1st Fraserburgh Boys BrigadeNew session enrolment and start back dates and times.
Anchors and Juniors enrol on Tuesday 30th August 6.30pm – 7.30pm and new session starts on Tuesday 6th September:
Anchors 6.30pm – 7.45pm
Juniors 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Company Section enrols Friday 26th August 7.00pm – 8.00pm
and starts on Friday 2nd September 7.00pm – 9.30pm
We look forward to seeing you all again!
Hi everyone, hope you are having a great Summer holiday. Anchors and Juniors will be enrolling on Tuesday 30th August @ 6.30. First night for the boys will be the following week 6th September. Looking forward to seeing everyone again. Enjoy the rest of your holidays.
It was with a deep sense of shock and sadness that many of us heard of the sudden passing of Duncan Leel Jnr, aged only 40 years.
Duncan was a long-time member of the 1st Fraserburgh Company after briefly starting his BB journey in the 1st New Pitsligo Anchors. In 1992/93, when the 1st Fraserburgh Company Band was reformed, Duncan was quick to sign up. Learning the snare drum under Alastair Sinclair, he would go on to become senior drummer to the band. In 2002 he was appointed Bandmaster of the Company Band and served in that post for the next 20 years. Under his tenure the band had a number of successes at the BB Scottish Band Contests.
Followers from further afield will remember Duncan from the many Scottish Band competitions he attended as a boy, officer and bandmaster. In many respects many of his old boys will remember him most fondly for the same thing, from the days when the pilgrimage to the contest was an annual event. His band was also the Band for the Buchan Battalion, being called upon to cover our parades.
Between 2016-20, Duncan served as Officer-in-Charge of the 1st Fraserburgh Junior Section. It was something of a return, being a long-standing senior officer of the section for the decade between 2000-10. A popular officer in Juniors, he won the Officer of the Year award on a number of occasions. In total, Duncan gave upwards of 20 years service to the Boys’ Brigade as a staff member and Lieutenant in his company.
Away from BB he is perhaps best known for managing and then owned the Dick’s Sports business. Many an officer will know of his kindness in business, as there was always a wee BB discount of some description added to the final bill. This was a kindness and helpfulness he had in all spheres of life and something that will be missed by his many friends. Very recently Duncan had embarked on a new career as a bus driver, something he loved and was proud of, which makes his untimely passing all the more cruel.
The only son of Jessie and Duncan Snr, lately Battalion President, the thoughts of all in Buchan are with them both at this incredibly sad and difficult time. Their family within this Brigade will be there to support them, always.
Boys and Officers of the 1st Fraserburgh Company kept the light going at Kinnaird Head Lighthouse last night as part of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses‘ three day celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Mrs Duthie switched the light on to begin the night and the party had to wind the machine to keep the light flashing.
Well done all!
The 1st Rosehearty and 1st Fraserburgh Companies took part in the Jubilee Beacons at Kinnaird Head Lighthouse last night to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Battalion President and Battalion Secretary were present and took their turn at winding the lighthouse machinery to keep the lens spinning!
The events were organised as part of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses‘ Jubilee events.
The lighthouse will be manned by the Boys’ Brigade for the next two nights – 8pm-midnight.
The President and Executive of the Buchan Battalion congratulate Jordan Smith who tonight was presented with his Queen’s Badge, the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade.
Working towards his badge Jordan used his skills with technology to help his church deliver services and stepped up to help his company. He also learned to drive for his skill and improved his physical fitness in cycling.
Jordan had one last trick up his sleeve tonight by surprising our Battalion Secretary, Yvonne Duthie; she was absolutely delighted to learn that he wanted her to do the honour of presenting his award. As Captain Leel said, Jordan wanted Yvonne to present it as she had always helped him; from his days at school, up to now.
Congratulations Jordan on an award thats thoroughly deserved!
(Picture: Jordan Smith receives his award from Lt Yvonne Duthie OIC).
This evening Lt Sheila Watt, Officer-in-Charge of the 1st Fraserburgh Anchor Boys, retired in her 47th Year in post. Sheila was the first and, until tonight, only OIC of the section which she formed in 1976 with other BB wives under the slogan “if you can’t beat them, join them”! Hundreds of upon hundreds of Fraserburgh’s young (to middle aged) men have passed through her section and many into the wider BB as officers.
As fate would have it our new Battalion President, Lt Marc Thomson, made his first public appearance in his new role to witness Sheila’s final night in charge of her section. The President was one of Sheila’s loons 1994-97, an association which he will always be proud of. The President handed Mrs Watt a private letter to mark the occasion. He was accompanied by Queen’s Badge Advisor and former Battalion President Michael Strachan, one of Mrs Watt’s old boys 1992-95, who was very keen to remind everyone he was Best Boy of 1995!
Duncan Leel Snr, Captain of the 1st Fraserburgh and another former President of the Battalion, paid touching tribute to Sheila’s many years of dedicated service to the Anchor Boys and the wider Company. It was his privilege, he said, to count her among his friends and to have the benefit of her experience over a 20 year friendship. Mr Leel presented Mrs Watt with a beautiful wristwatch with an engraving on behalf of the Company to mark her many years of dedicated service. Mrs Watt will be succeeded in post by her daughter, Tracy.
The Battalion President wishes to add his congratulations to Sheila on this outstanding achievement and to thank her for all that she has contributed to the Boys’ Brigade in Buchan.
Photograph (l-r): Capt. Michael Strachan (Best Boy, 1995), Lt. Sheila Watt OIC (1st Fraserburgh Anchors Boys), Capt. Duncan Leel Snr (Captain, 1st Fraserburgh), Lt Marc Thomson (President, Buchan Battalion).
The 1st Fraserburgh Company would love for you to come and join us! – We do lot’s of fun activities and games weekly.
All the Boys have a great time whilst working towards their awards and developing skills including Teamwork, Problem Solving & Physical Skills – all in a fun, safe environment!!
⚫ Anchor Boys (P1-3)- Tuesday 18:30 – 19:45
⚫ Junior Section (P4-6) – Tuesday 18:30 – 20:00
⚫ Company Section / Seniors (P7 – 19 Years) – Friday 19:00 – 21:30
All sections meet at the Fraserburgh Old Parish Church Centre.
To get it touch with them please email 1stfraserburgh@buchanbb.org.uk or visit https://1fraserburgh.boys-brigade.org.uk
We look forward to seeing you all their!!
Anchor Boy Section will enrol on Tuesday 31st August at 6.00pm. Forms and information can be collected from the Church Centre Door. Please adhere to social distancing requirement (1 metre) while waiting to collect you enrolment information.
Anchor boys will start back on Tuesday 7th September 6.30pm – 7.45pm in the church centre hall.
Junior Section will enrol on Tuesday 31st August at 6.30pm. Forms and information can be collected from the Church Centre Door. Please adhere to social distancing requirement (1 metre) while waiting to collect you enrolment information.
Junior section will start back on Tuesday 7th September 6.30pm – 8.00pm in the upstairs conference room.
Company section will enrol on Friday 3rd September at 7.00pm. Forms and information can be collected from the church centre door by parents who should adhere to social distancing requirement (1 metre) or by boys who are welcome to come into the church hall for a catch up session with officers.
Company section will start back officially on Friday 10th September 7.00pm – 9.30pm in the church centre hall.
We looks forward to seeing you all again. 😀⚓⚓
Fraserburgh 1st boys and officers met with harbour master Thomas Boyle and Michael Murray last night to finally present a cheque for £4790.33. The money was raised by Company Section boys prior to COVID-19 as part of their charity badge work over two sessions. The money was raised to help purchase much needed sea bins for the harbour.
