Young people recognised at annual service

Young people recognised at annual service

21 October 2020

FIRST Spa Boys’ Brigade held their annual Enrolment Service on Sunday in Spa Presbyterian Church.

The service was conducted by the Rev David Hyndman, chaplain of the BB company and minister of the church.

A select number of officers and boys who took part in the service were present in the church, while the rest of the company joined the service online using the videoconference platform, Zoom.

The company captain, Dr Robert Whan, spoke about how it had not been possible to hold a display at the end of the last session 

back in March due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Badges and other prizes were distributed to the boys in September through socially distanced visits carried out by the officers.

Among these were Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards to Ryan Graham, Jamie Ferguson and Jamie McNeill, and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards to Matthew Graham, Matthew McAdam and Scott McCaw.

Dr Whan also referred to the success that the Anchor Boys had during the last session, winning both the Down Battalion and NI District indoor sports competitions with a team comprising Alexander Chambers, Jake Kelly, James McBride and Nevin Sulwinska, who were supported by Cole Gunda and Charlie Rodgers.

Other prizes that should have been presented at the Display were as follows:

Anchor Boys: Best Boy — James McBride.

Junior Section: Do This Do That Throughout the Year — Reuben Forde; ure Cup — Sam Boyd; Best New Recruit — Adam Connolly; Endeavour Cup — Cameron Gordon and Freddy Harris; Promotion Cup — Lee Hunter and Jack Patterson; Best Boy Cup — Lewis Ingram and Timmy Rodgers.

Company and Senior Section: Drill Down Throughout the Year — Craig Gunda; Junior Scripture — Ben Spiers; Senior Scripture — Rhodri Phillips; Endeavour Cup — Jack Connolly; Best Junior Boy — Ben Spiers; Best Senior Boy — Rhys Phillips and David Williamson; Senior Badgework Shield — Jamie McNeill.

At Sunday’s enrolment service a shield and certificate were presented to Oliver Kelly for winning the 2019/2020 Northern Ireland District P1 colouring competition, which was on Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. 

A special video message from Mervyn Murdock was played, congratulating the Anchor Boys on their NI District successes.

The captain of 1st Raffrey BB company, Mervyn is president of the BB’s Down Battalion and Vice-President of the Boys’ Brigade in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

It has not yet been possible for the boys of Spa company to return to face-to-face meetings in the Arnold Hall, but the different sections of the company have been meeting for an adapted programme, using Zoom, since the start of October.