A social
history of the BB in Glasgow photos and memories preserved on
GlescaPals for future generations. www.glesga.ukpals.com
.
TIMELINE
89th Glasgow Company, the Boys Brigade was
formed 31 March 1888 and was attached
to Gorbals Mission Abstainer's Union
In session 1890-1891 the company closed.
08 Feb 1893 the company re-formed and was attached to Cumberland
Street UP Church
In session 1927-1928 the company moved
to Oatlands UF Church
In session 1929-1930
the company moved to Shearer Memorial
Church
In session 1962-1963
the company moved to Oatlands Trinity
Church and then the Company closed
1966-1967
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Email. 24 Jan 2018, Kate Hopkins (nee Young), Age 69, Wellington, NewZealandKate.Hopkins@xtra.co.nz I have a battered old
leather-bound bible belonging to my late
father which has the Boys Brigade insignia on
the front with the words at the bottom "The
Boys' Brigade" and a sticker inside the front
cover awarding my father 1st Prize for Regular
Attendance at the 89th Glasgow Company for the sessions 1911-1912.
He was Piper Hugh Young. If you
have a collection of historical memorabilia
from that era, and you would like to add this
to it,
I would be happy to post it to you. No offence
will be taken if you decline the offer. I am looking at
decluttering my home and this turned up.
I was born in Glasgow and made the trip
to New Zealand in 1967 at the age of 19 to
seek excitement and adventure, and have been
here ever since. My parents remained in
Glasgow until they passed away.
Webmaister:- Kate,
thanks you for getting in touch. I would be
delighted to put photographs of the bible onto
my website if your able to email them to me.
Sorry I cant accept your offer to receive the
bible, I work from home and don’t have the
space to store such items.
I had
a look to see if the 89th Glasgow company
was still in existence, but sadly not. See
above for Company history, your Dad would
have been in the company when it was
attached to Cumberland Street UP Church.
Email. 31
Jan 2018, Kate Hopkins, Age 69, Wellington, New
Zealand
Dear
Webmaister, I am chuckling
because it sounds as though I am addressing
a High Priest of some secret Order of
the Spiders – whereas I am sure you
are not (?) Attached are photos of my Dad’s
Bible.
Over to you as to whether you think anyone
might be remotely interested, given how long
ago it was. Keep up the good work!
Kia Ora from Wellington,
Kate.
Webmaister:-
.
Bible awarded to
Piper Hugh Young
1st prize for regular attendance session 1911-1912
presented by Captain Alexander Ross
Email.
11 Mar 2023, Kate Hopkins,
Wellington, New Zealand
Dear Webmaister (still makes me laugh)
I was delighted to
receive your email with the news that my Dad’s
old BB Bible will hit the digital age through
your web page. I have moved houses in
recent years and, whilst I know it is here
somewhere, I just cannot lay my hands on said
Bible.
However, should you wish to complete the story
I enclose two photos of Hugh Young,
unfortunately none of him in his BB uniform or
even playing the bagpipes.
The first will be very close to the time he was
in the Boys Brigade as he lied about his age
when the 1st World War broke
out and enlisted with the Lovat Scouts.
He was sent to Ypres, Belgium and was
there for the whole campaign. The photo
was taken just before he left (doesn’t he look
apprehensive).
Hugh Young was born on 22 September
1898 and was
brought up in the Gorbals. He
died in 1976, aged 78.
Email. 11 Mar 2023, Kate
Hopkins, (cont) The second photo is how I remember
my Dad – for some unknown reason he always wore
his hat at work – perhaps he was often called
away at short notice – and it caused many wry
comments from his workmates.
He was a superintendent for the Union Cold
Storage Company in their Glasgow office and was
sent to Argentina and Brazil in the 1920s to set
up the chilled beef trade to the UK, where he
stayed for 10 years and where he met his future
wife (English) and married in a little town
called Sao Paulo(!)
He was extricated from Argentina when there was
a revolution in Buenos Aires and my newly-wed
parents returned to Glasgow.
I am guessing
the photo of “Dad in the Hat” was taken in the
mid 1960s at the offices of the Union Cold
Storage Company, 223-231 George Street,
Glasgow. That would have made Dad around
67. Apart from his participation in both
World Wars, this was the only company he worked
for and he retired at 70.
For many years they had wanted to promote him
but he refused as he really enjoyed getting down
to the docks to inspect the cargo coming off the
Blue Star Line ships (same parent company) and
visiting the meat market to chat with
everyone. Of course he also spent 10 years
in South America for that company setting up the
chilled meat trade, which I imagine was great
fun.
I have
inherited my Dad’s trait of talking to
anyone and everyone at the top of my voice
and being quite cheeky with it.
To him a stranger was just a friend he
hadn’t met yet.
Thanks for taking an interest in one of the
“old boys” – Piper Hugh Young will be
tickled pink as he keeps an eye on me from
above. Kindest regards, Kate
