Category: Awards

SAVE THE DATE – CELEBRATION OF HIGHER AWARDSSAVE THE DATE – CELEBRATION OF HIGHER AWARDS

FRI 30th JUNE 2023

All young men and young women who have or will achieve their President’s or Queen’s Badges in the 2022/23 Session are invited to attend the Buchan Battalion’s first ever official celebration of higher awards.

The evening event, kindly hosted by the 1st Fraserburgh Company on behalf of the Queen’s Badge Advisor, will be held at the Fraserburgh Old Parish Church Centre. Family members will also be invited to attend with more details being made available closer to the time.

The event will aim to highlight and celebrate the achievement of each individual who has gained these higher awards with a view to making it an annual event.

The Andrew West Memorial Trophy will also be awarded for the first time to the Queen’s Man who has gone above and beyond to achieve the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade. The recipient will likely be the first and last Queen’s Man on the trophy!

PRESIDENT’S BADGES – 1st NEW PITSLIGOPRESIDENT’S BADGES – 1st NEW PITSLIGO

Well done to Ethan and Kyran who were presented with the President’s Badge earlier today at 1st New Pitsligo!

The Company recently celebrated having their very first Queen’s Badges. Here’s hoping these young men take the chance to be their Company’s first Kingsmen!

Congratulations!

Image: Capt Elaine Michie (Company Captain), Ethan, Kyran, Lt Marc Wilson (OIC Company and Seniors).

ANDREW WEST MEMORIAL AWARDANDREW WEST MEMORIAL AWARD

Young men who have recently completed their Queen’s Badges, and those currently engaged in Queen’s Badge work, may be interested to know that the Buchan Battalion have approved a new award in honour of the late Andrew West.

In conjunction with Andrew’s family it has been agreed that an award for the Queen’s Badge candidate who has gone above and beyond to achieve the Badge will be awarded and named the Andrew West Memorial. Its first award will be made this year from among the young men who completed the badge in February and April 2023.

There is no set criteria for the award which will generally be awarded on the advice of the Queen’s Badge Advisor in consultation with the Battalion President and Battalion Secretary. The QB Advisor has been aware of the possibility of the award since the start of the year and all books have been scrutinised with the award in mind. This year’s candidates may remember his advice to record everything they did!

Mr West, an Officer of the 1st Fraserburgh Company for nearly 40 years, served as our Battalion Queen’s Badge Advisor for nearly 24 years making this award a fitting one. He passed away after a short illness in August 2022 and is much missed in the Brigade.

The Battalion further intend to host a Queen’s Badge and President’s Badge Celebration Evening later in the year at which event it is envisaged the Andrew West Memorial will be first presented.

HENRY DUTHIE MBE AWARDHENRY DUTHIE MBE AWARD

Due to the great success of the Anchors Committee in getting multiple competitions running it was decided at last night’s Council Meeting that a Championship Award should be introduced for Battalion Anchors.

It was noted that since his passing in June 2020 no award had been named to honour the late, great Henry Duthie MBE. It was agreed by the Council that it would be fitting to name the new Anchors Award in Henry’s honour given his dedication to the youth of Buchan over decades of service.

This year also marks what would have been Henry’s centenary making the timing all the more fitting.

We will look forward to seeing the award and will keep all informed with its progress.

Queens Badge Completion Course – CONGRATULATIONS!Queens Badge Completion Course – CONGRATULATIONS!

Well done to all 8 candidates from Buchan Battalion who have now successfully achieved their Queen’s Badges following the North Scottish Area completion course at Kincraig.

We look forward to seeing the six young men from the 1st Fraserburgh and two young men from 1st New Pitsligo receive their Badges in the very near future!

Thanks to our Battalion Secretary Yvonne Duthie for driving the minibus to and from Kincraig and thank you to Iain Hamilton and all course staff for delivering a great course!

Well done all!