April 2009

CAPTAIN’S REMARKS FOR SESSION

In May last year Anchors and Junior Sections visited Cammo Park to look for badgers and beasties, which they thoroughly enjoyed. In June we took part in the Davidson's Mains Gala parade and enjoyed a Parent v Boys football match and a Barbeque.

Anchor and Junior Sections have welcomed new boys this year - I hope they have enjoyed coming to BB - we certainly enjoyed having them. It’s certainly been lively on a Monday night! In addition to our usual staff, Graeme Thomson has been helping in all three sections this year. Graeme started BB when he was 5 and was discharged a few years ago when he turned 18. He is going to Glasgow University in August to start a post-graduate teaching degree and we wish him all the best.

At the end of April we will be holding a Junior Section weekend camp at Craggan outdoor centre on the shore of Loch Tay. On the programme will be games, swimming, a visit to the Crannog Centre and fun!

Over last summer, the Company Section continued to meet for expedition work. Last July, six Boys and Chris Orman joined the Boys and leaders of three other BB Companies for a week long summer camp at the Ganaway Activity Centre in Northern Ireland. The weather was a tad wet but that did not prevent the Boys from enjoying a busy week taking part in kayaking, wall-climbing and high climb frame alongside the more traditional camp activities such as football, volleyball and dominoes (Stephen won the double competition).

In October, 10 Boys and three leaders enjoyed a weekend camp at the Dundee Battalion's outdoor centre in Glen Doll. Friday night was taken up playing night games before retiring to bed. On Saturday, the Boys relaxed before walking through Glen Doll and completing some team building exercises in the great outdoors. Saturday evening was spent in the centre enjoying a quiz session. On the Sunday, on the way back to Edinburgh we stopped off in Dundee for ice skating (very funny watching them!) and swimming.

Later that month, four members (Chris and Jonny Smith, Ewan McNab and Chris Orman) travelled 4,500 miles to Kenya to see the result of the Company’s fund-raising as part of Project Stedfast. During the trip it was announced that our Company would contribute £500 per year for the next five years toward a teacher's salary at the school. Everyone very warmly welcomed this, as it would assist the school move onto a more secure financial footing. A full report of the trip is available separately. It is clear that the group learnt so much about the people of Kenya as much as they did about themselves and each other. We are currently planning to take more Boys to Kenya in October 2010.

During the session, the Boys have been steadily working through the Company Section awards programme and the Company will continue to meet during until June. This summer, Stephen will be starting on his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, Hamish and Graham will be working for their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Queen’s Badge. Steven and Jonny are still progressing through their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and working for their Queen’s Badges. We wish them well.

Our coffee morning raised £425, which was a fantastic amount. Many thanks to everyone who supported us.