(this is an extract of the Captain's report given at the Company's Annual Display in May)

In my eighth year as Captain I am pleased to let you know that the 1st Cumbernauld Company continues to go from strength to strength.

I was pleased to welcome Clive Leadbitter as a volunteer helper to the Anchor Boys this year. After a few weeks of induction I was able to take a step back from my involvement with this youngest group and simply pop in to view their weekly activities from time to time. This was made possible by the considerable input from some of the senior boys from the Company section. Neil Campbell, Mark Gammie, Calum McDougall built on their previous experiences and they were joined this year by Kenneth Scott as he began his service career with the Anchor Boys.

The boys enjoyed very much the traditional team games, learning to play to rules, to follow instructions and enjoy themselves thoroughly through active participation. We were also able to dip into the prescribed program for this age group introducing them to badge work appropriate to their stage.

At the start of the session it was necessary to operate a waiting list for this section but eventually 16 boys attended regularly each week, although they were very capable of generating noise levels for twice that number!

The Junior Section team was ably led by Jim Sloss for his third year. His team of helpers from last year returned at the beginning of the session: Mhairi Buchanan, Derek O’Brien and my senior boy Cameron Gray were joined by Gillian Sloss. This enabled further development of group work approach to activities allowing a greater variety of practical tasks to be enjoyed.

Around 24 Junior section boys attended regularly, so each evening was a lively affair. The Junior leadership team responded to the challenge of engaging the interests and energies of these boys matching the prescribed activities of the new award structure with some of our traditional games and some imaginative tasks introduced by the leaders. Potentially ten more boys from the Anchors may join the Juniors next session with only three leaving.

We have tried to respond to this increasing demand, using our limited space here at the Forge more efficiently this session. Next year we will need to have another look to see if we can accommodate an increasing number of boys.

The Company section also continues to grow in number. Two or three boys of eight years ago have become 18. This is the first time we have seen more Company boys on parade than Anchor boys.

Allister Gray, Jim Sloss and I have worked with this group of lads week on week. Once again it was impossible to divide the boys into appropriate groups to complete activities associated with their badge work. This year we continued with our squad challenge approach to help further develop their team working skills and a mutually supportive ethos within the section. A new awards scheme that builds on those introduced in recent years with the Anchor and Junior sections has been introduced, so tonight we award our first Compass Badges as first part of the Discovery award scheme. We have decided to work through the previous award scheme with the other boys and you will soon find out how each boy has continued to progress this year, including one special achievement.

I have been unsuccessful in attracting any additional help for this group over the years. As the section continues to grow and the boys demonstrate their commitment by attending and participating enthusiastically each week it would be terrific to welcome extra adult support to help them further develop their skills and talents.

In September we are looking forward to our second experience of outdoor activities at the Abernethy centre. There is a vacancy for another adult to accompany the group of boys, so this would be an ideal opportunity for perhaps an ex-BB dad to get to know the group of boys before committing to any regular involvement. Participation in the physical challenges at the outdoor centre would be optional.

This year has simply flown in, we have tried to provide many and varied opportunities for your boys to come together in friendship; to develop as young men capable of making a positive contribution in their families, in their communities and in the wider world.

At the 1st Cumbernauld Company BB annual display on 15th May, Cameron Gray was presented with his Queen's Badge, the highest award in the Boys' Brigade and the product of many years hard work. It was our Company's first Queen's Badge for several years and, with a few other young men having gained their President's Badge last year, we hope that others will follow in the next year or two.

This year marks the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the Boys' Brigade and Cameron was invited to attend a national thanksgiving celebration in London at the end of June. He has also now started his 'KG6' training to be a Boys' Brigade officer.

© Cumbernauld Old Parish Church of Scotland; Registered Scottish Charity SC000877