User:DavidPlanetBB

PLANET BB: The Boys' Brigade around the world

In December 2009, the Facebook group Let's Make This The Biggest Boys' Brigade Group In The World was created. Many hundreds joined within days and it has grown ever since attracting people from all over the world.

Soon the idea of a book about The Boys' Brigade came to reality. Using the contacts on Facebook, articles were penned by boys, officers, Brigade Presidents and Secretaries from over 30 countries. These articles looked at the history of the 'BB' in their country; the history of their own BB Company; fund-raising ventures from their town or City; and many other varied and interesting pieces such as The Boys' Brigade Memorial Garden at the The National Memorial Arboretum, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. Nobody was paid for anything they contributed to the book as it was decided from the outset Planet BB would be a fund-raising project to help the BB in countries where there is a desperate need for financial help.

A request for a logo design went out, and in days many had submitted finished pieces. The winning entry was from Singapore, and it can be seen on the front cover of the book.

Next was the need for a website. This was built by a boy from Sutton Coldfield, Central England who provided his services at no cost. Everything you need to know is on the Planet BB.co.uk website.

A further Facebook group Planet BB: The Boys' Brigade around the world and Facebook Page were set up to help promote the book. Many photographs and videos have since been posted on the groups, featuring many of the countries in the book. To date, membership of the 3 groups exceed 4,000.

The book was compiled & edited by David Chant, an officer from Sutton Coldfield. The first publisher approached, Brewin Books, loved it and subsequently published the title in December 2010 on its History into Print inprint. Pre-orders of many hundreds of copies came in from all around the planet, including 100 from Malaysia, and 50 copies each from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and Indonesia.

Many amazing facts have now been shared all over the globe such as that one Company in Malaysia has over 600 members! The average in the UK is more like 20.

The countries featured are: United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Borneo, Cambodia, St Lucia and The Caribbean, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Cameroon, Zambia, and India.

The are 136 pages plus an 8 page colour photo section with another 171 photos in b/w. The UK price is Price £12.95 (ISBN 978-1-85858-333-4) and can be purchased in the UK by email to bbworldwidebook@live.com or from the publisher admin@brewinbooks.com for non-UK orders.

Before the book was even published, £2000 was raised under the Planet BB banner, by holding bookstalls, home made cake sales, and charity fun runs (one BB officer raised half of this amount by running up and down mountains!) Every penny raised was sent to an orphanage, Christian Children's Centre Uganda, and the money has been used to start a poultry project, buy land, and a Christmas party for the 150 children. Now the book is published, the royalties will be sent direct to Global Fellowship for them to use on current projects.

Contents

Foreword: Charlie Morris. Scottish National Director of Urban Saints, Glasgow.

Introduction: David Chant.

The BB Grip: Rob Bolton.

Global Fellowship: 60 seconds that mattered to Global Fellowship.

Focus on the 2nd Sutton Coldfield Company, England. John Pritchard.

Northern Ireland – The Belfast Battalion. Maurice Williamson MBE.

Turning Point@Ganaway Northern Ireland. Christian Youth Festival organised and supported by BBUK. Stephen Cowden.

Meet a Youth worker and read about his experiences in the BB and beyond - Aaron Gardner and learn about his experiences with young people.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The DofE & the BB.

The Boys’ Brigade Memorial Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire. Paul Arkinstall.

Interviews: Cpl Paige Savage from the UK talks to Sgt Evonne Hooi of Malaysia and Cpl Liam Dobson chats to S/Sgt Tan Chan Yong of Malaysia.

This is Boys’ Brigade Asia. Ed. Michael Moorthy.

History of the BB in Malaysia. Michael Moorthy.

How the BB Came to Malaysia through the 1st Penang. Wan Chang Da.

Focus on 1st Johor Bahru Company. Janet Lim.

History Singapore. Edited by Sean Lai.

Focus on 27th Singapore. Sean Lai.

"Has BB changed your life?" Asks Ang Kodrat of Singapore.

Trip to Cambodia. Nathanael Foong.

The BB in Brunei. Walter Yee.

History of the BB in Indonesia. Chiew Kin-yan Darryn / Lt. Karnadi Lim.

Meet a Drill Instructor from Indonesia. ’Drill Instructor’, but Chen Min has a great sense of humour!

"BB38" Hong Kong. Daniel Edmond.

Borneo Malaysia: Sibu, Sarawak, Kutching; Wei Ung.

"BBHK" 50th Anniversary International Camp. Priscilla Lee.

How the BB came to Thailand. Anna Wells.

Tim’s amazing Trip! Meet Tim Rogers of Australia on his BB trip of a lifetime to Thailand and Cambodia.

A Shoestring Journey of a Brigadier around Europe. Thomas Moh, 1st Sarikei, Malaysia.

Interviews. L/Cpl George Smith of the UK meets Cpl Calvin Leung of Hong Kong & Cpl Joshua Lawrence of the UK meets Staff Sergeant How Kar Koh from Singapore.

Newsboys! The beginnings of the BB in Australia. Excerts from Boys, Urchins, Men: The Boys’ Brigade in Australia and new Guinea. By M. E. Hoare.

The Changing Face of BB in New Zealand. Les Bouterey.

Collecting BB Memorabilia. Writer and president of Wolverhampton Battalion, Robin Bolton.

The BB on the Indian Subcontinent: Rob Bolton.

The BB in Africa: Rob Bolton

Christian Children’s Centre Uganda. Grace Wamala’s Community in Kampala.

1st Kampala: A Friendship Company. Joshua Opolot.

Towards a True Christian Manliness. A History of the BB in Zimbabwe by Colin Swinton.

Ghana: 1st Acomb visits 1st Begoro. Helen Ashby.

How the BB came to Nigeria. Okenwa Jideofor Nwatu.

Palm in Palm: Read about BBUKs project in Cameroon with Ben Phillips

25 years of the 9th Lusaka in Zambia, near Victoria Falls: Pile Ray Chisulo.

BB in The Caribbean & St Lucia memories. Barbara Lake & Al Henry.

"Caribbean, with BB in the centre". Mollie Edbrooke recalls her time with husband John in the West Indies.

The Boys’ Brigade in North America: Rob Bolton.

Boys’ and Girls Brigade, Neenah, Wisconsin, USA. Pat Croiss, Katie Nussbaum & Olivia Boerschinger.

Memories of a great time at Camp Onaway Island. Adam Woodhouse of England recalls his visit in 2003.

Memorial Day, Neenah & Menasha USA Jason D Pheifer on the Annual Parade in honour of those serving in the US military.

Acknowledgements.