The History of 2nd Kilsyth Girls’ Brigade
The company was started up possibly at the end of 1950 but was not registered till 7th February 1951.
It was Mrs McDonald – the wife of the Minister at that time Rev. James McDonald who first started it up as there was nothing for the girls in the Church.
We do not have very much information of the early years of the Company.
The first Captain or Guardian is believed to be Miss Mary McBrid
(Mrs Turner who now stays in Australia) and was helped by Miss Margaret Brown (now Mrs Cherry from Queenzieburn)
In 1953/1954 the membership of the company was 82 girls.
1954 The girls presented a play called Enchanted Prince and the Company were presented with their Colours given to them by the Women’s Guild. They were dedicated on the 3rd October.
Photo shows the girls with Officers Mary McBride and Margaret Brown
Also in this picture are the Rev James & Mrs McDonald.
This photo show the Company outside the Church
1961 Miss Jeanette Wilson was appointed Acting Captain
1963 The Company’s third Captain was appointed and this was
Mrs Margaret Whyte with the help of Mrs Elizabeth Hamilton
Miss Barbara Lindsay (now Mrs Smith) came to help out playing the piano.
The Company win the Falkirk District Bible Trophy for the first time.
1964 The Rosebuds took part in singing games at Camelon
Miss Erskine was in charge of the Rosebuds
1965 This year was the start of the process to change the name of the organisation
The Girls’ Guildry (Scotland), The Girls’ Brigade (Ireland) and The Girls’ Life Brigade (England) all merged together to become one and was then known as The Girls’ Brigade. There was a three year change over period to allow the Companies to change to the new uniform.
1966 A group of the older girls went down to London to the Girls’ Life Brigade Rally at the Royal Albert Hall to perform Scottish Country Dancing. Afterwards the girls received a standing ovation.
The Girls were
Back Row Ada Johnston, Elizabeth Hamilton, Anne Ross
Margaret Abercrombie, Kathleen Whyte
Front Row Margo Miller, Margaret Erskine, Janice Abercrombie
and Isabel Turnbull.
1967 We now have records of what when on in the Company The Company continued to be involved with the Regional Competition As well as badge work they entertained at the new old folks Home, Visited the sick of the Church at Christmas and Easter. Knitted squares to make up a blanket for the W.V.S
1968 The Company received a donation from the Women’s Guild to an able them to buy their New Girls’ Brigade Company Colour.
Presentation of the new Girls Brigade Company Colour
Margaret Abercrombie receiving the Colour from Mrs Ross with Kathleen Whyte and Elizabeth Hamilton as escorts.
Also Rev. James Ross is in the picture.
1969 Some of the Badge work the girls were involved in were Bible Study, English Folk Dancing, Craft – making Lampshades, Cookery, Toymaking. The Brigaders were participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
We also continued our success in the regional competitions
Juniors at Verse Speaking Competition
1970
The Company were involved in a National Display at Falkirk Ice Rink.
The Explorers also took part in the Civic Week decorated Floats
The Astrotots and the Moonbeam band. We also managed to get arocket for the float. They received 1st Place.
Parents Night 1970
1971 There were four Brigaders who received the highest Award in the Brigade The Queen’s Award,
Margaret Abercrombie, Elizabeth Hamilton, Kathleen Whyte and Janice Abercrombie.
1972 We had another busy session with badgework and also we participated in the National Display at Meadowbank in Edinburgh doing Square Dancing routine.
We raised £282 from holding a sponsored Hush-In which the girls had to be silent for two and half hours. £150.00 was given to the Tenovus (Scotland) Organisation to help purchase a cell separator for Leukaemia research. The machine was installed at the Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow. We also featured on Scotland Today News programme.
The rest of the money raised went to the company funds.
Kathleen Whyte represented Scotland at the International Fonomarae –which means a gathering in an open space- in New Zealand.
In Session 1972/1973 we lost one of our Officers Mrs Joan Lauder who died in June. At the dedication Service there was a special Flower Stand presented to the Church by the Company and a Vase from the neighbours in memory of Joan.
1974 The girls took part in the national Choir Competition in Perth. We came in 2nd place.
1975 After a period of fundraising the Explorers has raised £302.70 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Society to purchase a guide dog and equipment for a blind person. The dog was named STAR after the Explorer Star.
1976 This session the Explorers entertained the Women’s Guild at Christmas.
We held our annual Concert at Easter entertaining the town’s Senior Citizens.
The Explorers saved up £27.00 in their 1p Jar for Talking Books for a blind girl or boy.
We started going to Camp with 2nd Perth after Margaret Brown had completed her Camp Certificate which allowed her to take girls away to Camp for the week. The time was spend at Whitehouse.
Mrs Margaret Whyte and Mrs Elizabeth Hamilton were awarded with their 10 year Service Awards.
1977 The Explorers collected £42.00 for The Royal School for the Blind in Edinburgh.
At the end of Session 1977/78 Mrs Margaret Whyte and Mrs Elizabeth Hamilton decided to retire from the Brigade.
Session 1978/79 Mrs Rita Gray become the company’s 4th Captain,
During this year the company continued with all the usual events including taking the girls on a week of Camping in Port Seton
Explorers 1ps went to Cystic Fibrosis Research £59.00 was raised.
Session 1979/1980 due to work commitments saw Mrs Rita Gray retire from Captain.
This session the Explorers saved their 1ps for the Sunday Schools sponsored Child Delfon Leon. £30.00 was raised
Session 1980/81 our fifth Captain Mrs Margaret Brown was appointed.
We also changed from the Central Region to Greater Glasgow Region and joined up with the other Companies in Cumbernauld.
The Company took part in Divisional Competitions, and continued to carry on all their fundraising events,
1981 The Company was busy with fundraising for RSPSC and Cystic Fibrosis. They did a Sponsored Clean up, entertained the Senior Citizens and went camping to Guay with 2nd Perth.
Explorers collect ed their coins and raised £47.00 for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in Glasgow.
1982 This year we did our usual Badge work and fundraising events but instead of taking the girls to Camp we went on a holiday to Guernsey with girls from 2nd Perth.
Explorers raised £50.00 for Quarriers Homes in Bridge of Weir
1983 The company did their Badgework usual Fundraising and camped at Guay.
This year the Explorers saved £36.00 for the Sunnyside Ward at Eastpark Children’s Home in Maryhill.
1984 Again it was a busy year with badge work and fundraising, Camping at Port Seton and holding our annual Coffee Morning,
This was a special session for one of the girls Kirsty McCalmont who had Cystic Fibrosis she was presented with an Endurance Award by Mrs Holmes the National President of the Girls’ Brigade.
This session Explorers saved £42.00 for The Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
1985 As well as the Badgework and fundraising we were successful in the Divisional Competitions winning the Choir, and the Explorers came 3rd place in Verse Speaking.
We also took part in the Civic Week Parade with a Decorated Float “Girls Brigade meets Tufty Land” and came in 3rd Place. The collection from the Explorers 1p jar went to Famine Relief Appeal in Ethiopia £52.00 was raised.
1986 The Company was busy again taking part in the Divisional Competitions, holding our Coffee Morning, entertaining the Women’s Guild.
The Seniors helped to serve the Tea at the local Flower Show.
The Explorers 1ps jar £59.00 went to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
In memory of Kirsty McCalmont who had Cystic Fibrosis the Brigade presented a new Christening Bowl to the Church. And in return Mrs McCalmont gifted a silver plate trophy to be used in the Explorers for the best 3rd year girl.
The first girl to receive it was Lorraine Marshall.
1987 This was another busy Session and once again we took part in the Civic Week Decorated Floats and received a 1st Equal for Noah’s Ark. The 1ps from the Explorers jar raised £79.00 for the TEAR Fund Water Project.
1988 This session the Explorers collected 1ps in a jar for families in Bangladesh £67.00 was raised. While some of the Brigaders/Officers took part in Boots across Scotland,
The Juniors won the Regional Verse Speaking Competition which allowed them to participate in the national Competitions which were held in Perth.
1989 We resumed Camp activities going to Ninemileburn with Seniors and Brigaders in May and the Juniors in September.
1990 The Explorers collected £100 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind, and the company took part in the Divisional Competitions.
1991 This was a special Session for the Company as it celebrated 40 years of service. We decided to hold a special Birthday Party and invited past Officers and the girls did the entertaining.
We also were able to make up a record of the history of the Company and displayed some of the old photos going back to the early 1950’s when the company started.
The Explorer 1ps Jar raised £100.00 to buy a bike for a missionary in Zambia.
1992
This session was back to normal after the special events for last year with all the usual fundraising and another visit to Camp.
We also started sponsoring a child in Uganda.
The Explorers raised £100.00 for the Craighalbert Centre in Cumbernauld.
1993
This session was all about the Girls Brigade Centenary with Fun Days, a Circus and a Regional Pantomime with one of our girls Allison Lawther taking part in it.
We also held our own Centenary Party for the girls.
As part of the Centenary Girls Brigade Scotland asked each company to raise £100.00 towards building an adventure playground at Craighalbert Centre in Cumbernauld the finial total raised was £39,391.00.
Some of the girls had the privilege of forming a guard of honour at the opening of the Craighalbert Centre in Cumbernauld.
A few Officers and girls attended a special presentation of the 150th Gold
Edinburgh Award at the City Chambers in Glasgow with HRH Prince Edward.
The Explorers 1p Jar raised £100.00 for the Save the Children.
1994
As well as the badgework we managed to take part in our local Christmas Festivities with all the other youth organisations in the town.
This year the Explorers 1p jar raised £100.00 for the Children’s Hospice Association.
1995
We also held a Fashion Show with the girls acting as the models.
The Explorer 1ps Jar raised £75.00 for Christian Aid Rwanda Appeal.
1996
As part of the badge work we entertained the residents of the Burngreen Lodge and held our Camping weekend with 1st Condorrat at Ninemileburn.
The contents of the Explorers 1p Jar raised £100.00 to go towards the Hydro Pool at Craighalbert Centre in Cumbernauld.
Jacqueline Brown and Pamela Whiteford and Barry McManus and Stephen Kane from the BB’s spent a week on the island of Jura as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Exploration.
1997
Explorers were collecting their 1ps £116.00 was raised for the Children’s Hospice. The Juniors, Seniors and Brigaders held a Silent Auction, made a Line of Coins, Line Danced and held a Quiz Night, A Line Dancing and Supper Night for the Parents was held to raise funds for our Sponsored Child in Uganda.
Explorers also visited Blackshaw Farm in Ayrshire.
1998
We were honoured to take part in our Minister Rev. James Ross’s Retirement Service with the girls singing.
Jacqueline Brown was the first girl in the company to achieve the Queen’s Award for almost 25 year and making her the 6th person in the company to receive it.
1999
The Explorers collected their 1ps for Radio Lollipop at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital in Glasgow. The Explorers paid a visit to the Radio Station.
£100.00 was raised.
2000
With this being the Millennium National Headquarters devised special Badgework that could be used during this session.
As well as our usual Fundraising events we decided to try something new instead of going to Camp we took the girls to Dalguise Activity Centre up in Perthshire with our Boy’s Brigade Company.
This year the contents of the Explorers jar £130.00 raised went to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
2001
This Session there were major changes within the Girls Brigade. We no longer have Seniors and the uniforms also changed from blazers etc to sweatshirts and polo shirts.
We held our annual Coffee Morning, organised a Line Dancing Night and visited Dalguise Activity Centre in Perthshire.
In February the Company celebrated its 50th Birthday holding another Party for all the ex-officers and friends with the current girls doing the entertaining.
The Kirk Session presented each of the girls and officers a copy of the New Testament with the G.B Badge on it.
The contents of the Explorers 1p jar raised £140.00 for Blythswood Care for Orphanages in Romania.
2001/2002
We had visits from the Kennel Dogs and Strathclyde Police Dogs and the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. We held a Silent Auction, A Line Dancing and Supper Night and a Christmas Talent Concert for the new Children’s Hospice at Balloch. We raised £250.00.
Visit to Dalguise Activity Centre with the BBs.
The Explorers 1ps raised £150.00 for the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.
2002/2003
We took part in Divisional Competitions, held our Annual Coffee Morning, had another Christmas Talent Concert, sponsored our child in Uganda, A group of girls and officers spent a weekend at Dalguise.
The Explorers coin jar collected £220.00 for the Famine Appeal in Malawi.
2003/2004
This Session the company fundraised with a Line of Coins and a Christmas Silent Auction for the Amani Children in Tanzania. We handed over a cheque for £150.00 to David Graham who had worked with the ex-street Children.
The Explorers collecting their coins for Yorkhill Hospital’s Medicinema and raised £200.00.
Our Missionary Partner Helen Scott visited us and we were able to give her money collected from a Silent Auction which we held.
In Session 2004/2005 We said farewell to our longest ever serving Captain Mrs Margaret Brown.
Margaret was involved as Captain for 26 years as well as coming up through the ranks of the Company. Serving a total of 47 years.
She was going to be moving to Cork with her husband John.
Both Margaret and John will be missed by the Company as John was also involved with working with the Expedition Side of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards with the Brigaders and also the Boys’ Brigade.
In January 2005 another new Captain Mrs Ann McManus was appointed
The Company was busy with Badgework and the Explorers was collecting their coins for the Craighalbert Centre in Cumbernauld.
Mairi MacKinnon achieved her Queen’s Award and was the 7th person in the Company to receive the Award.
Also in April we had the privilege of holding the Regional Parade with around 600 girls from all over Glasgow.
2005/2006
This was another busy session as part of their badge work the Juniors and Brigaders were practicing a Musical “Resurrection Rock” which was performed at the Parents Night at the end of the Session. We held a
Pancake Night for the sponsored Child.
2006/2007
The Explorers Theme was Sharing and were collecting their coins for the
Children’s Hospice £200 was raised.
The Juniors and Brigaders collected item for the for the Shoe Box Appeal for the Blythswood Trust. The ladies of the Guild also helped by collecting some of the items for us. Over 50 boxes were made up and sent to Romania.
2008/2009
Mrs Ann McManus decided it was time to give up as Captain but was still going to continue with the Explorers.
2009/2010
This session started with our 7th Captain Mrs Catherine Kerr being appointed.
The company was busy with badgework and held two successful bag packing events raising £500 for Company Funds.
They also took part in Regional Competitions but did not win anything but the girls enjoyed the experience of just taking part.
This session the girls were busy collecting old school bag, shorts, t-shirts and another clothing and stationery to send to Mary’s Meals.
2010/2011
We started the session off with the girls enjoying a weekend at Dalguise Activity Centre in Perthshire.
We held a Fashion Show with the girls acting as models. We raised £300.00 for our funds.
We took part in a Sponsored Walk organised by National Headquarters
in which companies took part in their local area along the Forth and Clyde Canal. We walked from Auchinstarry to Kirkintilloch.
This session is another special Session as in February the Company will celebrate its 60th Birthday.
More photographs of the Girls' Brigade in the Photographs section of the website