Summer 2012 Stedfast News The Newsletter for former Members, Serving Officers, Associates and Friends of The Boys' Brigade in Brighton Hove and District The Object of The Stedfast Association Dear Stedfast Members, To further the Object of The As Retreat was blown, for the last time Boys' Brigade and to foster the on the historic Sports Field at Glynde spirit of Comradeship between past and present Members of Camp, one could easily sense the the Brigade and to render presence not only of today's Boys and Service to Others Staff standing respectfully to attention facing The Union Flag, but that of The Object of The thousands of past members standing Boys’ Brigade shoulder to shoulder with them for one The advancement of Christ's last time at sunset. Kingdom among Boys and the Promotion of Habits of To witness the Masterly way, in the Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self Respect and true meaning of that word, in which all that tends towards a true Dave Slater, the Pastoral Team Leader, Christian Manliness engaged The Boys and led the Stedfast Committee Worship Celebrations was a joy to behold. The sound of laughter and the PRESIDENT Camp singing must have echoed around the hills of Glynde. It was Glynde Peter Ford Born again! VICE PRESIDENT Rev. Julian Albrow The Olympic theme of worship was continued with an Alternative Olympics on the Tuesday. A wonderful day of sporting fun interrupted, if that is the right CHAIRMAN word, by a very special lunch of food from every part of the world. This was John Donoghue generously paid for by The Stedfast Association and was a highlight of Camp TREASURER that will long be remembered. Mark Jago who was an official Olympic Torch Frank Dale Bearer did a lap of honour with his flaming torch held high to great applause from the whole Camp. A perfect Glynde Day! SECRETARY Alan Caperon It will be great if more Stedfast Members can be involved in the first camp at MEMBERSHIP SEC the new site on Glynde Estates next summer. Working with the Young People Ken Towner of today is as great a challenge but equally as great a joy as it has ever been. Please pray for those Companies you especially know. If you are led to offer WELFARE OFFICER Jim Attwater to help, grasp it with both arms, put your back into it but not your foot! NEWSLETTER EDITOR I recently passed to John Donoghue the large Battalion collection of Dick Kent memorabilia including thousands of pictures of Glynde Camp and even of Battalion Camps before Glynde. John is very generously going to prepare a COMMITTEE John Donoghue selection to put on show at the January Reunion which will be an added reason Ben Edwards to attend. Paul Simmons Stephen Roberts With Stedfast Greetings to everyone, Peter Ford Stedfast Association President Page 2 Stedfast News Summer 2012 Editoral Welcome to your latest Newsletter. A very busy summer for many with the Queen’s Jubilee, the Olympics and Paralympics. I Do trust that you enjoyed these occasions and well done to all that took part. We are now moving into Autumn and the New BB session is getting underway. Your committee have met and a report appears from our Secretary Alan on page 9, but one matter discussed was the possible change to the Newsletter where we may, in the future include articles from existing Companies and news from individuals . The committee have also agreed to have profiles of your committee members and these will appear in this issue and over the course of the next Newsletters. Space does not permit them all to be printed at once, their age means that they have a lot to say!! Our Secretary, Alan, has also been busy talking to the Battalion Executive in order that we might have a closer relationship in the future and hopefully we can when and where possible, give them our support. Battalion forthcoming events are shown on page 17. Thanks again to Terry Pomfrey for his assistance in putting the newsletter together I hope that you enjoy reading all the news. Dick Kent Federation of Stedfast Assocations United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland The Federation of Stedfast Associations met on 18th- 20th May 2012 at the Copthorne Hotel, Manchester for the ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING. I attended the Meetings on the Saturday as representing The Brighton, Hove & District Association. The Meeting agreed to donate £500 to The Boys’ Brigade H.Q.U.K. This left the finances with less than £1,000 for administration purposes. Next Year the Meeting will be held in Dublin and then 2014 in Glasgow. It has been suggested that for 2015 we could take the view of an extended holiday abroad somewhere hot and book a nice Hotel and leave people to make their own food and travel arrangements so that we would all enjoy the venue, breakfast and the great B.B. Fellowship. The Copthorne Hotel was four star and had excellent rooms, food and service. I took the train to Gatwick and British Airways took me to Manchester Airport where I found Margaret and Ron Powell of Manchester Stedfast waiting for me to take me straight to the hotel. The whole weekend went so fast with the social getting to know everybody and visits to museums and the Lowry Center and the well organised dinner on the Saturday evening. The Service on Sunday was in a modern Church and attended by the local B.B. Company and then the Church provided us with a buffet lunch and we said our goodbyes and made our way home. John Donoghue Chairman. IN MEMORIAM Since our last Newsletter, Peter White has been called home to rest from his labours on Earth. He was a former member of 12th & 20th Brighton companies, and died on 30th March 2012 We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace Please remember in your prayers all those who suffer either in mind or body especially Stedfast Members and their Families Page 3 Stedfast News Summer 2012 All good gifts around us Churches celebrate agricultural produce with a Harvest Festival or Thanksgiving. C Traditional hymns speak mainly of wheat, corn or golden grain that provided the staple food of bread. We sing about ripe fruits in the garden or of ploughing the deep for the silver harvest of the sea. A modern hymn of Dominic Grant proclaims: The harvest is here: Earth's bounty we bring! H And as we draw near, God's mercies we sing. From greenhouse and garden, allotment and store: these love-gifts we offer and praises outpour. (Singing the Faith 128) The average shopping basket today includes fruit and vegetables from around the world. Brian Wren therefore sings: Praise God for the harvest that's sent from afar, A From market and harbour, from tropical shore; Foods packed and transported, and planted and grown By God -given neighbours, unseen and unknown. (Hymns and Psalms 351) P L This basket contains at least eight tropical fruits and palm branch fronds. How many can you name? People in other climes write their own harvest hymns. This verse is adapted from Geraldine Alleyne's hymn from Guyana in South America. It is sung A to the tune for We plough the fields and scatter... Our land is full of mangoes, pineapples and melons, and plantains and bananas, oranges and lemons. Cassava, bora, pumpkin, guavas and pears are found, breadfruit, rice and sugar cane, with coconuts abound. All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above; I then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all his love. With the abundance of foodstuffs we have never had it so good. But we do not forget that much overseas produce is produced by poorly paid farmers. At the same time, drought, flood and storms cause starvation for many. So it is with a humble heart that we give thanks N and pray and work for the betterment of others. Note: Cassava is a root that grows in South America processed into cassava flour and cassareep. Bora is like a string bean. The pear is an avocado. Rev. Dr. John C. Neal Page 4 Stedfast News Summer 2012 Stedfast Chairman's Report The Committee Members have all been asked to give a life history of themselves as to how they were involved with the B.B. and Stedfast. This is to bring a more personal view of why we are serving in this capacity and to help to promote you into being more responsive to our Association and the Events we arrange within Stedfast and our Battalion. It would be great if you are able to present at The Remembrance Day Parade at Hove Town Hall on Sunday November 11th at 2pm. The Stedfast Bugle Band leads this Parade and members are invited to march or to attend the Service even if you are unable to march. This does apply to you all, young and old. If you have a uniform or medals or no uniform please come and make yourselves known. This year at Glynde Camp your Association gave all Boys and Staff a £5 Voucher to spend in the Camp Tuck Shop. On this voucher it explained who we are and that we are supporting them in their activities and that we all as members of Stedfast keep the Boys and Staff` in our prayers. I hope to have a collection of memorabilia on display at the Annual Reunion. Always on the 3rd Sunday in January at Southwick Methodist Church, meeting at 2pm.