News & information - North Staffs Boys Brigade Battalion Portal

08/1/2022	Queen's Man
	Congratualtions to Reuben Hookey from the 8th (Longton) Company on gaining the Queen's Badge and to Elliott Ingram from the 19th (Newcastle) Company on gaining the President's Badge.

01/07/2018	Queen's Man
	Congratulations to Joshua Stevenson from the 8th (Longton) Company on gaining the Queen's Badge.

21/5/2016	Dedication of the paviours
	The Brigade President, Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, was present at the dedication of the paviours, laid in the Boys' Brigade Memorial Garden at the National Arboretum, Alrewas, in memory of members of the Boys' Brigade who gained the Victoria Cross and the George Cross.The dedication took place on Saturday 21st May 2016 with every Battalion in the West Midlands represented. Jacob Shuker of the 8th Company Junior Section represented the North Staffs Battalion and read the Laurence Binyon Verse: " They shall grow not old as we who are left grow old....."


23/1/16	Indoor Games & Potted Sports
	Well done to all the teams who took part in the Indoor Games & Potted Sports at Tunstall Methodist Chuch on Saturday 23rd January. Also , congratulations to the following who were winners on the day: 8th Company (Longton) - Indoor Games Champions 18th Company (Dresden) - Potted Sports Champions Matthew Ernest - 18 & under Table Tennis Champion Reuben Hookey - Draughts Champion Jack Harrison - 14 & Under Darts Champion Tom Plant - 14 & under Badminton Champion Toby Wall - 14 & under Table Tennis Champion Josh Sherwin - 14 & under Snooker Champion



23/11/15	Battalion Bible Quiz
	Congratulations to the team from the 1st Burslem Company who have won the Battalion Junior Section Bible Quiz for the second successive year. Congratulations also to all the seven teams that took part. The result: 1st - 1st Burslem, 2nd - 34th Smallthorne, 3rd - 2nd Barlaston.


2015	Make a Difference Award
	Sisters Niaomi and Molly Owen are the proud winners of the prestigious Boys' Brigade Make a Difference Award for helping to care for their little brother Bradley. Niaomi, Molly and Bradley are all members of the 1st Hanley Company and received their awards at the House of Commons from the Deputy Speaker Mr. Lindsay Hoyle MP.


Nov 2015	Memorial Bricks
	Memorial bricks, in memory of the members of the Boys' Brigade who have gained the Victoria or George Cross, have recently been set out in the Boys' Brigade Memorial Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum.


Sept 2015	Golden Jubilee Bowl
	Congratulations to Christine Donohoe of the 2nd North Staffs Company who was awarded the prestigious Golden Jubilee Bowl by Barlaston Parish Council for her work with the Boys' Brigade in Barlaston. Christine is seen receiving her award from the Chairman of Barlaston Parish Council, Gareth Jones, at the Annual Village Show.


July 2015	Queen's Men
	Congratulations to Matthew Atkinson and Tom James of the 8th (Longton) North Staffs Company who received their Queen's Badges from Councillors Kath Banks and Chris Robinson.


June 2015	Queen's Man
	Congratulations to Josua Hardin of the 7th (Bradwell) North Staffs Company who received his Queen's Badge from the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Mr. Ian Dudson CBE.


11-03-15	Company Section Christian Education
	Congratulations to the team from the 8th (Longton) Company who put in a superb performance to win the J.H. Greenwood Scripture Shield, winning by a very clear margin. Well done to Scott Huson, Joshua Stevenson and Tom James.


March 2014	Company Section Christian Education
	Congratulations to the 7th Company on winning the Company Section Scripture Shield. The team consisted of Oliver Sheldon, Joshua Harding and Rahat Yahi

12-03-13	Company Section Christian Eduaction
	Congratulations to the team from the 18th (Dresden) Company who put in a superb performance to retain the J.H. Greenwood Scripture Shield, winning by a very clear margin. The team is pictured below - Jackk Harrison, Jamal Qayum and Matthew Ernest.

09-02-13	Indoor Games & Potted Sports
	Due to the poor weather conditions in January, the Potted Sports and Indoor Games Competitions had to be re-arranged for Saturday 9th February. Although this resulted in a reduced “field” of competitors all events were well contested at Tunstall Methodist Church. The team from the 7th (Bradwell) Company were worthy winners of the Potted Sports while the 8th (Longton) Company retained the Indoor Games Trophy. Individual Winners Badminton, 14 & Under - Sumiyya Malaika 27th (Tunstall) Company Badminton -Tom Ravenscroft 7th (Bradwell) Company Darts 14 & Under - Toby Wall 8th (Longton) Company Darts Open - Dan Wemyss 8th (Longton) Company Snooker 14 & Under - Charlie Daws 8th (Longton) Company Snooker Open - Rahat Yahiya 7th (Bradwell) Company Table Tennis 14 & Under - Matthew James 8th (Longton) Company Table Tennis Open - Callum Bloore 8th (Longton) Company Chess Open - Scott Huson 8th (Longton) Company Draughts Open - Joshua Harding 7th (Bradwell) Company
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20-10-12	Battalion Swimming Gala
	The Battalion held a very successful Swimming Gala along with members of the Girls' Brigade at the Fenton Manor Baths. Congratulations to the following individual members and Companies: Battalion 100 metres Championship - Company Section 1st - Ryan Webb 8th (Longton) Company 2nd - Ryan Williams 18th (Dresden) Company Battalion 50 metres Championship - Junior Section 1st - C.McCready 2nd (Barlaston) Company 2nd - Tom Robinson 8th (Longton) Company 3rd - J. Housley 34th (Smallthorne) Company Junior Section Gala Result 1st - 34th (Smallthorne) Company - 19 points 2nd - 8th (Longton) Company - 15 points 3rd - 2nd (Barlaston) Company - 12 points Company Section 14 & Under Gala Result 1st - 8th (Longton) Company - 15 points 2nd - 18th (Dresden) Company - 8 points 3rd - 27th (Tunstall) Company - 2 points Company Section 18 & Under Gala Result 1st - 8th (Longton) Company - 15 points 2nd - 34th (Smallthorne) Company - 2 points Company Section Overall Championship Result 1st - 8th (Longton) Company - 30 points 2nd - 18th (Dresden) Company - 8 points 3rd - 27th (Tunstall) & 34th (Smallthorne) Companies - 2 points
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14-10-12	Battalion Founder's Day Service
	The Battalion, along with members of the Girls Brigade, met at the United Reformed Church, Dresden, on the 14th October for the Annual Founder's Day Service and Officers' Dedication Service. It was very pleasing to see so many Boys and Girls, along with their Officers and Leaders, attending the service which was conducted by John Titlow from the United Reformed Church. Everyone was captivated by the appearance of a number of puppets that helped to enhance the telling of the parable of the "Lost Sheep" During the service, the congregation was informed of the tremendous work done at the Battalion's Annual Camp to raise £250 which was to be presented to the "Gemma's Ray of Hope" charity. Gemma was a former member of the Girls Brigade in Newcastle who died very tragically from Sudden Unexplained Epilepsy two days before her 18th birthday. Margaret Stevenson from the Girls' Brigade thanked all those involved in raising the money. The Battalion Colours were paraded in by the 19th Company and returned at the end of the service to the 20th Company, who will now hold the Colours for the next twelve months.
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3-9-12	Battalion Baton Run
	Monday 3rd September saw the Boys’ Brigade Baton being carried through the City of Stoke-on-Trent from Red Bull at Kidsgrove to the Methodist Church at Barlaston. The run took place along the towpaths of the Trent & Mersey Canal. A Civic Reception was given to the runners by the Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress of the City of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Terry Crowe and Mrs Linda Crowe. The Lord Mayor read out the Message of Greeting of the Boys’ Brigade to Her Majesty The Queen and was presented with a specially struck medallion to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. The Baton was carried by members of each Company in the Battalion in turn and was eventually received by former Battalion and former West Midlands District President Mr Harold Horton at Barlaston. He then passed the Baton to Boys’ Brigade Executive Member Leigh Maydew who was to hand it over to the Nottingham Battalion on the 4th September.

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25-8-12	Battalion Camp – Kirkham (near Blackpool)
	The Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade enjoyed an excellent week at the North West District Boys’ Brigade Centre. During the week, they participated in a wide range of activities which included worship sessions, parachute games, “Night Line”, football, table tennis, chess, snooker, darts, Wii Bowling, swimming banner making, “Krypton Factor”, canoeing, archery, climbing and a “Wide Game”. They also visited the Pleasure Beach and Sandcastle at Blackpool. Senior boys took part in additional activities during the evenings which included visiting Blackpool and going to the cinema. Monday afternoon saw the Camp engaged in the “Activities Afternoon” event which was won by the 18th (Dresden) Company. Inspection was also won by the 18th Company while the 8th (Longton) Company won the trophy for “Best Overall Company in Camp”. An Open Day was arranged for the Bank Holiday Monday and a number of parents took the opportunity to visit the Camp and shared lunch with the boys and girls in Camp.

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30-11-11	Members of the 8th Longton and 18th Dresden Companies acted as marshalls for the inaugural Caudwell Children’s “Neon Night Walk”. The Boys, officers and one of the parents walked the course with the Night Walkers which took them on a circular route from Northwood Stadium through Hanley, Burslem, Smallthorne and Sneyd Green.
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30-11-11	Christian Education Shield (Company Section) this has recently been renovated in memory of the late Graham Quayle, a former member of the 13th Norton Company. We are grateful to Mr Quayle’s son and daughters for providing us with the means to carry out this work.
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22-11-11	The Junior Section Bible Quiz was held at the Longton Methodist Central Hall. The competition consisted of three rounds – Bible knowledge, a set passage (Daniel Chapters 1 & 2) and a video round. The winners were the 8th Longton team. A brand new trophy has kindly been donated by David Jones of Trent Trophies who is a former member of the 4th Stoke Company. The trophy, to be known as the Graham Quayle Cup will be officially presented for the first time at the Battalion’s Annual Presentation of Awards Evening at the Longton Central Hall on Friday 3rd February.
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15-10-11	The Battalion held its annual Swimming Gala at the Fenton Manor Pool and was joined for this event by members of the Girls’ Brigade. The 8th Longton Company swept the board this year winning the Junior Section Individual Championship (Joshua Stevenson), the Company Section Individual Championship (Ryan Webb), the Junior Section Team trophy, the 14 & Under Team trophy, the Open Age Group trophy and the Overall Championship trophy.
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09-10-11	The annual Founder’s Day Parade was this year held at the Wolstanton Methodist Church. The service was conducted by the Rev John Palmer and the Rev Jenny MacGregor. During the service, a cheque for £230 was presented by Liam Toft (18th Dresden Company) to the Caudwell Children’s Charity. The money was raised through the Camp Appeal at our annual summer camp.