Category: Awards

QUEEN’S BADGE – JORDAN SMITH – 1ST FRASERBURGHQUEEN’S BADGE – JORDAN SMITH – 1ST FRASERBURGH

The President and Executive of the Buchan Battalion congratulate Jordan Smith who tonight was presented with his Queen’s Badge, the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade.

Working towards his badge Jordan used his skills with technology to help his church deliver services and stepped up to help his company. He also learned to drive for his skill and improved his physical fitness in cycling.

Jordan had one last trick up his sleeve tonight by surprising our Battalion Secretary, Yvonne Duthie; she was absolutely delighted to learn that he wanted her to do the honour of presenting his award. As Captain Leel said, Jordan wanted Yvonne to present it as she had always helped him; from his days at school, up to now.

Congratulations Jordan on an award thats thoroughly deserved!

(Picture: Jordan Smith receives his award from Lt Yvonne Duthie OIC).

QUEEN’S BADGE COMPLETION COURSEQUEEN’S BADGE COMPLETION COURSE

The President and Executive of the Buchan Battalion congratulate 5 young men from Buchan Battalion on completing their Queen’s Badges!

JORDAN SMITH, 1st FRASERBURGH

ADAM IRELAND, 4th FRASERBURGH

RUARY MCDONALD, 4th FRASERBURGH

ROBBIE STEWART, 1st STRICHEN

KYLE STRACHAN, 1st STRICHEN

All these young men had their Queen’s Badge Book approved at the North Scottish Area Boys’ Brigade QB Completion Course at Kincraig. All took an active part in the course and were a credit to their companies.

We look forward to seeing their badges presented in the near future!

Well done!

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

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).

QUEEN’S BADGE ALEX AAMER – 4th PETERHEADQUEEN’S BADGE ALEX AAMER – 4th PETERHEAD

The President and Executive of the Buchan Battalion send their Congratulations to Alex Aamer of the 4th Peterhead Company, who today was presented with his Queen’s Badge.

His Company Captain, Alan Macdonald, gave Alex a glowing report for the work he carried out through his Queen’s Badge, as well as for the positive impact he has had on the Company.

Further credit should be given as Alex is one of the young men who had to change his planned work for the Queen’s Badge – the highest award in the BB – due to the pandemic.

Well done, Alex!

BRONZE DOFE – 1ST FRASERBURGHBRONZE DOFE – 1ST FRASERBURGH

MARCUS STUART, 1st FRASERBURGH

JORDAN SMITH, 1st FRASERBURGH

ROSS DUTHIE, 1st FRASERBURGH

Congratulations to members of the 1st Fraserburgh Company who were presented with their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards yesterday.

We hope that the Silver Expeditions will soon be able to resume depending on the COVID situation.

Well done all on this marvellous achievement!

(Photo l-r: Marcus Stuart, Jordan Smith, Ross Duthie).

PRESIDENTS BADGES – 1ST FRASERBURGHPRESIDENTS BADGES – 1ST FRASERBURGH

MARCUS STUART, 1st FRASERBURGH

ANDREW STRACHAN, 1st FRASERBURGH

NATHAN SMITH, 1st FRASERBURGH

RYAN WATT, 1st FRASERBURGH

ROSS DUTHIE, 1st FRASERBURGH

Congratulations to members of the 1st Fraserburgh Company who were presented with their President’s Badge – the second highest award in the Boys’ Brigade – at a special ceremony at their church on Sunday.

All five young men have done well to achieve the badge in challenging circumstances due to the pandemic with all five also having started the journey towards their Queen’s Badge.

Keep up the good work lads!

(Photo l-r: Marcus Stuart, Andrew Strachan, Nathan Smith, Ryan Watt, Ross Duthie).

QUEENS BADGES – 1ST FRASERBURGHQUEENS BADGES – 1ST FRASERBURGH

MATTHEW PIRIE, 1st FRASERBURGH

JOSH STEPHEN, 1st FRASERBURGH

NATHAN STEPHEN, 1st FRASERBURGH

The President and Executive of the Buchan Battalion wish to further congratulate Matthew, Josh and Nathan on being presented with their Queen’s Badges – the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade.

The new Queen’s Men had their badges presented at a special service and ceremony at Fraserburgh Old Parish Church where their friends, family and officers gathered to honour them.

Well done all; you are a credit to your Company and to the Battalion!

(Photo l-r: Matthew Pirie, Josh Stephen, Nathan Stephen).

BRONZE LONG SERVICE AWARD – MICHAEL STRACHANBRONZE LONG SERVICE AWARD – MICHAEL STRACHAN

On Saturday afternoon Michael Strachan, Captain 1st Rosehearty Company, was presented with his bronze Long Service Award marking 15 years as an officer. The award was organised by Lt Marc Thomson, Battalion Vice-President, and presented by Alison Chambers, Brigade Vice-President.

Michael’s first 15 years as an officer have not been typical! He became an officer in 2006 with the 1st Fraserburgh Company; the Company he joined as a boy in 1992 aged 5. By 2010 he was Officer-in-Charge of the Junior Section, a post he held successfully until his resignation in 2016. That year his assistance was requested by the 1st New Deer Company, where he served as Officer-in-Charge of the Company Section while instructing new officers to take over. He served in this post for two sessions.

Then in 2018, at the invitation and instigation of his friend the Vice-President, he helped restart the 1st Rosehearty Junior Section of which he was appointed OIC. A year later in 2019 he was finally appointed to be a Company Captain, serving with 1st Rosehearty. The team in Rosehearty have now successfully revived the Junior Section and a Company Section over the past 3 sessions, while the Anchor Boys go from strength to strength!

In addition, Mr Strachan is also a past President of the Buchan Battalion serving in the role 2013-17. He has the distinction of being the Battalion’s youngest ever President, being appointed unexpectedly at the age of 25 and leaving office aged 29. He now serves as the Battalion Queen’s Badge Advisor and has been a Vice-President of the North Scottish Area since 2018.

Here’s looking to the next 15 years!


(Image: Michael Strachan is presented with his certificate and badge by Alison Chambers, Brigade Vice-President).

PRESIDENT’S COMMENDATION – JACK IRVINE, 1st ROSEHEARTYPRESIDENT’S COMMENDATION – JACK IRVINE, 1st ROSEHEARTY

Congratulations to Jack Irvine of the 1st Rosehearty Company who was presnted with his President’s Commendation yesterday.

The Presentation was made at Pitsligo Castle by the Brigade Vice-President, Alison Chambers, who spoke very highly of Jack and what he did to help his father in a difficult and challenging situation.

Jack was introduced by Lt Lynne Bruce who told us of his actions which led to him being awarded the commendation. As well as being very brave it is clear that Jack is also very humble about the whole thing!

Well done, Jack!

PRESIDENT’S BADGE – ADAM IRELAND, 4th FRASERBURGHPRESIDENT’S BADGE – ADAM IRELAND, 4th FRASERBURGH

Congratulations to Adam Ireland of the 4th Fraserburgh Company who was presented with his President’s Badge yesterday by Brigade Vice-President Alison Chambers.

His Company Captain Martin Dunbar explained what activities Adam and the 4th Company were able to undertake during the last year in order to gain the badge.

Congratulations Adam!