Like many communities the 70th did not escape the loss of some of

it's members in the Great War and the photograph of the Company

Colours in this issue records those who gave their lives in that

conflict.

Regarding the website, only small scale changes have been made

over the past six months and this seem likely to remain the case as

we have exhausted the material digitised during the Centenary

project in 2008. We have also probably gathered most of what is in

individual OB's hands as well, but if you do possess something of

interest, or feel we have missed an angle, then please get in touch.

That’s all I think. I

hope to see many of you at the Reunion; numbers

are building well…

Dave

73120

2 Chris#

Newsletter of Old Boys & Friends of 70

London BB Company

REFLECTIONS

Edition

October 2014

In this Edition

In this EditionIn this Edition

In this Edition

…

……

…

I am writing this with a heart still heavy following the passing of Avis Rance in June. Avis

was a special person, who will be missed by many ex. members of the 70

and the 7

GLB

It is good that Alan has felt able to write about her in this edition.

As these things happen, this has almost turned into an 'Old Girls' :) edition with memories

from Daphne Knights, Hazel Wilson on growing up in the Bowbeer family -

a charming piece

that will be appreciated by all who knew her parents and Moreen Sore describing a recent

bugle and drum led Church Parade. It has been left to Les Wright to address the balance

somewhat via the second part of his recollections, this time with him recalling 'memorable

and amusing incidents during my time as a BB Officer'. Many thanks to them all.

A f

inal reminder…

The 2014 Reunion is on Saturday October 11

at Longley Rd Halls from 2–5pm.

(full details in Reflections ed. 11.)

I was demobbed from the army in March 1948: time to

start to earn a living!

I had always wanted to be an accountant. I also wanted

to become a BB Officer. I had lined up a job to study as

an accountant but it was obvious that the amount of

study required would not fit with BB work. I therefore

decided to work in BB and leave my working career in the

Lord’s hands. The Lord progressed both matters!

My first appointment with BB was to join the 9th Mid

Surrey Company to assist Mr Ray Swepson who

unfortunately then became very unwell and sadly after a

couple of years the Company was closed down. At this

time my wife and I were worshipping at Morden Baptist

Church and I soon became an officer in the 7th Mid Surrey

Co.

I had never been to a BB Camp as a boy but was soon

made Quartermaster. Harold Barrett and I were detailed

to ensure that the camp’s luggage was safely lo

aded onto

the ferry. This we achieved, only to discover that the

gangplank had been raised and we were left watching the

ferry, complete with luggage and fellow campers, sailing

into the distance towards the Isle of Wight! We boarded

the next ferry and by the time we arrived on the I-O-W,

all the baggage had been loaded onto the truck and

delivered to the campsite. Imagine our sheepish faces

when we walked onto camp.

I became captain and the company progressed with some

staff changes which saw Ron Webb and Ray Holder as

Band Officer and Bugle instructor respectively. The band

flourished and each year we won the Battalion Band

Competition which enabled us to enter the All London

Competition for the Devonshire Cup. The season 1957-

1958 proved to be the highlight of my service.

We, the staff, were intending to offer an item for the

1958 annual BB Display at The Royal Albert Hall. So one

Saturday we held a lengthy Officer’s meeting to plan the

year ahead. We had also agreed to pursue the possibility

of holding a two week camp in Guernsey. For the Albert

Hall item we decided to envisage a sailor’s life on a ship

in Nelson’s time. This was to include ‘dancing the

hornpipe’, ‘scrubbing the decks’ ‘fighting an enemy ship’

and ‘firing three cannons’. For the latter, my research

involved visiting Greenwich Naval Museum to discover the

gun-drill and pattern of the cannons which I built. The

canons were wired up by an electrical company and not

only were the bangs very loud when set off, they also

filled the arena with acrid smoke.

This item finished with

invaders being engaged in hand to hand fighting and

being repelled. My wife took on the task of persuading

and then teaching the sailor’s Hornpipe Dance. The item

was accepted to be performed on Friday evening and

Saturday afternoon and evening. Ron Webb looked very

smart dressed in naval uniform.

REFLECTIONS

Page 2

Les Wright

Les Wright Les Wright

Les Wright -

mymy

my time as a BB Officer

time as a BB Officer time as a BB Officer

time as a BB Officer…

……

…

The annual All London Band Competition came around

and as usual we were one of the competing bands hopeful

to be in the final at The Royal Albert Hall on the same

Saturday. Much to our delight the 7th Mid-Surrey and the

1st Ruislip would be the finalists. Much to everyone’s

surprise we won the Devonshire Cup, so now had to play

at the evening performance too, in addition to the naval

piece. What a day! But guess what? We were unable to

retain the cup; we lost our Battalion Competition in 1959.

Our camp preparation was going well and we were to

take over the site belonging to the National Boys Clubs.

Around two weeks before our trip to Guernsey, Jack

Mayhew (Farnham) was informed that the site was not

available. Panic ensued! A call was made to 2nd Guernsey

BB Coy and arrangements made to meet with Jack and

myself. We arrived at 6am Saturday morning having

travelled on the overnight ferry. At 10am we were

ushered in to meet with The State Secretary, Mr Luff. He

was visibly relieved to discover that our visit was

scheduled for two weeks time as he was under the

impression that our party had ALL arrived overnight.

After a few telephone calls he gave us the good news

that Fort Field, a former Army Camp Site would be

available for us to use in two weeks time. Thank you

Lord!

So, two weeks later we all arrived in Guernsey and were

conveyed to Fort Field. There were many Nissen Huts,

inside which were beds, mattresses and blankets. There

was a large dining hall complete with a Wall’s ice cream

fridge! We had use of a large sports area with goal posts.

Such luxury.

n uniform

over to Solihull track where Derek bec

ame Warwickshire

880yds Champion. He excused himself from the award

ceremony to enable us to dash back to Birchfield where

the team won all of their respective races. Another busy

day for a BB officer – and the boys of course.

I had much interest in drill, especially when a squad

would change from 2 ranks into 4. Sadly, in my opinion, 3

ranks became the norm. In the back pages of the BB drill

book there was a section entitled ‘Ceremonial Drill’. This

was meant for large groups of boys carrying out special

movements similar to those undertaken in the Trooping

of the Colour Ceremony! Not being shy of a challenge, I

proposed that the four Sutton Coldfield Companies should

attempt this!! Sir Alfred Owen, benefactor to many

youth groups in the Borough, agreed to take the salute.

Sutton Coldfield football Club allowed us the use of their

pitch on which to perform. The ceremony had many

facets but the crowning event was marching past in

review order. To do this the companies were formed in

one straight line (in 3’s). On the command to advance in

review order, the line would ‘slow-march’ and then

proceed to the end of the parade area, keeping the line

as straight as possible. T

hen, being turned about, would

carry out the same movement, but this time in quick-

march time. It was a most memorable occasion. I had

never before seen BB companies attempt this although

the drill book suggested otherwise.

One last incident I recall was during a PT item when I was

wearing a lovely white jumper knitted by my Mother-in-

Law. Appearing in the arena I was aware of laughter and

sniggering. I had failed to notice that I had put it on

inside out and Mrs Evans had not been meticulous when it

came to sewing in the loose ends.

I was a Company Officer for 39 years and continued as a

Battalion Officer for a further 10 years before retiring at

the age of 70. The chronological order of my service is as

follows:

The 9th Mid Surrey, 7th Mid Surrey, 3rd Hornsey, 4th

Sutton Coldfield, 23rd Mid Surrey and 3rd Cheam Sutton.

My last comment: I had chosen to work in the BB instead

of becoming an accountant, but during the last 13 years

of my employment I was an internal auditor. The Lord

was certainly very gracious to me.

Les Wright

REFLE

CTIONS

We paraded on Sunday morning, the band leading us to

the church where 2nd Guernsey Coy belonged. The

middle Saturday was when the Battle of the Flowers was

to be held. We combined with the band of the 1st

Guernsey Coy and were asked to lead the parade of the

floral floats. On a later evening we combined to beat

retreat in St Peter Port. A most memorable camp

preceded by a wonderful company session. 1958 has

many times been reflected upon.

Introducing the First Aid item ‘naturally’ in a Display was

always difficult to achieve, but one year I managed it

during the vaulting horse item at our annual display. We

were on the last vault, with the horse lengthways and a

boy sat upon it - forming a piggy back. In turn, each

member of the team leapt over the apparatus and ran

out of the arena. Tony Rowland was the last to vault with

a great leap, an impressive landing and a loud yell “my

leg, my leg”! Chaos ensued as people stood to their feet

with concern. I calmly called out “bring on the first aid

squad”. A number of people were not best pleased - not

least Tony’s girlfriend.

In 1961 my employers asked me to move to Birmingham

to rescue a business in which they had heavily invested. I

was told by the locals that I would soon be run out of

Birmingham but I remained for 11 years –

they did not! On

the afternoon of my second day, I presented myself to

the secretary of the BB Birmingham Battalion. Effectively

I said “here I am, where am I needed?” It transpired that

Mr Charlie Baker was forming a company at Sutton

Coldfield Baptist Church, which was also a desirable

residential area. Mr Baker and I agreed that I should join

his staff. With regard to the search for an affordable

home so that my family could soon join me in the

Midlands, my employers were very generous and enabled

me to purchase a house in Walmley, a lovely village close

to Sutton Coldfield.

After three years Mr Baker had to stand down for work

reasons and I took his place as Captain of 4th Sutton

Coldfield BB Coy. Over the years the Coy took part in

many competitions. We were good at table-tennis,

excellent at athletics particularly in the senior events.

One Saturday especially stands out in my memory.

The Battalion sports meeting was being held at the

Birchfield Harriers track with the heats in the morning

and finals in the afternoon. We had a strong team: Ian

Insley - 100 and 220 yds, Neil Insley - 440 yds and my son

Derek 880yds and the mile. A fourth boy joined them for

the relays. Meanwhile, Derek had also been entered into

the Warwickshire Championship on the same day. His

race was to be run at 1pm. We made a speedy journey

Page 3

Les Wright continued…