The 1st Rosehearty and 1st Fraserburgh Companies took part in the Jubilee Beacons at Kinnaird Head Lighthouse last night to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Battalion President and Battalion Secretary were present and took their turn at winding the lighthouse machinery to keep the lens spinning!
The events were organised as part of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses‘ Jubilee events.
The lighthouse will be manned by the Boys’ Brigade for the next two nights – 8pm-midnight.
Between 2nd-4th June senior members of the 1st Rosehearty, 1st Fraserburgh and 4th/5th Fraserburgh Companies will man the historic Kinnaird Head Lighthouse to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!
The former lighthouse tower will be lit between 8pm-midnight, but will be more visible after about 10pm.
If you see the light (it has a range of about 25 miles) remember it’s the BB thats keeping it going over those three nights!
Part of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses‘ Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
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).
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).
This evening the 1st Fraserburgh Company hosted the Company and Seniors Buchan Battalion Basketball Competition!
The first face-to-face competition since March 2020!Five companies were represented tonight and a Girl member participated in a Buchan Battalion Company Section competition for the very first time!
Results:
Company Section
1st Place: 1st Strichen
2nd Place: 1st Fraserburgh
3rd Place: 1st Rosehearty
Seniors
1st Place: 1st Fraserburgh
2nd Place: 4th/5th Fraserburgh
3rd Place: Buchan Select
Thank you to the 1st Fraserburgh for doing an excellent job in hosting this competition.
The 1st Fraserburgh Company would love for you to come and join us! – We do lot’s of fun activities and games weekly.
All the Boys have a great time whilst working towards their awards and developing skills including Teamwork, Problem Solving & Physical Skills – all in a fun, safe environment!!
All sections meet at the Fraserburgh Old Parish Church Centre.
To get it touch with them please email 1stfraserburgh@buchanbb.org.uk or visit https://1fraserburgh.boys-brigade.org.uk
We look forward to seeing you all their!!
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).
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).
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).
As of today Michael Strachan becomes the new Queen’s Badge Advisor for the Buchan Battalion. Our outgoing Queen’s Badge Advisor, Lt Andrew West of the 1st Fraserburgh, has held the post since 1997 and has seen hundreds of boys achieve their Queen’s Badges – the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade. Mr West was very thorough and always inspected Queen’s Badge books in great detail before his candidates were able to attend completion courses. This is part of the reason, along with his dedication, his candidates have always enjoyed a very high success rate. We thank Mr West for his 23 years in the post which has elevated our Battalion’s reputation in the North Scottish Area and beyond.
Mr West is succeeded in the post by Capt. Michael Strachan of the 1st Rosehearty Company. Mr Strachan has some big shoes to fill and was delighted to accept Mr West’s kind offer of any advice or assistance if ever it was needed going forward. It may be of interest to note that Mr Strachan himself was awarded the Queen’s Badge back in 2005, Mr West being his Queen’s Badge Advisor!
We wish Mr Strachan every success going forward. Further details will be sent to Captains by Battalion Secretary, Lt Yvonne Duthie.
Image: Mr Andrew West (left) and Mr Michael Strachan (right).
