Month: March 2022

NEW VICE-PRESIDENT – CAPT. STEVIE WILSONNEW VICE-PRESIDENT – CAPT. STEVIE WILSON

30 March 202230 March 2022| Ross DuthieRoss Duthie|

At our recent AGM Stevie Wilson, Captain of the 1st Strichen Company, was elected to become the new Vice-President of the Buchan Battalion.

Stevie is one of the most senior Captains in the Battalion having led his Company for over 20 years. His time in the BB goes back much further though as he grew up in the BB in Peterhead. Last session he marked his 30th year as an officer in the Brigade showing his long-term dedication to the organisation.

At Battalion level he has served in a number of positions. For many years he has served as Duke of Edinburgh Advisor to the Buchan Battalion, a permanent co-opted position on the Battalion Executive specifically for him. In this role Stevie and his team, particularly Kevin Mutch, has opened up opportunities of Duke of Edinburgh work for BB members across Buchan. His own company is known for its embrace of expedition and outdoor work and through his initiative and co-ordination this is now on offer to many more companies. He has also been Parade Commander of the Battalion since 2016 and very proudly led his first parade through his home village that year.

The President and Executive congratulate Stevie on his elevation to the post of Vice-President and wish him well in his continued service to the Battalion.

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LT SHEILA WATT RETIRES – 47 YEARS SERVICELT SHEILA WATT RETIRES – 47 YEARS SERVICE

29 March 202229 March 2022| Ross DuthieRoss Duthie|

This evening Lt Sheila Watt, Officer-in-Charge of the 1st Fraserburgh Anchor Boys, retired in her 47th Year in post. Sheila was the first and, until tonight, only OIC of the section which she formed in 1976 with other BB wives under the slogan “if you can’t beat them, join them”! Hundreds of upon hundreds of Fraserburgh’s young (to middle aged) men have passed through her section and many into the wider BB as officers.

As fate would have it our new Battalion President, Lt Marc Thomson, made his first public appearance in his new role to witness Sheila’s final night in charge of her section. The President was one of Sheila’s loons 1994-97, an association which he will always be proud of. The President handed Mrs Watt a private letter to mark the occasion. He was accompanied by Queen’s Badge Advisor and former Battalion President Michael Strachan, one of Mrs Watt’s old boys 1992-95, who was very keen to remind everyone he was Best Boy of 1995!

Duncan Leel Snr, Captain of the 1st Fraserburgh and another former President of the Battalion, paid touching tribute to Sheila’s many years of dedicated service to the Anchor Boys and the wider Company. It was his privilege, he said, to count her among his friends and to have the benefit of her experience over a 20 year friendship. Mr Leel presented Mrs Watt with a beautiful wristwatch with an engraving on behalf of the Company to mark her many years of dedicated service. Mrs Watt will be succeeded in post by her daughter, Tracy.

The Battalion President wishes to add his congratulations to Sheila on this outstanding achievement and to thank her for all that she has contributed to the Boys’ Brigade in Buchan.

Photograph (l-r): Capt. Michael Strachan (Best Boy, 1995), Lt. Sheila Watt OIC (1st Fraserburgh Anchors Boys), Capt. Duncan Leel Snr (Captain, 1st Fraserburgh), Lt Marc Thomson (President, Buchan Battalion).

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NEW PRESIDENT OF BUCHAN – LT MARC THOMSONNEW PRESIDENT OF BUCHAN – LT MARC THOMSON

28 March 202228 March 2022| Ross DuthieRoss Duthie|

This evening Lt Marc Thomson was appointed President of the Buchan Battalion.


Lt Thomson is a ‘lifer’ in the organisation, having joined Mrs Watt’s Anchor Boys in the 1st Fraserburgh at the age of five back in 1994. He has remained with the Company for the duration, being awarded his Queen’s Badge in 2007 and joining the Company Section staff as an officer. A keen bandsman in the award-winning 1st Fraserburgh Band he was taught the snare drum by his great-uncle, the late Alastair Sinclair, a former President of this Battalion. At Battalion level he has previously held a number of positions starting back in c.2008 when he led the Buchan Battalion Senior Boys’ group to great success. Since 2017 he has served as Vice-President of the Battalion and in conjunction with that post has served as Chair of the Battalion’s Company Section Committee.

The Buchan Executive and Council congratulate Marc on his new appointment as our President and we look forward to working under his leadership as we continue our recovery from the pandemic.

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THANK YOU DUNCANTHANK YOU DUNCAN

28 March 202228 March 2022| Ross DuthieRoss Duthie|

At tonight’s Buchan Battalion AGM our President, Duncan Leel Snr, will step down having fulfilled the maximum term of five consecutive years in office as set in our Constitution.
The Buchan Executive and Council would like to thank Duncan for his service during his five years in the Chair.

Despite COVID getting in the way of his term as President Mr Leel hosted the North Scottish Area Conference in Fraserburgh in 2018, saw us take possession of the minibus in 2020 and led the celebrations for the Buchan Battalion’s 50th Anniversary earlier this year. His presidency has also seen the beginnings of this Battalion’s recovery from the pandemic.

Although he stands down as President this evening, we have no doubt that he will continue to serve the Battalion in some other way in the future!

His successor as President will be appointed at tonight’s AGM and will be announced here immediately afterwards.

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