The Boys’ Brigade With which is united The Boys’ Life Brigade.

The Boys’ Brigade we know today has a long history. When 1st Chapel –en-le-Frith Company began in 1926 it was part of the Boys’ Life Brigade, an organisation that merged with the Boys’ Brigade in that same year.

A Glasgow Sunday school teacher William Alexander Smith was faced with the problem of how to keep teenage Boys from drifting out of Sunday school. He was also a member of the local Volunteer Regiment, the 1st Lanarkshire Volunteers. It struck him that he could keep a Company of rifle Volunteers (who were fully grown men), keen and interested on the Parade ground but, could not keep a group of Boys interested on a Sunday morning.

On 4th October 1883 at North Woodside Mission Hall the 1st Glasgow Company of The Boys’ Brigade was formed. Fifty-nine Boys joined in the first few weeks; thirty-five of them stayed on and agreed to the firm regulations. Activities of this new Company consisted of Drill, P.T., games and a Sunday Bible Class. This was the first uniformed youth organisation in the world. Smith used an anchor as the emblem of the BB and the motto ‘Sure and Stedfast’. The object of this new organisation was “The advancement of Christ’s kingdom among Boys, and the promotion of habits of Reverence, Discipline Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness”. (‘Obedience’ was added at a later date). It’s popularity spread throughout Glasgow, then through the country. By 1917 it was decided that there was a need for an organisation for younger boys and so the ‘Boy Reserves’ was formed (9-12yr olds). Other organisations sprang up, inspired by Smith: The Church Lads Brigade The Jewish Lads Brigade, The Catholic Boys’ Brigade, The Girls’ Brigade to name a few. One of the more successful of these was The Boys’ Life Brigade.

Dr John Brown Paton founded The Boys’ Life Brigade in Nottingham in 1899. Paton was a retired Principal of the Nottingham Congregational institute. Like many Non-conformists he disliked the militarism of the Boys’ Brigade (especially the ‘model’ rifle used by the BB in drill). Instead the emphasis of the BLB was on life saving. Their emblem was a red cross, and their motto was ‘To Save Life’. Object: “The objects of the Brigade are to lead our Boys to the service of Christ; to train them for an active, disciplined and useful manhood; to promote habits of self-respect, obedience, courtesy and helpfulness to others, and all that makes for a manly Christian character”. This along with the uniform, activities and methods were very similar to the BB. In 1920 the BLB formed the Lifeboys, for younger Boys.

Union of the Boys’ Brigade with the Boys’ Life Brigade was discussed as early as 1913, but it wasn’t until 1924 when the BB withdrew from the Cadet Force and discontinued rifle drill that amalgamation was considered possible by both Brigades. For the next two years negotiations took place, until in the September council meetings from both organisations approved the Union to take effect from 1st October 1926. For the years up until the war stationary, literature and certificates issued by ‘The Boys’ Brigade’ would have the sub-title - ‘with which is united The Boys’ Life Brigade’.

This new Boys’ Brigade would combine the emblem of the BB the anchor with the red cross of the BLB. The Boy Reserves of the BB and the Lifeboys of the BLB now became ‘The Life Boys’.

The 1st Chapel en – le – Frith Company, The Boys’ Life Brigade was enrolled on the 19th September 1926 in the schoolrooms of Town End Methodist church (now Wesley Mews). Twelve days later the Boys Life Brigade merged with The Boys’ Brigade to form the Boys’ Brigade we know today.

Captain Harry Minshull and Warrant Officer Edward Carrington enrolled thirteen Boys on that night. Mr F. O. Stables was Company President with Mr W. H. Marshall taking over a few months later. A Ladies Committee was also formed to support the activities. Uniform was the Boys’ Life Brigade uniform, (which became the Boys’ Brigade ‘B’ uniform). The main difference being the hat, the BB wore ‘pill box’ hats whereas the BLB and 1st Chapel wore the ‘field service cap’ (similar shape to the modern hat).

The man, who formed the Company Harry Minshull, was born on the 9th January 1906 in South Derbyshire, into a staunch Wesleyan Methodist family. At eleven and a half he joined the 62nd Manchester Company, The Boys’ Life Brigade (Stanley St. Methodist, Openshaw). The family moved back to Alfreton in Derbyshire when he was about seventeen and joined the 1st Alfreton BLB, which had just started and soon became Captain. However work was scarce at this time and having found work at Hunters the grocers of Chapel – en – le – Frith (where Vecchia Italia is now) he had to move to Chapel. He lodged for a time with Mr and Mrs Brocklehurst of Town End whose son Leslie was one of the early members of the Company. He started attending Town End Methodist Church and was soon a Sunday School Teacher, trustee and in the choir.

The reputation of the Company grew and Boys joined not only from Chapel but there were regular members coming from Cockyard, Whaley Bridge, Chinley and New Mills. One Boy, Fred Marshall cycled every week from Disley to attend. At this time he would have had to cycle past two BB Companies in New Mills just to get to 1st Chapel.

Badge work was very popular in the new Company; many Boys gained the Ambulance badge, the examination for which was taken by local GP Dr Kennedy. The Physical training badge programme included Indian clubs, parallel bars and the vaulting horse, as well as outdoor sports like cricket, football, paper chases and bridge building. Old Boy Alec Muir recalls that early PT classes were held in the Garage behind Hunters shop.

The drum and bugle band was formed about a year later and the practices were so unpopular with the local residents that the Captain ended up taking Boys to a quarry near Ford Hall to play. When the band was ready to lead the Sunday morning Church Parades the Boys were very proud but another problem arose. Nowadays when a horse is seen on a parade the Band will stop playing so as not to frighten it. Luckily this does not happen often. Imagine then Chapel – en –le – Frith in 1928 with at least six horse drawn milk floats in the town.

The first camp was in 1927 at Hassop near Bakewell. Most of the Boys had never done anything like this before and to quote one of the Boys (Reg Eyre) “It was a truly wonderful experience”. It soon became an annual event. On two occasions violent storms washed the camps out and everyone had to sit up all night round the campfire drying out.

It wasn’t long after this first camp that the 1st Chapel Girls’ Life Brigade was started. Alice Cluett (the future Mrs Minshull) was Captain and by the early thirties she had also started ‘The Life Boys’ (now the Junior Section).

It was due to the support of the Church and the Parents that the first Display and concert was held. This gave them the opportunity to see the results of the Company activities. It was a great success with various sketches and solo items. Eventually a band was formed for the displays, which consisted of an accordion, thimbles and washboards, mouth organs, bazookas and drums.

The Company prospered throughout the thirties, in 1933 the Boys’ Brigade celebrated its' Golden Jubilee and three representatives attended the International Camp at Dechmont, Glasgow. In 1939 while the Company was on camp in Bridlington war was declared. Harry Minshull was called up to the Royal Army Service Corps and he arranged for Reg Eyre to become Acting Captain. The Company carried on until, due to the hostilities, it became too difficult to carry on. The 1st Chapel – en – le – Frith Company closed its doors in early 1942. During the six years of war twenty-three members were in the forces. Three of these – James Adams, Leslie Adams and Eric Maddison, never returned.

After the war the Company re-started on 19th February 1946. On that first night Captain Minshull and Lt. Fred Element enrolled 20 Boys at the Methodist Schoolroom. Amongst them was 14-year-old Graham Harper, he saw the advert in the ‘Empress Cinema’ and sixty one years later he retired as an Officer in the Company and is now Company President. By June there were 35 Boys on the register and the Company was thriving again. The band was re-formed within months and the first camp was the following summer at Bridlington. A coach load of parents visited the Boys at the site on Forty Foot Road.

Over the next few years the Company had to rebuild. In 1951 twenty-one years of activity was celebrated by a visit by 14th Manchester Company Pipe Band from Levenshulme. It wasn’t until 1953 that the Life Boys was re-started. Alice Minshull and Keith and Mary Millward resurrected the section, this was more than ten years after it had closed for the war. Also in 1953 Arthur Willams represented 1st Chapel at the Coronation celebrations. Closer to home we held a joint Coronation Concert with the (newly formed) Girls’ Life Brigade Company. The Brigade celebrated the Centenary of the birth of Sir William Smith by holding an international camp at Eton. Sgt Richard Osbourne represented 1st Chapel.

The Company had for nearly thirty years met at the Schoolrooms of Town End Methodist Day School. Every Monday night the Boys and Officers had to move all the desks to the side of the hall and then put them back at the end of the night. In 1954 however plans were made for the Company to have it’s own clubroom. An ex-prisoner of war hut from Dove Holes was purchased, and a suitable site down Reddish Green was obtained from Haulage firm owner Mr Sam Longson. Over the next year or two the hut was renovated and made ready for use.

In the larger field of activity, we helped in the formation of the 1st Chinley Company (Chinley Methodist Church), followed soon after by the 1st Buxton Company (Fairfield Methodist Church). A joint camp was held with the Chinley Company at Torquay. The camp was made memorable by one of the lads swallowing a souvenir horseshoe (presumably miniature) from Cockington forge. The horseshoe was thankfully passed on the return journey!

Sadly in 1956 our Company President of thirty years Mr W H Marshall died. His son, local GP and ‘Old-Boy’, Dr W E S Marshall, filled his post.

An international camp in Jamaica celebrated the 75th Birthday of The Boys’ Brigade in 1958. Cpl. Terry Gill was chosen as the representative of the whole of Derbyshire to attend. The ‘High Peak Group’ of the BB was formed, consisting of the Chapel, Chinley and Buxton Companies. Various events and competitions were held between the Companies. The following year saw a joint Church Parade held at Fairfield Methodist Church. And so as the 1950’s drew to a close the BB was the strongest it had ever been within the High Peak area.

1961-1980

The ‘swinging sixties’ began with the Company in a very good position, with 36 Officers and Boys (in what is now the Company Section) and 30 in the Life Boys (Junior Section). Unfortunately, the first part of the decade would see both the Buxton and Chinley Companies close down.

A swimming Gala, at the Palace Hotel pool in Buxton, was held to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Boys’ Brigade. Also in 1963 Ron and Joan Lomas arrived from Winsford, Cheshire and became actively involved with the Company. The following year a new coffee bar was constructed in the BB clubroom. Several concerts were held during the sixties called ‘Gang Shows’. Held at the Town Hall and the latter ones involving the Girls’ Brigade, they included sketches and songs and were very popular. In 1966 the Company visited the Lancashire and Cheshire District BB Show at Blackpool tower circus for the first time.

For a while now Captain Minshull had been unable to attend Parade nights due to ill health and so Ron Lomas was acting Captain. A presentation evening was held in 1966 to celebrate Harry Minshull’s fortieth year as Captain and his retirement. Over 200 old Boys, parents and friends, attended the evening. The position of Captain was taken over by Mr Ralph Harper.

In 1967 a new Company Colour was dedicated at the March Parade service. Old Boys of the Company donated part of the cost of this and many attended the service. The new Junior School at Warmbrook meant that the Town End Schoolrooms were available for the Company’s use. The Clubroom was sold to Sam Longson and has only been demolished in the last few years.

Chapel Memorial Club, in memory of Frank Kirkham, presented an inscribed Bugle in 1968. Frank had been a supporter of the BB for many years. A record total for BB week and a garden party at ‘Cromwell House’ enabled the purchase of three new side drums.

The founder of 1st Chapel -en - le - Frith Company, The Boys’ Brigade, Captain Harry Minshull passed away on 13th February 1969 at the age of 63. He was much loved by his family and well respected and remembered by the many hundreds of Boys whose lives were touched by him and the Boys’ Brigade in Chapel - en - le - Frith.

1970 saw a new BB fund-raising idea hit the streets, a line of coins on the kerb of the road collected from passers by. The ‘mile of Pennies’ was born and has been a regular feature of BB week for the last 30 years. In 1971 the Company was transferred from the North Midland District of the BB to the Lancashire and Cheshire District and also for the first time we were put in a Battalion - the Stockport and District Battalion. We also put on a ‘Home Safety’ item for the BB Blackpool Display.

The Company changed it’s uniform in 1972 from the ‘cap, belt and haversack’ with blazer to the shirt uniform. The new style hat was introduced replacing the field service cap and the ‘sailors’ hat in the Juniors. Also in 1972 the Boys’ Brigade set up pilot schemes for a pre- Junior Section and various names were given to this section. In some areas they called them ‘Robins’, some called them ‘Cabin Boys’ but in Chapel we called them the ‘Anchor Boys’ - the name the BB eventually agreed on. The uniform for this new section was a navy blue jumper with a red anchor on the left breast and the new style hat with no badge. The following year we were presented with a new mace for the band by Mrs Alice Minshull.

In 1974 a joint concert was held with the Girls Brigade at the Devonshire Royal Hospital (now closed). The Lancashire and Cheshire District of the BB became the North West District. Town End Methodist Church celebrated its’ Centenary. The following year saw the 750th Anniversary of the Parish Church of St Thomas Becket - the church that gave the town its’ name. Part of the celebrations involved a ‘Youth Frolics Concert’ with Chapel’s uniformed organisations; the BB band performed and the Juniors did a Semaphore demonstration.

1976 was Chapel BB’s Golden Jubilee Year. Several events were organised, a dinner dance, a rededication service with a display of memorabilia and a Souvenir Programme was produced. The largest event though was a Parade Service led by the district pipe band and involving dozens of Old Boys as well as the 131 Boys and Officers that made up the Company at the time. A committee of Old Boys raised money to purchase a Bell Lyre for the band as well as a plaque, hung in the Church commemorating the Golden Jubilee and the role of Captain Minshull. The Company also helped in the formation of the East Cheshire Battalion and three Boys- Chris Nicholls, Phillip Newton and David Youd formed part of the Guard of Honour for the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at Salmesbury Airport (Preston).

The Queen’s Silver Jubilee was celebrated by the building of a bonfire on Eccles Pike. Sixty Boys took part in the Blackpool Display - Diddymen’s Party item. The Anchor Section was made official in the September and the red jumper uniform was introduced. Alan Tideswell moved up to the Company Section and he was the first Boy to have progressed through all three sections. Camp 1980 was held in Llandudno and was made memorable by two of the frame tents blowing away in the middle of the night. Luckily, as they were the ‘mess’ tents, they were unoccupied at the time.

1981-2000

The new decade began with the Company and the Brigade looking forward to the Centenary year in 1983. Old Boy Robert Hulley kindly donated two pairs of cymbals in 1981 and 10-year-old Junior Section member David Kennedy became the youngest ever bass-drummer in the band. Our ‘younger cousins’ the Scouts celebrated their 75th Birthday in 1982 and in 1983 The Boys’ Brigade worldwide-celebrated ‘Centenary Year’. Two of our Boys - Sgt. John Goddard and Cpl. David Tideswell attended the international camp at Scone Palace in Scotland, while in Chapel several events were held including a garden fete, a special dinner at the Kings’ Arms and a torchlight procession and bonfire on Eccles Pike. The Company and band Paraded at the Centenary Parade in Chester as part of the East Cheshire Battalion a record five Boys in the Company were awarded the Queens’ Badge that year. There was also a re-dedication service on 4th October, exactly 100 years to the day that the Boys’ Brigade began. A Centenary fund was set up to raise money to buy a marquee for use at camp. Over a £1000 was raised during the year, £600 of which was raised by our Chaplain, Rev. Kevin Savage, who undertook a 100-mile walk.

Ralph Harper stepped down as Captain in 1985 after 38 years in the Company, including 19 as Captain. His successor was Michael Berry. One of the first jobs was to transfer the Company from the East Cheshire Battalion to the Manchester and District Battalion. The Company also had an outing to the sweet factory ‘Bassetts’ which as you can imagine all the Boys enjoyed immensely! We were even paid a visit by Bertie Bassett at the following Open Night. The following year some of the BB Officers started the Church Youth Club - ‘Pop in’ which is still going strong today. In 1987 we acquired our first ‘Mini-bus’ and the band performed at the opening of Chapel’s new bypass.

The Company went to camp in Wales in 1988 for the first time in eight years. This time it was Betws-y-Coed not Llandudno but again two frame tents (the kitchen tent and the Captains’ tent) blew down in gale force winds. It would be another ten years before we ventured to Wales again!

In 1990 Ron and Joan Lomas moved back to Winsford in Cheshire after many years service to the Brigade between them. At about this time a lot of transformation work was done to the Church and Schoolrooms. The Church had the pews removed; the porch rebuilt and was changed into a multi-purpose building. While this was going on, the Schoolrooms were used as a Church until the bulk of the work was completed and then it was sold and turned into houses. Obviously a lot of money was needed for the work and the Company raised part of this. Warrant Officers David Kennedy and Ian Vernon, Cpl. Roy Whittle and Anchor Boy Leaders Emma Berry and Lesley Vernon all undertook a parachute jump in aid of the Church raising £1157 and 70p.

Manchester and District Battalion organised a display at Stretford Grammar School in 1992. 1st Chapel were asked to do an item and we performed ‘Horse-less Carriage’ which was very well received.

Captain Berry retired from the Company in 1994 and Peter Goddard took over. The Church was now finished and was officially opened and rededicated on 16th April 1994. Later the same month the Brigade had a Royal Review at Windsor Castle in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. Two Boys Cpl. John MacMillan and Cpl. William Carver were chosen to Parade in the review and Sgt. Matthew Taylor, Lt Ian Vernon and the new Captain accompanied them. It was a wonderful day; in glorious sunshine and to make it even more special Her Majesty spoke to both John and William. Also that year the Brigade held its’ Annual Council meeting in Manchester. Once again we were asked to perform an item for their Display. Entitled ‘Neolithic Nonsense’ it will be remembered for years to come by those who saw it. Three Boys also played in the special Battalion Band (drummer Simon Hopkins and buglers John MacMillan and Ben Jackson) organised for the weekend.

The Fiftieth Anniversary of VE Day was celebrated in 1995 and the Royal British Legion (Chapel Branch) asked Lt. Graham Harper and the Company to build a bonfire on Eccles Pike. This bonfire was the largest we have built. Hundreds of wooden palates, donated by Ferodo Plc, were delivered on the Friday night of the Bank Holiday weekend but the fire was not allowed to be erected until the Monday, the day of the Anniversary. The Company Section camped there all weekend to look after the wood. With the help of a parent and a local farmer the Boys and Officers erected the bonfire in time for the torch-lit procession from the town.

The seventieth birthday of the Company was celebrated in 1996 by an exhibition of BB photographs and memorabilia at the Church and a special Parade Service with guest preacher and Old Boy Ron Lomas. Chapel Parish Council presented us with a new side drum and the event was also marked with two special presentations. Lt. Graham Harper was presented with a plaque to mark his fiftieth year in the BB. Dr Marshall was also presented with a plaque to mark his fortieth year as our Company President. Sadly Dr Marshall passed away later in that same year. His post was filled the following year by ex-Captain Ralph Harper. Two Vice-Presidents were also appointed, ex-Captain Michael Berry and long serving officer Graham Harper.

In 1997 we were presented with a new Queens Colour in memory of Norman Vernon. Norman was an Old Boy who put many hours of work behind the scenes at BB. He drove and repaired the Minibus and always helped on camp. His wife Linda and children Ian and Lesley have all been Officers in the Company. The following year we were presented with a new Company Colour in memory of Alec MacMillan whose son John is an Officer and one of the Company’s Queensmen.

For a few years the Company had wanted to extend the marquee so that there would not need to be a separate kitchen tent on camp. By 1998 we had enough money to do this and our marquee is now twice the size it was. This means that the kitchen helps to heat the marquee and also, when it rains, you don’t get wet between the kitchen and eating in the marquee.

At the end of 1999 we held a special Millennium service. Every Boy was given a candle, buttonhole badge and a certificate and the Company took up the challenge to take the Brigade into the new Millennium. Millennium year was special with four Boys receiving their President’s Badge (the second highest award in the BB) and five Boys gaining their bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. 2000 saw the Brigade introduce a new uniform for all sections.

2001 Onwards

2001 marked 75 years of the BB in Chapel and several events were held to mark this special year. A Souvenir Programme was also produced. Special guest at our annual Inspection and Display was Alan Minshull. Alan is an Old Boy, Queensman, ex-Officer and son of the Company’s founder Harry Minshull. We are also invited as many Kings’ and Queens’ Badge holders as we could to help congratulate our latest Queensman - Sgt. Jonathan Hall. The Queens’ Badge is the highest award in the Brigade.

In May 2001 we held a celebration weekend to mark the anniversary and over three hundred Old Boys were contacted. A two-day exhibition of photographs and memorabilia was held at Town End Church. On the Saturday a social evening was held. All tickets were sold out and the Boys of the Company Section provided the entertainment. Messages of goodwill from ex-members were received from as far away as USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Later on ‘volunteers’ from the audience tried to remember how to play the bugles and drums and put on a display. Considering some of the band hadn’t played for thirty or forty years it was very good. A special parade service was held on the Sunday. It was taken by Rev John Goddard a Queensman of the Company and Baptist Minister together with Rev Kevin Savage former Chaplain of the Company and now a Chaplain in the Army. After the service dozens of Old Boys Paraded with the Company around Chapel.

In July 2001 local girl Lois Thornley approached the Company for volunteers for a charity abseil. The cause was the British Lung Foundation and so three members SSgt Jonathan Hall, Lt Lesley Vernon and Capt Peter Goddard as well as Lois abseiled from the roof of Manchester Town Hall raising nearly a thousand pounds between them.

2002 of course was the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Year. During the Jubilee weekend in June the Company was at camp near Peterborough but that did not stop us celebrating with the local community. In July SSgt Jonathan Hall was chosen from thousands of members to represent the Brigade at a Royal Garden Party. Accompanied by the Captain Jonathan spent an afternoon at Buckingham Palace, and was even spoken to by Prince Philip who had spotted his Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

In 2005 leading up to the Company’s 80th Birthday celebrations Harry Minshull’s son Alan was approached to become a Company Vice President a position he was happy to accept. The Birthday celebrations the following year included a reunion at the Church where Captain Goddard did a presentation on the original 1926-1942 Company. The following day a special Parade service was held which was taken by Rev. Colin Smith, a former Chaplain of the Company. During the Service Graham Harper was presented with an award marking 60 years as a member of 1st Chapel. Also in 2006 the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme celebrated it’s 60th Birthday and the Boys’ Brigade sent a special message to the Duke congratulating him on the success of the Scheme. The message was relayed around the Country from BB Company to Company in a relay baton.

The Captain made a second trip to a Royal Garden Party in 2007 when he was invited because of his work within the Brigade. Later in the year however the Company mourned the loss of it’s President – Ralph Harper. Ralph had been involved in the Company since 1947 and had served as a Boy, an Officer, Captain and latterly as President. His brother, Graham presented him with a 60 years service award shortly before he died.

This brings us up to 2008, we have a new Company President – Graham Harper and the Boys’ Brigade is celebrating 125 years of work with young people. Our Anchor Boy and Junior sections attended a 125th Birthday ‘Fun Day’ at the City of Manchester Stadium and Lance Corporals Jamie Morrison and Ryan Farlam joined over 150 Boys from the Manchester Battalion at a 125th Birthday Camp in the Lake District. Other events will follow.

The decades have seen many changes to the lives of Boys in our area especially in education and so called ‘Youth Culture’. The eighties and early nineties saw a change in attitude towards Uniformed Youth Organisations (especially single sex) and many Companies closed as a result. The last few years have seen a turnaround in this attitude; this is due partly to many schools reaffirming their policy on uniform. In any youth organisation today staffing is the main identifiable problem. Many more parents are doing irregular shift work and working late so they cannot help. Also many more Boys who come through the sections have to leave Chapel in order to go to university and find work.

In spite of this the last couple of years have seen our numbers maintained. In echoes of the early Company we have had regular members from Buxton, New Mills and Dove Holes. We are also getting more members whose fathers and grandfathers were in the Company. Our bugle band plays at several local carnivals and events as well as at our monthly Church Parades. It is a testament to the town and community of Chapel – en – le – Frith that through it’s support The Boys’ Brigade, 1st Chapel – en –le – Frith Company has met the challenge of more than 80 years and is in a good position to serve the town for many years to come.