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== History of the 1st Kidderminster Boys' Brigade Company (formally the 8th Kidderminster) ==

In 1930, the Reverend Rowland Sinnet started a company of the Boys’ Brigade and a Life Boy Team at Milton Hall Baptist Church. He became the first captain, and as Minister of the church, the Chaplain of the Company. Some two years later he relinquished the captaincy and Mr. Cliff Horton became Captain of the 8th Kidderminster Company. In 1934 Mr. Sinnet accepted a call to a church in Bath where he died some two years later. Early Years Records of these early years are few, but one book remains which gives names and addresses, and attendances of the original members. Two of those original members, Reg Osborne and Stan Foster were at the 75th anniversary celebrations. The book also contains a diary of events in the first few years. Brief sentences record Enrolment Services, Displays at the Town Hall, winning the William Adam Sports Shield for four consecutive years and a visit from Donald Finnemore MA (later Judge Finnemore) in 1931 who gave an address “What think ye of Christ”. In 1931 a cup was presented to the 8th by the 16th Birmingham Company, The Boys Life Brigade. This trophy is still presented annually. Also loose in the book is a hand written report of the company’s first year given to the Annual Church Meeting. It gives the company strength as 30, with average attendances of 20.

War Years With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, one by one the Company officers were called up leaving senior NCO’s to run the Company. In 1940 the Company, and the Church, were stunned by the sudden death from meningitis of S/Sgt. Claude Arnold (18). His grave in Kidderminster cemetery bears a large, coloured B.B. crest.

In 1941/42 an officer from a London company (Mr. Alf Cox) offered his help, having been evacuated to Kidderminster.

Then in 1943 S/Sgt. Gordon Hopkins started work at the underground factory at Blakeshall where he met Mr. Doug Winter, Captain 20th Birmingham. He volunteered to become acting Captain and so began a decade of friendship and co-operation between the two companies.

Immediate Post-War When the war ended in 1945 gradually men returned home. Mr. E (Ted) Harvey, followed by Mr. Les Holloway filled the Captain’s post for a while until 1948 when Mr. L.W.Arnold was appointed. By this time everyday life was returning to normal and such things as camps were possible again. Under his leadership outdoor activities played a prominent part of Company life :- wayfaring, week-end camping, cooking over open fires etc.

In 1948 a scrap book recording Company activities was commenced. Now some 55 years and many scrap books later the records are still being kept.

The 50’s When, in 1953 Mr. Les Arnold resigned the Church appointed Mr. Eric Mole as Captain. Soon afterwards Dr. Barnardo’s opened a boys home at Spennells (formerly Brinton’s Recreation Ground). The superintendent, Mr. Garratt, decided that his boys should join the Boys’ Brigade. So, one Monday evening, the swing doors on the old Sunday School building flew open and a dozen or so boys burst into the hall, thus doubling the Company section numbers at a stroke. Soon an all-in wrestling match was in progress on the mats! These boys and others stayed in membership until a change in Barnardo’s policy broke the link.

1954 was the centenary of the birth of Sir William Alexander Smith and events to mark the occasion were held at all levels. A “Festival of Boyhood” was held at Wembley Stadium and boys, officers and parents travelled to London by coach. An International Camp was held at Eton and George Jukes was one of three boys from Kidderminster Battalion who attended. Mr. Justice Finnemore was one of the Brigade Vice Presidents there.

1954 was also the year George Jukes gained his Queen’s Badge.

After a number of years joining with 20th Birmingham Company for Annual Camps it was decided in 1958 to go it alone – at Saundersfoot. It RAINED and RAINED and other camps were washed out. Had it not been for the hospitality offered by the small Baptist Church that would have been the fate of the 8th. But boys slept in the small vestry and others, including staff, slept between the pews in the church. The camp survived.

The Changing 60’s As winners of the Battalion P.E. and Drill competitions, in May 1960 the Company took part in a festival organised by the West Midland District and held at New Hall, Sutton Coldfield, the home of Sir Alfred Owen.

At a special Church Parade the following month, David Pardoe and Roger Jukes received their Queen’s Badges.

New Queen’s Colours were presented to the Battalion and dedicated at a Parade Service at Baxter Church in April 1961. The colours were given in memory of Mr. G.S. Chadwick, a founder member of the Kidderminster Battalion. As winners of the Drill competition the 8th provided the colour party.

At the Brigade Council meetings in Southampton a new uniform was introduced. Known as the “1963 uniform”, for a while it was optional but soon adopted by the company. Out went jackets/blazers and the field service hat and in came smart deep blue shirts, matching ties and slightly American style blue hats. Following that came the demise of the Life Boys and the formation of three Sections:- Juniors (8-11), Company (11-15) and Seniors (15+).

In 1964 Godfrey Cooper gained his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. This was presented to him by the Duke at Buckingham Palace the following year.

In the same year Mr. E. Mole resigned as Captain to be succeeded by Mr K. Moule and a group of young officers. The next three years were ones of decline, eventually leaving just two boys in the Company Section. Following Mr. K Moule’s resignation Mr. E. Mole was re-appointed.

Then came more changes. The Kidderminster Battalion, by then consisting of only four companies, became the Worcestershire Battalion, covering an area from Hereford in the south, Redditch in the east, through Kidderminster to Halesowen and Dudley in the north. The inaugural parade was held at Worcester Cathedral on 16th November 1969. With this change the 8th became the 1st Kidderminster Company. '''

The 70’s and Further Changes''' For the 1st Kidderminster Company more changes were on the way. It was during this decade that the church decided to demolish the old school rooms and replace them with more modern, easy to maintain buildings. While this was in progress the Company met at Lea St. School, coming back to Lorne Street on the lighter nights to help barrow the rubble into skips at the front of the church building. The new buildings were soon opened and meetings resumed at Milton Hall.

It was around this time that the name Coopers Mill came into the Company vocabulary. A mill in the centre of Wyre Forest re-furbished for youth work. Some thirty years later the Company still makes regular use of the facilities.

In 1974 N.C.O. training was held at the newly equipped centre, Perrycroft, Malvern, owned by Birmingham Battalion and attended by N. Woods, R. Vale and M. Dwyers.

Another Worcestershire Battalion event was a camp held for 60 boys at Belbroughton. M. Dwyers, N. Lamb, R. Webb, M. Guise and N. Woods made two teams representing 1st Kidderminster.

1975 saw another change – that of holding camps indoors i.e. using church or school premises. The first was held at Southport and the highlight of that week was a visit to Liverpool F.C. and a tour of Anfield. The following years, places visited included Porthcawl, Mumbles, Great Yarmouth and Aberdovey.

At this time a mini-bus was purchased from 3rd Warley Company. Over the years newer models have been acquired and the company now owns a 17 seater…….a great help with transport.

In 1978 Marvin Dwyers was presented with his Queen’s Badge by Don Nardiello (Coventry F.C. and Welsh International), a member of Christians in Sport. This was the first Queen’s Badge awarded in the new Worcester Battalion.

In September 1978 a new section was added to the Company – Pre Juniors, soon to be called Anchor Boys (6-8) under the leadership of Mrs. Pam Mole.

The 80’s …Busy Years The Company celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1980. A display was held in the Town Hall when the Mayor of Kidderminster was the Inspecting Officer. In November an anniversary dinner was held followed the next day by a special Parade Service.

An appeal had been launched earlier in the year and through the generosity of old boys and the energy of the present ones, nearly £500 was raised to be spent on new band instruments.

The following year Geraint Thomas received his Queen’s Badge at the Founder’s Day Service held in St. George’s Church, Kidderminster. Later that year he gained his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

1883-1983 The great year had arrived……….. Boys’ Brigade Centenary Year. In April the Battalion held a Junior Section Display at the Town Hall, Kidderminster with 12 sections taking part.

In May a group travelled to the Albert Hall, London to see the London District Centenary display.

In June, Darren Richards, Ian Rawlings and Gregory Thomas represented the Company in Scotland when the Queen reviewed the Boys’ Brigade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

In August John Hillman attended an International Camp held at Scone Castle.

On 27th October in the presence of the Queen Mother a service of thanksgiving was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Mr. And Mrs. E. Mole represented the Worcester Battalion.

On 29th October a group again travelled to the Albert Hall to see a Gala Evening of Youth – a tribute to Sir William Alexander Smith. The next day the whole Company joined 25 other Companies for the Centenary Parade to Worcester Cathedral.

In November 1st and 2nd Kidderminster Companies helped by 1st and 2nd Girls Brigade Companies staged their own Centenary Display at the Town Hall, when Gregory Thomas received his Queen’s Badge.

Two other events were organised by the Battalion:-

- A relay going round Worcestershire and ending at Hartlebury Castle in which Jeremy Dove, John Hillman and Richard Hall took part and

- The lighting of a beacon on the top of the Clent Hills, part of a string across the country.

In 1984 the then Brigade Secretary, Mr. Alfred Hudson, attended the Company enrolment service.

In 1985 John Hillman was presented with his Queen’s Badge by Mr. John Blackman M.P. (Dudley West) and the following year received his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at St. James’ Palace. In 1986 a record number of Seniors gained Queen’s Badges which were presented to them by Mr. Ken King (South Midlands Field Officer) in November. The recipients being S. Bentham, I. Rawings, D. Richards, D. Dwyers and J. Dowe.

In October 1987 Mr. Eric Mole completed 50 years service in the Company as boy and officer. A surprise gathering was organised by Mrs. Pam Mole and Officers when Mr. L. Holloway played the part of Presenter of This is your Life – complete with red book. Over 200 people enjoyed a meal afterwards. At Church Parade the next day Mr. Mole presented the Company with new Colours.

Later that year the Brigade President, Lord Thurso, visited Kidderminster and saw radio controlled models made by the Company Section. He presented KG IV Officer Training Certificate to Stephen Bentham.

In 1989 Ward C4 Kidderminster Hospital needed funds, so the Company had a bed push from New Rd. car park around the town centre to the hospital. The event raised over £300.

From 1988 – 1996 annual canvas camps were held with 2nd Hereford Company. Places where sites were found included Anglesey, Harlech, Dawlish, Saundersfoot, Lee Bay and Abergynolwyn. 1990’s

Members of the Worcester Battalion gathered at Milton Hall for a special service when Mr. John Blackburn M.P. gave the address and presented the Queen’s badge to Lee Arris.

October that year saw the Junior Section planting daffodil bulbs at Kidderminster Hospital to celebrate 75 years of the Life Boys/Junior Section. Also that month a group went by coach to take part in a Songs of Praise recording at Westminster Central Hall, London.

Two years later Mr. Martin Waters, then B.B. Secretary for England and Wales was guest speaker on Sunday Parade and presented Queen’s Badges to Brian Palmer and Iain Price.

30th April 1994 and the Queen held a Royal Review at Windsor Castle. Six seniors, M. Parsons, S. Pollard, L. Serrell, B. Palmer, C. Budworth and G. Knight were on parade. The others (P. Hopper, S. Carrington, S. Parsons, K. Morris (H’Ford), Mr. S. Bentham and Mr. E. Mole) looked for the best viewing positions. Two nights accommodation was provided by Yiewsley Church. The group attended a concert at Windsor Boys’ School on Saturday evening.

The following month at the Company Display Superintendent Peter Picken presented Steven Pollard with the Queen’s badge.

November 1995. At the enrolment service a presentation was made to Mr. E. Mole as he retired as Captain having held the position for a total of 39 years. Mr. S.J. Bentham was enrolled as Captain.

Re-development at BB Headquarters Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead in 1998 costing £1 million spurred Graham Knight, Stephen Carrigan, Steven Pollard and Peter Hopper to action. They were sponsored to walk 150 miles from Kidderminster to Felden Lodge. The money they raised went towards the refurbishment of the Chapel, where a record of their efforts can be seen.

On October 4th 1999 the Company took part in the World Wide Company Celebration and accepted the Millennium Challenge. 2000 – Millennium Year

A time capsule containing amongst other things a copy of the B.B. Gazette, current badges and notes written by Company members was placed under the trap door at the rear of the church.

To celebrate the millennium a project to provide two lifeboats was announced by H.Q. Through various events the Company raised much needed funds towards the total needed.

The Battalion Parade Service – “Celebrating 2000 Years of Christ” – was held in Worcester Cathedral.

2002. A notable “camp” weekend was held at Whitton Baptist Church. Visits were made to St. Paul’s where boys saw the Founder’s Memorial, the London Dungeons where the stocks were tried out and the Millennium Bridge was also crossed.

Each year a competition is held nationally for boys to submit designs for next years membership card. David Clarke’s design was chosen for 2005/6.

'2005 Company 75th Anniversary Celebrations' These started with the Battalion Parade being held in Kidderminster with the company band leading. The service was held at the Town Hall.

Celebrations continued on Saturday 5th November when Halesowen Silver Band presented a concert in the church, which was followed by a buffet supper. Many old boys met again and conversation flowed. Among those present were Stan Foster and Reg Osborne (now living in Kidwelly), both members in the early 1930’s.

.All the events recorded here, and many more not mentioned, took place against a background of ordinary Company activities - Badge work, Competitions, Devotions, monthly Church Parades, Training Courses, Band Practise, Civic Parades, Carnivals, Recruiting Flag Days etc.