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228th Glasgow, Boys'
Brigade Bridgeton |
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A social history of the BB in Glasgow
photos and memories preserved on
GlescaPals for future generations.
www.glesga.ukpals.com
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TIMELINE
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* Session 1927-1928 the
228th Glasgow BB was attached to Newlands
Parish Church, Bridgeton
* Session 1929-1930 the company's
church changed to Newlands
(East) Church
* Session 1965-1966 the company's
church changed to St. Francis in the East
Church, Bridgeton
* Session 1978-1979 the company
closed
* Session 1981-1982
the company
re-started
*
Session 1988-1989 the company
closed
* Session 1992-1993
the company
re-started
* Session
2001-2002 the
company
closed
*
Session 2005-2006
the
company
re-started
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Church : St.Francis-in-the-east,
Church of Scotland
( This is the church I knew this BB
from but thanks to GlesgaPals I have found out
that they
originally operated from Newlands East Church which
was just around the corner in London Road)
Meetings : Church
& School halls |
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St.Francis-in-the-east
Church, Queen Mary Street
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I
have fond memories of this company, whilst not
a member, I still shared many events with
them.
Captain Neil
Dunn taught me my first aid badge as
we attended classes in his church.
My company the 175th
from Fairbairn Street and our Captain Robert
Smart, attended
Whitevaleswimming baths with the 228 lads
every week.
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E-mail, 01 Oct. 2021,
Andy Masterton, Age 65, Glasgow
It
is with great sadness that I
announce the death of the last captain
of the 228th Boys Brigade company.
Captain
Neil Dunn sadly passed away a
few days ago on 29th September 2021.
Many young boys who passed through the
company will remember Neil with
fondness. He gave decades of service to
the BB and during that time he and the
officers impacted on the lives of boys
in Bridgeton.
Webmaister:
Andy sad news indeed and I greatly
appreciate you getting in touch.
Captain Neil Dunn did indeed impact on
many boys' lives through his
leadership in the Boys Brigade
at St.Francis-in-the-East
Church, he gave great service to the
Bridgeton community. |
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Monday
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Anchor
Boys
Junior Boys Brigade
Boys Brigade
Men's Regnal |
for
boys aged 5—7 at 6pm
for boys aged 8—10 at 7pm
for boys aged 11—17 at 7.30pm
a meeting where all men are welcome at 7.30pm |
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| Any old 228th boys or officers
with photos and stories to tell? |
...
Extract
from e-mail, May.2004, John Miliken
I note
from your excellent website that the 228th
Boys Brigade Company / St Francis in the
East Church at Queen Mary Street is
missing from your list ! Any particular
reason for this omission.
Webmaister:- John absolutely no reason other
than I have not been sent anything on them.
I have fond memories of beating the 228 at
football on the Glasgow Green! Capt Neil Dunn
etc etc They have got a wee mention have a
look at Whitevale
Street baths I hope John you can
address the gap and send me some info/
photos on the 228th BB a great company that
lasted for a long time whilst other BB
companies were disbanding.
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Extract from
e-mail, May.2004, John Miliken
Dear Webmaister,
thank you for your reply, i will try and
get some more info about the 228 to you. I
don't suppose you'll have many memories
about beating the 228 on the Glasgow
Green, as far as i can remember we were
the top team in the East End, lol .
.
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Extract
from e-mail, June 2004, Richard
Evans Canada
Hi Webmaister, you might be interested to
know that I was a member of the 228th
BB when it belonged to
Newlands
East Church on London Rd.
The church was between Frazer St. and
Stamford St. Moore's fruit shop was on one
side and Dr. Stirling had his place on the
other side. The minister was Rev. John
McKechnie. The church was demolished and Mr.
McKechnie went to Aberdeen University to
teach. I actually met him on the Empress of
Canada in 1967. Like myself, he was
emigrating to Canada. He was 70 years of age
and couldn't face the mandatory retirement
being forced on him.
The
Captain of the B.B. was Andy Leitch and I
know for a fact the one of the officers (
Jack Paully ) was living in Mount Vernon a
couple of years ago. He married an officer
in the Life Boys, the gorgeous Lillian
Wales.
I have a photograph somewhere of the 228
BB entering Newlands Church during a
Sunday Parade.
I have great memories of our camping
holidays to Bangor in Ireland and Millport.
Everyone wanted to be part of the advance
party which left earlier to get the tents
pitched. Nobody was too keen to get
appointed to dig the latrines.
I'm sure there are others out there who have
similar memories of their days in the 228.
John Bones , Kenny Anderson and the Finnie
brothers. I believe the older Finnie, Alex,
went on to be high up in the Glasgow Police
Force. Great memories! .
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| Extract from
e-mail, Aug 2006, Richard
Evans Canada
Hello
Webmaister, back in 2004 I wrote that the 228
BB originally belonged to Newlands
East Church on London Rd. Enclosed is
the photograph I mentioned, with the 228
entering the church. When you look at all the
kids in the photo, keep in mind that the photo
would have been taken around 11 a.m. on a
Sunday. Some of the wee faces look as though
they hadn't been washed since the previous
Sunday. I can't put an exact date on the photo
but I would guess it to be 1948.
I'm on the extreme left of the photo and in
front of me, with the fancy cap, is Kenny
Anderson, next to Kenny is Sammy Roy. By
coincidence all of us now live in Canada, I am
in touch with the Andersons who live in
Niagara Falls.
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A photo of the 228th
Boys Brigade company marching into Newlands
East Church in London Road where they were
based..
A proud looking BB Captain Andy Leitch is
captured on film leading the boys into church
through the gates and the boys can be seen
wearing the standard uniform of that time i.e.
pillbox hat, white haversack, leather belt and
jacket, shirt & tie. The boy at the front
left wearing the 'fancy' hat is a staff
sergeant, his hat is skipped and he also wears
a leather belt across his white haversack.
Also interesting to see the cobbles in London
Road these were later covered or removed in
and around Glasgow and a tarmacadem road
surface laid.
Church services started at 11.00am and the
uniformed organisation parades normally took
place once a month ... plenty of weans in the
street for that time in the morning.....
take a walk around this area nowadays at
11.00 am on a Sunday morning and you'll
hardly see a soul ........... a great
photograph Richard........ regards,
Webmaister
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See photograph of Newlands
East Church on London Road |
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August 2004, Extract from
email, John Paton, Australia,
"..............my church closed down in
1967 then I went to St Francis in the
east church where I joined the 228th
BB being captained by Neil Dunn
who as you said was a top bloke I was
there till 1970 and it was one of the best
times in my life...
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October 2006, Extract from
messageboard, GlescaPal Ronnie,
London
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This
lovely wee painting by Tommy
McGibbon and dated 1935 was
given tae me by Charlie McDonald oan him
and Maureen's visit tae London aboot two
years ago. Noo. And listen tae this.
I was luikin at the Webmaisters
excellent BB site when I came tae a
picture of "the 228 Boys Brigade
entering Newlands Church in the London
Road".
Which was directly opposite the
building in this painting. Check
oot then the paneled ootside door in the
photograph, which is exactly similar tae
the one in the painting.
I kin clearly remember the the wet fish
shope in the picture, and the wee lane
aside it that took ye through tae the
'Herry Ham'. And wasn't the paper shope
in the fifties owned by a guy caud Tommy
O'Neil. Check oot the photograph .......
Regards, Ronnie
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jimmymcgibbon@btinternet.com
April 2017,
Email, James McGibbon, age 65,
Glasgow.
Hello Wull, I
by chance clicked on the link for BB on
the email from Richard Evans June 2004 and
was pleasantly surprised to see the
painting by T McGibbon. Tommy was my uncle.
My granda lived on
the top floor of the little building his
name was Robert McGibbon formerly
McKibbin. You walked up the lane at the
fish shop to the back and then walked up
the wooden stairs to the house. I still
have a photo of my cousin Mary on her bike
at the bottom of the stairs. The large red
sandstone building to the left was called
the Gents.
They had their own
steamies in the back court. My auntie Jean
Morrison nee Graham worked in the fish
shop when it became a fishmongerers some
time later. My uncle Tommy as well as
being an artist was known for his
portraits of King Billy made from
different colors of silver paper.
Best Wishes, Jimmy
P.S. Tommy McGibbon was
buried in Janefield Cemetery on 13 May
1938 aged 35. He was the last to be buried
in the McKibbin plot in which eight were
buried. The first being Robert McKibbin
aged 01on 21 December 1874.
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Mar.2018,
email, Tam McCann, Glasgow
Received an email
from my pal, with an extract from
the Glasgow Eastern Standard
newspaper from 1951
"It is hoped that what
is believed to be the only Boys'
Brigade flute band in Scotland
will make its first public
appearance in Bridgeton during
the next few weeks.
It will belong to the 255th
Company, attached to
St.Francis-in-the-East Church,
Bridgeton.
The company's commanding
officer, Capt. Bill Whitington
is the driving force behind the
new venture.
He has bought 16 flutes and is
teaching his boys how to play
them. The band will also have
two side drums and a big drum.
Capt. Whittington who lives in
Queen Mary Street, Bridgeton, is
hoping that his new band will be
ready to attend their first
church parade soon.
The 255th Company which have
weekly outings to the coast and
country, are going to
Scarborough for their annual
camp this summer.
Capt. Whittington has a list of
annual camps arranged for
between now and 1960."
Webmaister:
I was interested to read
the BB company number was the
255th for when I knew this BB
company in the 1960s they were the
228th.
(I assume there must have been an
amalgamation and the number
changed)
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Donations
gratefully received towards the running
costs.
A lifetime honour
and timeless photographs on the web
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