The weekly programme was a Drill evening (plus other activities) on a
Friday, sports on a Saturday and a Bible Class on Sunday afternoon. Mr
Eric Goodwin (now deceased) looked after the sports. He had been a PT
instructor in the Army and had played football for Arlesey Town in one of the
best sides they have ever had. We took it in turns to lead the Bible Class.
One of the conditions of membership was that boys should attend the Bible
Class; this did not always work out but overall the boys were pretty good.
There were other Companies in the area at the time – two in Letchworth,
one in Stevenage and one in Kimpton. We played football against all of them;
our team was brilliant and we won most of them – by a considerable margin.
In those days there was a nation-wide Table Tennis Championship which we
won. Ask Ian Randall about it!
We had a Drum and Bugle Band which Des Archer organised. He was
Above: 1st Arlesey Boys Brigade on the march in the High Street,
date – early 1960’s.
greatly helped by his late father-in-law,
Mr Vic Marsden a former member of the
famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and
local town bandsman and a member of
Beds & Herts Territorial Army Regimental
Band. He was also helped by Mr Stirrup
from Stotfold. The late John Smith, a
former Charge Nurse at Fairfield Hospital,
assisted with First Aid.
The newly formed Company needed a
Company Colour but their sights were set
on obtaining a silk embroidered version,
which was financially out of their reach.
The Company did in the end get their
Above: Front cover of the third
wish as Des Archer’s wife, Doreen and her
annual inspection and display on
father, Vic Marsden set work and produced
May 12th 1962 in the W.I. Hall
a double sided, silk, hand embroidered
Company Colour. Even the Union Jack
which was part of the Colour was hand made from individual pieces of silk by
Vic Marsden. The Company were very proud of their new Colour, although it
was very heavy to carry!
Each year we put on a Display in the Women’s Institute Hall (this was
before the Village Hall was built) with the Inspecting Officer coming from
another Company.
Every year the Companies from the local area went on summer camp. We
visited such places as the Isle of Wight, Dorset and West Wales.
The Arlesey Company went on until 1974 when it rather ran out of steam.
However we all remember the Boys’ Brigade motto which reads:
“The advancement of Christ’s Kingdom amongst boys and the promotion
of habits of reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a
true Christian manliness”
Tidytime_Oct_2012_06:Layout 1 22/4/13 17:45 Page 1
Not anything wrong with this, is there?
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• Large family garden
• Texas hold’em poker – Thursday nights
• Sunday night Quiz plus ‘Play Your Cards Right’
• Weekly food menu – Monday to Saturday
• Freshly prepared Sunday roast lunches
– served 12.30pm till 4.00pm
• Large screen TV for major events
• Old Oak golf society
• Pool & darts
t the Old Oak
Live Music a
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1th: Soul Ma
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Service wash, dry and fold – from £8,
Football kits – £13.50
Duvets, pillows, curtains and more
Dry Cleaning
25th:
at 9:00pm
Saturday Maye & The Love Reaction
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web: www.oldoakarlesey.co.uk
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May 2013
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