History
The Boys’ Brigade is the oldest Uniformed Christian Youth Organization for Boys in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, having been started at Saint Andrews Presbyterian (Kirk) Church in 1909. The first company was short lived and for quite a time and it seemed like the idea of Boys' Brigade in the Bahamas had died This International Movement called The Boys’ Brigade was founded by a Sunday School teacher who was also a volunteer Army Officer, by the name of William Alexander Smith (later Knighted by King George), in Glasgow Scotland on October 4th 1883, making it the oldest uniformed Organizationfor Boys in the world.
The Movement was introduced here in the Bahamas by Rev. H. R. Brown a Presbyterian minister on a Mission assignment by the Church of Scotland in 1909. This was documented as a part of the BB movement spreading overseas between 1887 and 1914. This included Australia, Canada, Bermuda, the Americas and the Caribbean, where the Movement began on the Island of Jamaica in 1894.
In 1943, the Rev. William T. Makepeace, then minister at Grants Town Wesley Methodist Church saw the need for a Boys' Brigade Company at his church. He was able to retain the services of two members of the Royal Air Force, Mr. Harry Davidson and Mr. Walter Dickson who were stationed in Nassau during World War II. Mr. Davidson, an ex-Boys' Brigade Officer became the first Captain when the company was enrolled on the 16th July, 1943, as the pt Bahamas (Nassau) Company of the Boys' Brigade. Some of its first members were Thomas Stubbs, Charles and Arthur Coakley, Lionel and Leslie Marshall, Alfred Johnson, Patrick Ingraham, Edwin and James Thompson, Reno Brown, Deward Ferguson and Ralph Barnett.
Since the movement was re-started at Grants Town Wesley Methodist Church in 1943 it has grew rapidly in its early years. In 1954 the Bahamas had 4 registered Companies and 16 registered in 1960. The number of registered Companies stands at 53 throughout the Country. There are 31 active and giving continuous services to the Boys in their respective communities.
The first set of uniforms were made locally by Miss Essie Fisher and Miss Arnett Archer-Knowles and much of the equipment used had to be improvised. It is believed that the pt Company Band was started in 1947. It was a Drum and Bugle Band. The company became one of the major attractions for boys in the community. When there was a parade, the company would line up on Baillou Hill Road in a single line with boys from Meadow Street to Peter Street, and members of the community would follow the brigade wherever they marched through the streets.
The Rev. William T. Makepeace came to the Bahamas in 1926 and served until 1963. He was stationed at Wesley from 1937-1956 becoming the company's first Chaplain. The following ministers served at Wesley: Rev. John Simms, Rev. Peter Howard, Rev. W. M. Harris, Rev. Edwin L. Taylor (pt black minister), Rev. Kenneth Huggins, Rev. Dennis Magnus, Rev. Charles Curry, Rev. Nymphas Edwards, Rev. Colin Archer, Rev. Patterson Dean, Rev. Carl Campbell and Rev. Frederick Kelly.
The Wesley Hall and the annex to Wesley School room was built and opened in 1960 and the Boys' Brigade recreational center was completed in 1966. Captain Harry Davidson served the company for a period of eighteen (18) months before leaving to return to his home country, England. Mr. Durward Archer, who at that time was a Lieutenant, succeeded Mr. Davidson and served for about a year before leaving for college abroad. In 1946 Simpson Calfred Penn took over as Captain and held office until his demise in 1990.
Captain Penn was impressed with the life history of the founder, Sir William Alexander Smith. He noted that Sir William gave thirty (30) years, challenged, he wanted to give thirty-five (35), notably he gave forty-seven (47 years. Over the years, there were many leaders assisting in the work of the Boys' Brigade, including women. Some of them who taught the Life Boys (boys under 10) were: Levada Gibson, Majorie Sawyer¬Archer, Judy Cleare-Munroe and Gloria Johnson-Cox. After 1977 when the Junior Section was introduced to the Boys' Brigade, persons like Ms. Moss, Joan Marshall and Jerline Glinton assisted.
The company planned numerous camping trips to the family islands. The first being to Bimini, where eventually the 2nd Company was formed. Andros, Abaco and Eleuthera were popular camp sites. In 1954 Captain Penn along with Sgt. Neville Wilson, Lance Cpl. Clyde Bethel and Lance Cpl. Carl Bethel left the Bahamas to attend the Diamond Jubilee, Founders Centenary International Camp at Eton College, Windsor England. In 1983 Captain Penn then took a contingent from Nassau and Abaco to the Centenary Celebrations in Great Britain.
Each year boys participated in Operation Goodwill where they performed jobs for the needy and presented gifts of fruit and goods to the aged. In 1968 they painted the Children's Emergency Hostel. Displays were held annually where the company would perform drills, gymnastics, pyramids, boxing and competitive games. They were usually inspected by Governors and high ranking officials. The company paraded every first Sunday in the month and once helduniforms inspections every third Friday. After the death of Captain Penn, Lt. Hayden Blackman was inducted as the company's fourth Captain in 1991.