To commemorate 75 years since D-Day, a group of BB bands visited Normandy to play and lay wreaths at St Mere Eglise, Omaha USA Cemetery, Arromanches, Juno Beach and Pegasus Bridge.

85 young people and leaders took part in the trip along with 5th Croydon Pipers. The Pipers played at the memorial to Bill Millin, a BB member who piped the men ashore on D-Day. Wreaths were laid on the graves of known BB members who died in the conflict, and Pegasus Bridge was closed to traffic for the parade.

The trip was part of a Heritage Lottery Award to 2nd Sawston to explore the role of the Brigade in the D-Day landings. The various events were supported by three Mayors from the Normandy region and much publicity and local support was provided to the Brigade.

2nd Guernsey visit Channel Islands Air Search

13 members of 2nd Guernsey were invited to visit the new Channel Islands Air Search (CIAS) plane and purpose-built hangar facility at Guernsey Airport. CIAS is an entirely volunteer-run service providing a rapid response airborne search and rescue service in Channel Island waters.

The young people heard about the 24 hour, 365 day, all weather service provided by CIAS in the 4,000 square miles of water surrounding the Channel Islands and the adjacent French coast. They also had the opportunity to check out the aircraft, which is equipped with search radar, night vision, smoke floats, radio homing and loud hailer system, and an air droppable life raft.

Crystal Maze Live Experience in Enfield

Over four evenings around 180 members of Enfield Battalion took part in a Crystal Maze Live Experience hosted by 10th Enfield. The event saw the young people take part in a 8 games consisting of physical, mental and skill based challenges, with the aim of winning crystals to give their team as much time as possible to collect gold tickets in the Crystal Dome at the end of the evening! Congratulations to the winning Juniors team from 1st Barnet and winning Company Section team from 10th Enfield.

Buchan Battalion wins Minibus!

Congratulations to Buchan Battalion, who won a competition run by the Press and Journal newspaper in which community groups had the opportunity to win a new minibus worth over £40,000.

The Battalion plans to give all Companies in the area access to the minibus, with hundreds of young people set to benefit from the prize as they make their way to activities and events across the north-east of Scotland – an area which can be hugely challenging in terms of transport.

Celebrating a Community Hero

Congratulations to Ken Willows, former Captain of 21st Nottingham, who received a County Community Hero award for being a long-time volunteer in the community. Ken has worked with the Brigade in Nottingham for 68 years and serves as a local Church pianist/organist. The award was presented by Cllr Kevin Rostance, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council.

Robot Mania at 1st Martock & Hamdon

Members of Juniors and Company Section at 1st Martock & Hamdon took part in a ‘Robot Mania’ event, where they worked in teams to build robots using only recyclable materials. Once built the teams waged a robot war with bean bags to find which one was the most stable!

1st Moneymore Sponsored Games

Anchors at 1st Moneymore took part in a sponsored games evening, with the money raised being donated to the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children.

1st Elderslie Forensics Workshop

Company Section members of 1st Elderslie were visited by the Chemistry Department of the University of Strathclyde, who put on a forensics workshop at which the young people looked at analysing fingerprints and powders, DNA profiling, and blood typing.

25th Stirling Get Fundraising

Just before Christmas members of 25th Stirling got fundraising at their local Marks & Spencer in Dunblane, with young people helping to pack bags for shoppers and the Company’s band performing outside the store. The store was very busy and the Company reports that it had a very successful day.

Shoebox appeal in Exeter

Just before Christmas members of 5th Exeter’s Company Section were part of a group from St Thomas Methodist Church who put together around 100 shoeboxes filled with gifts for children and adults in areas of eastern Europe such as Moldova.

2nd Llantwit Major visit local Coastguard Station

Juniors at 2nd Llantwit Major visited their local Coastguard Station, where they learnt a bit about what the service does and had the opportunity to see and try out some of the equipment that they use in their rescues.