share their faith. We are always moving forward to hopefully give the boys what they need.”

During its anniversary year the brigade will be raising money for the Association of Children's Hospices, and working on a new community badge.

Alan added: “We are looking forward to our year of celebration, and whilst we have plenty to look back on, the main aim is to look forward and see what we can bring to a new generation of boys and hopefully another 125 years of serving the youth in our area.”

The Dumbarton company’s celebration begins with a parade at 10.45am from Risk Street car park along High Street to the church.

All ex-brigaders and officers are welcome to join the parade, which gathers in the car park at 10.30am.