The 26th Stirling (Alloa) Company of The Boys’ Brigade came into being in September 1954, and was registered with BB Headquarters in December of that year. The Minister of Moncrieff UF Church, Rev H G McCall was the driving force, and Mr Jim McClements was appointed as the first Captain, assisted by Mr Jim Brown as Lieutenant. Mr Frank Robertson was recruited as a PT Instructor and Mr John Troup as First Aid Instructor, and from time to time other members of Moncrieff assisted as Instructors in in the fledgling Company.

The first camp was held jointly with 18th (Sauchie) Company, to Stonehaven in 1955, and this tradition of an annual BB Camp was established. Other early camps were to Ayr(1956), Prestwick(1958), Anstruther and Aberdeen.

In 1955 the Company played host to the Annual Church Parade of Stirling & District Battalion, and on 15th September 1956, jointly with 17th (Alloa) Company and under the patronage of the Earl of Mar & Kellie, took part in an evening ‘Brigadoo & Barbecue’ in the grounds of Alloa House. This received nationwide publicity, with various displays by boys, plus an American-style Bar B Q ; and with dancing and late-night buses laid on, this was a great success.

The first Queen’s badges in the 26th were presented at the Company’s Closing Display in 1958, to Ian Troup, John Robertson and Billy Wilson. Records of Battalion successes during these early years is scant, but we do know that 26th won the Swimming Trophy a number of times and also the First Aid Shield.

In 1961, as part of Joint Stirling Companies, the 26th were hosts to a party of boys and Officers from F5 Company, FDF from Copenhagen, Denmark, at Camp near Aberdeen and in the homes of local boys. In 1963 a party from 26th visited Denmark as guests of F5, camping in Jutland and staying in Danish homes in Frederiksberg.. This association with F5 lasted until 1997, by which time the 26th were the only local Company involved. John Forrest and Morgan Irving gained their Queen’s Badges in 1961, and in 1965 the Company went on another overseas trip, a 10 day visit to Belgium.

Sometime around 1962/63 Company meetings moved from the Church Hall to the South School and about 1964 to Hawkhill School. In 1963 a group of members undertook a cycle youth hostel trip and in 1964 a ‘wild camping’ trip to Loch Venachar. 1966 saw a return visit to Scotland by F5, this time camping at Wiston Lodge.

The end of the session saw the retiral as Captain of Jim McClements. Mr John Forrest was appointed Captain from September of that year and in Session 1966/67 Jim Mortimer and Sandy Hunter joined the staff. Having served from the first days of the 26th, Mr Jim Brown retired at the end of the session. In 1967 there was a move to the Drill Hall on Marshill and in 1968 brothers Jack and Norman Bairner were presented with their Queen’s Badges. 1968 saw the appearance of ‘COMAG’ - this was the name given to the monthly Company Magazine, produced by a team of boys, which existed for a number of years, and also in 1968, an easter-time ‘camp’ to Scotch Kershope in the Borders was held. Summer Camp in 1968 was to Wiston, and an Easter break in 1969 was to Scott Lodge, in Glendoll.

The Closing Display in 1969 saw the presentation of Queen’s Badges to five boys – Sinclair Gair, David Frame, Tom Paterson, Bill Dawson and Gordon Wilson, and in July of that year a return visit was paid to Denmark, camping at Lake Hald in Jutland before staying with Danish families in Frederiksberg. Weekend camping and hostelling trips were a feature of these late 60’s/early 70’s.

From the formation of the Company, ‘BB Week’ was the main source of income for the Company. This involved every member approaching friends and others known to them, and asking for donations. It became increasingly unpopular with boys, and was abandoned in the early 1990’s.

More to follow……

The 26th - a brief history

Graeme Forrest