Captain's Retiral

1st Alloway Company of The Boys' Brigade

Captain's Retiral

All Change At The Top

There were mixed emotions as we said farewell to Steven Mathieson, our Captain of 5 years, during a joint Company meeting on Friday 7th February.

Steven joined 1st Alloway in 1997 with many fresh ideas on how he wanted to see the Company develop. He recognised that Alloway Church had a fine product in the 1st Alloway Company and he wanted to market the company in the local community as a business would market its product.

And market the Company he did. With the support of his fellow officers and friends within the Church, we saw what is now regarded by many, as part of the Christmas festivities with the introduction of "Santa's Sleigh" in the lead up to Christmas. Not only did this prove hugely successful in raising funds for the Company and the World Mission, but it raised the Company profile in the local community, raising awareness of the Boys' Brigade movement and encouraged new boys into the Company.

Company Camps became commonplace and have seen the boys travel from Montrose to Kirkcubright for their summer camp. These are often the perfect occasion for boys to try something new and give them a real challenge. Both boys and officers have fond memories from these, which will be treasured for years to come. Our annual ski trip has also been a firm favourite with the boys and officers. On our first trip to the Cairngorm, Gregg kindly left a nice red line for the boys and staff to follow down the mountainside. It was only when we caught up with him, did we realise that he had been using his nose as a third ski. We also realised just how fast the untrained skier could descend the piste. Ken was truly grateful for that fence, put there to help stop him doing any more damage to fellow skiers who may be unaware of the challenge posed by coming into direct contact with a novice.

The Boy's Brigade is also about having fun. To say that Steven is a mischief maker amongst the staff would be a gross understatement. Whenever there was a practical joke you would find Steven right in the middle of it. Thankfully he had the good grace to accept when the joke was on him. He fostered a great camaraderie amongst his officers, which has seen their numbers grow in recent years from what was a perilously low number just four years ago.

The Company website has been another success and has been on-line for over 3 years. Attracting comments from Churches and Boy's Brigade Companies around the world, it raised awareness of the work and activities going on in the 1st Alloway Company. The many ex-pats that have accessed the site comment on the fond memories of their time in Alloway.

But at the heart of any good Captain are the boy's under his command. Steven had a genuine desire to encourage every single boy to achieve their maximum potential and develop within the Company. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than presenting boys with their individual awards at the annual display. Steven is a proud man and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to see his boys achieve the highest honour that the Boys' Brigade can bestow on any boy, the Queens Badge. Consistently year on year we have seen many boys come through the sections to achieve this accolade, which has proven to stand boys in good stead as they make their first steps on their chosen career path.

Like all the best Officers "Once in, Never Out", Steven will continue to be an Officer of the Company even as he marches into the history books of the 1st Alloway Company of The Boys' Brigade. (Maybe out of step, but with head held high - with every justification). The officers and boys would like to convey their grateful thanks for the work and dedication he has shown over the past five years and wish our new Captain, Stewart Robertson every success.

All Change At The Top There were mixed emotions as we said farewell to Steven Mathieson, our Captain of 5 years, during a joint Company meeting on Friday 7th February. Steven joined 1st Alloway in 1997 with many fresh ideas on how he wanted to see the Company develop. He recognised that Alloway Church had a fine product in the 1st Alloway Company and he wanted to market the company in the local community as a business would market its product. And market the Company he did. With the support of his fellow officers and friends within the Church, we saw what is now regarded by many, as part of the Christmas festivities with the introduction of "Santa's Sleigh" in the lead up to Christmas. Not only did this prove hugely successful in raising funds for the Company and the World Mission, but it raised the Company profile in the local community, raising awareness of the Boys' Brigade movement and encouraged new boys into the Company. Company Camps became commonplace and have seen the boys travel from Montrose to Kirkcubright for their summer camp. These are often the perfect occasion for boys to try something new and give them a real challenge. Both boys and officers have fond memories from these, which will be treasured for years to come. Our annual ski trip has also been a firm favourite with the boys and officers. On our first trip to the Cairngorm, Gregg kindly left a nice red line for the boys and staff to follow down the mountainside. It was only when we caught up with him, did we realise that he had been using his nose as a third ski. We also realised just how fast the untrained skier could descend the piste. Ken was truly grateful for that fence, put there to help stop him doing any more damage to fellow skiers who may be unaware of the challenge posed by coming into direct contact with a novice. The Boy's Brigade is also about having fun. To say that Steven is a mischief maker amongst the staff would be a gross understatement. Whenever there was a practical joke you would find Steven right in the middle of it. Thankfully he had the good grace to accept when the joke was on him. He fostered a great camaraderie amongst his officers, which has seen their numbers grow in recent years from what was a perilously low number just four years ago. The Company website has been another success and has been on-line for over 3 years. Attracting comments from Churches and Boy's Brigade Companies around the world, it raised awareness of the work and activities going on in the 1st Alloway Company. The many ex-pats that have accessed the site comment on the fond memories of their time in Alloway. But at the heart of any good Captain are the boy's under his command. Steven had a genuine desire to encourage every single boy to achieve their maximum potential and develop within the Company. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than presenting boys with their individual awards at the annual display. Steven is a proud man and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to see his boys achieve the highest honour that the Boys' Brigade can bestow on any boy, the Queens Badge. Consistently year on year we have seen many boys come through the sections to achieve this accolade, which has proven to stand boys in good stead as they make their first steps on their chosen career path. Like all the best Officers "Once in, Never Out", Steven will continue to be an Officer of the Company even as he marches into the history books of the 1st Alloway Company of The Boys' Brigade. (Maybe out of step, but with head held high - with every justification). The officers and boys would like to convey their grateful thanks for the work and dedication he has shown over the past five years and wish our new Captain, Stewart Robertson every success.