Events           

Camps were first held at St.Annes, Blackpool.   firstcampsbb.jpg (40636 bytes) 

Then at Orichan I.O.M - 1920/21/22/23/24/28/29/30/31

           Rhyl      Wales - 1925/26/27

           Peel       I.O.M - 1932/33

 and Portsmouth in 1934 aboard the old battleship "Implacable". campimplaccablebb.jpg (45734 bytes)

During the 1960's camps were held with the 10th Wigan Coy, St.Nathaniels, going twice to Dawlish, once to Towyn, to the I.O.M and to Yarmouth.

Later held at :- Borrowdale - 1970

                          Silverdale - 1971

                        Rhosneign - 1972/74   Concorde was viewed flying into RAF Anglesey

                         Lynmouth - 1973

a bit of time went by...........


Barge trip ( March 1999 )        

All aboard

 0175.jpg (24657 bytes) What better way of spending a weekend than a pleasure cruise on a narrow boat.

That’s just what St Peter’s Boys’ Brigade Company section (and company section-to-be) did for the start of British Summertime 1999.

After a quick safety talk, we set sail (so to speak) from Preston Brook, near Runcorn on the Friday evening trying to make the most of what little daylight was left and get through Preston Brook Tunnel, which is 1239 yards long. It took about 20 minutes to emerge and find out that it was just as dark outside as inside so we had to moor up for the evening.

The lads quickly set to work preparing the evening meal and then washing up according to the roster. Then followed some games and a few jokes. With excitement running high (myself included), the first night didn’t end with lights out as more jokes and some peculiar noises echoed through the boat until the early hours.

6:30am brought an unwelcome wake up call followed by "who’s cooking breakfast?" and " put the kettle on!"

0075.jpg (21403 bytes)The tranquility of the morning sunrise glimmering on the mirrored surface of the water was somewhat disturbed once the boys finally got out of their bunks.

Our first full day of cruising began with a rise of about six inches – through a ‘Stop Lock’ separating the Bridgewater Canal from the Trent and Mersey. It was then full steam ahead towards Middlewich. 

0475.jpg (38570 bytes)A break for lunch by The Anderton Boat Lift was taken up mostly by a game of football (trying to tire them out) in the rain before a brief drying off session in the Visitors Center.

2275.jpg (27822 bytes) Here we learned all about this marvelous piece of engineering – oh and took advantage of a chance to stock up on sweets and ice cream.

Onwards to our overnight mooring place, we passed other spectacular canal craft and a variety of wildlife including ducks, swans, mink, rabbits and herons. A series of narrow locks tested our navigation skills, as did carefully negotiated private moorings, fishermen and other obstacles before finally tying up to the sound of hailstone.

Mrs Whisker put the crew to good use with potato and vegetable peelers for the main meal (I have photos to prove it). Later we were going for a stroll along the canal bank, but the weather changed our minds. Instead we played more games followed by a much earlier and peaceful bedtime (don’t you just love it when a plan comes together).

A relaxed start to Sunday morning, we got under way at 8:00am stopping only to eat breakfast and later a quick game of football. Making up for lost time we traveled back to make the 3:00pm Northbound passing slot through Preston Brook Tunnel.

It was only when we had entered the tunnel, I remembered that the clocks had gone forward - all except ours. Despite all our planning and good time keeping, BST defeated us and made us late home. But nevertheless we had an excellent weekend and all look forward to next year’s adventure.

2975.jpg (32559 bytes)   PS. Photographic evidence of the boys’ washing up and peeling spuds is available on request.


Millennium Camp ( August 2000 )

Fifteen Boys and Seven Officers went on the Battalion Millennium Camp at Whithaugh Park in the Scottish Borders. scenic.jpg (25911 bytes)

We were blessed with good weather and this allowed several activities to be undertaken including abseiling, a simulated parachute jump, raft building, rope adventure, indoor games and swimming. In summary, it was a tiring but enjoyable weekend. 

raftbuild.jpg (30929 bytes) Raft Building  dunk.jpg (31076 bytes) Raft Sinking  adventure.jpg (35959 bytes) Rope Adventure  pool.jpg (31772 bytes) Pool

 


Treales ( September 2001 )

treales.jpg (29808 bytes) Aerial View                                               group.jpg (58508 bytes) Company 

 chapel.jpg (55161 bytes) Chapel                                                     sportsbarn.jpg (48964 bytes) Barn 

hockey.jpg (34675 bytes) Hockey                                                     assaultcourse.jpg (53864 bytes) Assault Coarse

 sandcastle.jpg (45851 bytes) Sandcastle                                                team6x4.jpg (45645 bytes) New Kit


Treales (September 2002)

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Football Weekend 2003

On the 3rd May 2003, the 8th Wigan played host to a BB company from Scotland. The 1st  Lochwinnoch company made the journey to Wigan to visit the JJB Stadium and watch the Latics. 

While in the area they challenged our company to a game of football on the Saturday morning. We duly fielded a team and after a close run game, we lost 4-2. With fire in our hearts and fruit juice in our belly's, we decided to make amends with a second game only to loose 6-0. 

The following day, we were joined by 15th Wigan and had another couple of games. This time, determined not to be beaten, we joined forces to play Lochwinnoch with a couple of extra players on our team - we still lost. 

A good weekend was had by all.

lochwinnoch team.jpg (22106 bytes) 1st Lochwinnoch  8th wigan sunday team.jpg (20148 bytes) 8th Wigan

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Treales (September 2003)


Treales (September 2004)

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Barge (April 2005)

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Treales (September 2005)


Treales (September 2006)


Treales (September 2007)


Barge (April 2008)

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Treales (October 2008)

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Treales (Oct 2009)

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Swimming Gala

Saturday 13th March 2010 saw the Junior section win the trophy at the Battalion swimming competition.

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Barge (May 2010)

New horizons 2010.jpg (147566 bytes) New Horizons group2010.jpg (115535 bytes) Motley Crew boat 2010.jpg (115388 bytes) Who's Steering

Traveling from Preston Brook towards Manchester, we stayed the first night at Grappenhall. After a stroll along the canal and through the village we headed for a Tesco Express for some essential supplies (sweets).

steering2010.jpg (121733 bytes) In Safe Hands    galley2010.jpg (93057 bytes) Feeding Time on rock2010.jpg (110378 bytes) On the Rocks

With one tireless boy giving frequent time checks all night, not much sleep was had but still up at 06.30 for breakfast. On Saturday we went to Walton Park nr Altrincham for some exercise in the form of Football, Tennis and Basketball before turning around and squeezing in a game of Rounders. Arriving at Lymm we walked off our evening meal by visiting Lymm Dam.  

basketball 2010.jpg (110842 bytes) Playtime          tennis2010.jpg (108775 bytes) Wimbledon    me on boat2010.jpg (94101 bytes) Ahh, Peace

The weekend finished with a Picnic and a game of Pitch 'n' Putt or Bowls at Walton Hall and Gardens.


Summer 2010

During the holidays the Company Section had a go at OctoPush or Under Water Hockey. After a brief coaching session by some of the junior club members (some of whom have been picked for Team GB) they got stuck in to a game.

Also the lads had a Try Dive with the Mid Lancs Sub Aqua Club at Leigh Sports Village.

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Finally they tested their endurance on a 20 mile Bike Ride along the canal to Pennington Flash.bike ride 2010.jpg (153006 bytes)


Treales (Oct 2010)

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Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium July 2012

On Thursday 26 July 2012, David, Anne and Daniel Mawdesley attended the daily ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. They have been many times but this was to be something special. David is not currently a serving officer in the 8th. Wigan Company, Boys’ Brigade but has been a member and supporter of the BB and the Company for over 50 years and is still committed to the Objects of the BB (he even has “Will Your Anchor Hold” as the ring tone on his phone). David and Daniel are both members of the Western Front Association and Daniel is a member of the Last Post Association, based in Ypres. Early in the year, with the agreement of Company Captain Jim Whisker, David contacted the Last Post Association and asked if the 8th. Wigan Company could be represented at the daily ceremony on 26 July as this was an intended stop over on the family’s return from holiday in France. The LPA replied and said a wreath could be laid at the ceremony and they included “8 Wigan Company” in the official calendar for the year. The Menin Gate is a large gate (like Marble Arch) which straddles the Menin Road at the entrance to the town of Ypres in Flanders. It is a famous symbol of the First World War and inscribed upon it are the names of 54896 Commonwealth soldiers who fought and died in the Ypres Salient during the war and whose bodies were never found or were unable to be identified. This huge total is in fact only up to a cut-off date of 15 August 1917 and there are a further 34984 names inscribed on the memorial at Tyne Cot Cemetery just a few kilometres away from Ypres. The ceremony is held each night at 8 pm and has been held every night since 11 November 1929 except only during the occupation by the Germans from May 1940 to 6 September 1944. Traditionally it is the buglers of Ypres Fire Service who blow the Last Post. At a few minutes to eight on the 26 July, the Guard of Honour and the standard bearers assembled and out marched the six buglers, together with a piper. All the crowd fell silent and the buglers blew the fanfare and then the Last Post as excellently as always. At this point, David marched to the centre of the road as he had been given the honour of reciting the exhortation “They Shall Grow Not Old.....”. This he did and returned to the side in readiness to lay the wreath. After the silence the piper started to play a lament and the military group were the first to march across the road to lay their wreath, followed by David and Daniel who were determined to show the “foreigners” how to march and they laid the wreath with the BB Anchor and 8th Wigan name at the designated place on the Menin Gate to remain there until the authorities move them to make way for others. As the two were laying the wreath, the piper was playing “Abide With Me” which coincidentally is a favourite hymn of both of them. The buglers played the long Reveille and the ceremony was over. No different to the many thousands of ceremonies before over the long years since 1918 but very special to the Mawdesley family and, we hope, to the 8th Wigan Company. The 8th Wigan was founded right in the middle of the First World War in 1916 and whilst we do not know for sure if we had any members involved in the conflict around Ypres and Passchendaele, we do know that we had at least one member killed during the war and have no reason to doubt there were many more. The wreath was laid in commemoration and remembrance of all the lads from Hindley who fought in that great conflict and who never returned home.


 

 

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