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ONLOOKER

Issue 77

Chairman's Word

Dear Friends

Greetings, yet again, in the name of Jesus.

What happened to the summer this year, did I oversleep and miss it one day? I really cannot believe that we are into winter and looking towards Christmas and all the joy of the celebrating the greatest gift the world has ever known. For the first time for many years I did not go to camp this year and really did miss it. That week with the youngsters is always hard graft, yet a great chance to share the Good News of Jesus with them. On the other hand, I suspect that I should now be growing old gracefully and leave such work to younger folk although, in all honesty, I would rather grow old disgracefully!!!

Times are certainly not good as we work our way towards Christmas. What should be a chance to share with family and loved ones is fast becoming a big worry for people as they try to come to terms with the economic woes of our country. I worry about the plight of the old and disabled, especially if we get another winter like last year, when on two or three occasions I could not get up the hill to the Immigration Centre and had to plod up in the snow - not something I would want to do again!! One thing for certain, it certainly gave my heart a going over!! Please keep the aged, disabled and homeless in your prayers as winter starts to bite around us.

I would want to say that we in London Stedfast have bucked the trend and enjoyed a good year. Highlight must have been the Federation meeting at Bromley, which was really superb, a credit to the planning of John and his co-workers. It was the last time I would be able to share with a long time friend, George Holkam, as he was promoted to glory soon after. Sadly, by the nature of our membership, we must expect this, but it still brings some degree of sadness, especially when you have worked closely with someone at things like KG Vl. On the other side of the coin, it does seem to me that Stedfast comes into its own at times like that and is able to circulate friends and colleagues so that the one who has been promoted to glory is given the respect and love he or she deserved.

I think that the Boys' Brigade really does need our prayers and support at this time. I got an email from a friend in one of the Battalions where I served painting a pretty grim picture of what was happening to the Companies there. Basically it is down to not enough staff to comply with all the various regulations in force today, plus a shortage of instructors skilled in the various badges that are now on offer. Can you recall the joy of those lovely Boys' Brigade badges we used to get and polish? I recall the first one-year service ‘pip' that I was given, complete with a Bible for perfect attendance. If I could, I think I would have worn that badge on my pyjamas; I really was delighted with it. As the years moved on, and my armband started to chink and feel heavy, it was a real treat to be on parade with the very best Company in the Brigade and feel a bit of an old 'sweat.' That armband is now a precious memory, not only of the classes I attended, but also of the Boys' and staff that I was greatly privileged to serve with.

In closing, may I do a couple of things? Firstly, to remind you of the Annual General meeting on the 19th March 2011 at Wesley's Chapel, God willing I plan to be there.

May I on behalf of all the London Stedfast Office bearers, may I wish you and those you care and love, a blessed and joyful Christmas and a very special New Year.

I am yours because I am His
John.

Rev John L Lines MBE
Chairman London Stedfast Association

ONLOOKER

Issue 77 - Winter 2010

Secretary's NEWS

Fellow members of the LSA management team have been reflecting over the past year in their reports for this issue of Onlooker. I feel I must join them in pausing for a moment to consider how did we fair as a Stedfast Association during 2010? . Certainly it was a very busy and special year for us. Hosting the Federation Annual Council Meeting in May at Bromley Kent, was no doubt the peak of our achievements. Many Stedfast members from around the UK and RoI have written and complimented us on the success of that weekend, which of course was very much appreciated.

Whilst this was our major event for 2010, a number of other events and social activities continued, and are reported elsewhere. The day-to-day running of the Association was not overlooked and I must thank on your behalf, all the other members of the LSA management committee for their support and work put in throughout our special year.

I need to mention at this point, that the Chairman and Secretary have not been overwhelmed with nominations for our replacements. In fact nobody has yet stepped forward. Some have been asked but declined. Our Annual General Meeting at Wesley's Chapel in March 2011 draws ever nearer. We ask you again to consider if you would be willing to take on one of these important jobs. Perhaps you may know somebody who would be willing, but rather shy of stepping forward. Do let one of the two John's know and we shall follow up any names put forward - thank you.

Please make every effort to attend our AGM because we shall need to discuss and confirm how much the increase will be for our annual members subscription for year 2012. I asked for your comments on this matter and a number of you did respond. The sum suggested ranged from £11 to £15.00 pa. All the members who contacted the Secretary clearly wanted to retain Onlooker in the format and number of issues produced each year. Most members contacting me felt as the increase was not taking effect until 2012 (and to discourage a further increase the following year) that it be pitched at around £12.50. But you will have an opportunity to agree the amount by attending. More importantly, it really does look like being John Lines last attendance as our chairman, So please do make every effort to attend that day.

I have mentioned before how thrilling it is to receive so many communication from our Stedfaast family in the Uk and from around the world. Over the past few months I have been invited to attend the 20th anniversary celebrations in Penang Malaysia on Sunday 23rd October. I wish that was possible but I returned from a weeks holiday on that same day, and you wouldn't have received your Onlooker during November.
I have probably received more Stedfast /BB mags than ever before over the past few months. With copies coming from New South Wales Australia- New Zealand- BB Asia - BB Singapore, then closer to home, Glasgow, Liverpool and Norfolk SA's. How wonderful to read about all the things going on, and the communications between our far-flung Stedfast family. Well done Paul Juby with all your international networking, it is certainly paying dividends. A shame that I can only reproduce the front covers of these magazines to give you a flavour of what is going on.

Pictures of magazines.

One example of an amazing chain of events. Alan Harris is the new Editor of the New Zealand Stedfast News. When he emailed me over their September issue, I circulated it to more of my SA contacts around the UK and worldwide.
Jimmy Ho, a member of the LSA and Singapore SA immediately picked up on a possible link between himself (one of five BB Singapore boys selected to represent his Country at the 75th BB Anniversary International Camp in New Zealand 1958), and Alan Harris attending the same camp? The answer was YES - and a series of Emails between them (some 52 years later) followed over the following weeks. What a wonderful story. I felt very privilege to be copied in on their communications. A few pictures were even dug out of their Archives and emailed over for reminiscing.
Another email recently from Lim Mah Thye, former Captain of the 2nd Penang Company (a company Paul Juby started 58 years ago) and now President of the Penang Stedfast Association, kindly asked for our permission to reproduce the story about the early work of the BB in China, which we had printed some three years ago in Stedfast. . How impressive is that? We must thank Eric Haysom and others of the 6th London for allowing them to reproduce this work.

Our Membership Secretary has already mentioned that some 20 Stedfast and friends of the BB have started taking the Onlooker magazine because they have found it a good read. It is also encouraging that BB London allowed us to enter a mail -shot with their recent London News letter about Onlooker, which resulted in new subscribers. Then following a discussion with BB HQ Felden we shall in future with their approval, be adding some regional Boys' Brigade news taken from the Gazette, keeping our Stedfast members more up to date with Today's BB news.
More thanks are due to David Kemp our Publicity & Events Co-ordinator, who continues week by week to get news in the local, church and national press about the Stedfast Association. When not busy dealing with publicity matters, David created a Former BB members website www.BoysBrigadeFormerMembers.BTck.co.uk which is now up and running and receiving lots of hits. Do visit it sometime it's very interesting. Talking about websites, our LSA site has received almost 71,00 visits at the time Onlooker went to print.
You will notice as you read through this issue that there are some new articles. We are introducing Collectors Corner and a Stedfast Members Profile - I hope both will make interesting reading and other members will be tempted to tell about any interests and hobbies they have for our next issue(s).
Interestingly, after Roger Wallis told us about his railway steam engine driver experience in the last issue, I had a Father's Day steam engine treat. My wife and I plus 400 plus other steam enthusiasts spent a day touring the Kent countryside in 1950's carriages being pulled along by the famous new steam engine 60163 Tornado.
What a wonderful experience, smelling and tasting the smoke from the engine. Hearing that engine race through Kent. Getting soot in your eyes when looking out the window. Tornado is the first new main line steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years. Launched in 1990 and after 18 years of planning and fundraising, the £3 million engine was completed in August 2008 in Darlington.

As the year draws to a close we begin to plan for 2011. The Brighton & Hove Stedfast Association hosts the 2011 ACM and Stedfast Fellowship Weekend at Eastbourne. All the details covering that special weekend in May, along with a Registration Form, has been included in this magazine for your convenience. Why not consider attending and perhaps adding a few extra days and making it a holiday in the UK. It will certainly be easier and no taxes or airport duties will be levied. Eastbourne Sussex has one of the best records for sun in the UK and the hotel is right there on the sea front. I do hope London members will support our Stedfast friends at Brighton by being present there.
I do hope you enjoy reading your final issue for 2010- I look forward to meeting up with you at some time in the New Year.

May I wish you all a very Happy Healthy and Peaceful Christmas.

John A Bates
Hon Secretary London Stedfast Association
Vice Chairman Federation of Stedfast Associations UK & RoI.

ONLOOKER

Issue 77 - Winter 2010

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S REPORT

As I sit to write this, it is only a few days to when the clocks go back and then it is all down hill to Christmas!

As I prepared my report for the July Onlooker back in mid June, there were about 40 members who had not renewed their membership to whom I sent out final reminders. A number renewed following receipt of the reminder but we still, very regrettably, had to lapse 27 members. Hopefully, this time next year I will be able to report that every current annual member renewed for 2011. Prompt payment of the annual subscription does help not only the cash flow but also the work of the Membership Secretary.

Since the last Onlooker, we have recruited 4 NEW MEMBERS

Lorraine & Malcolm Birch 14th West Kent
Graeme Cooke 120th Belfast
Rev Dennis Hawkes 155th London
Chris Wisbey 1st Langley & Capt 1st Burnham

But sadly 6 members have passed away since the last Onlooker was produced. Their names and our condolences to their families can be found on the "In Memoriam " page.

DECEASED MEMBERS
Alan Finch July 2010 5th Croydon
Bill Harris July 2010 - 41st London/3rd Yeovil
George Holkham MBE April 2010 - 16th Brighton
Arty Richardson June 2010 - 41st London
Leslie Tourell July 2010 - South Essex Companies
Douglas Wendelken July 2010 - 1st Hornsey

Our current membership numbers are:

Annual members including 6th London 443 down 36 from Oct 2009
Life Members 397 down 3 from Oct 2009
Honorary Members 58 down 2 from Oct 2009
Total 898 down 41 from Oct 2009

In view of the above numbers, as ever, we do need to recruit more members especially those leaving the ranks of The Boys' Brigade. If you know of any potential member, please let me have their name and address and I will send them details of the LSA plus a complimentary issue of Onlooker. Alternatively, point them in the direction of John Russell, John Bates or David Kemp who each have a happy knack of recruiting members. Suggestions on how we can reach out to those leaving the Brigade to get them interested in LSA will be welcome.

It was not long ago we were looking forward to reaching 1,000 members - but we seem to have gone backwards due to the number of members who did not renew their membership in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Can you think of a solution to this problem? Your Membership Secretary and the LSA management team would very much like to hear from you if you have an idea or two about maintaining members.

A flyer regarding Onlooker was recently included in a London District mail shot which has, to date, resulted in 4 new subscribers. We now have 20 subscribers to the Onlooker only where they are, in the main, already members of other Stedfast Associations.

With this issue you will find the annual reminder invitation for the subscriptions due 1st January 2011. On it, I have included a couple of questions relating to date of birth and Companies to which you have been, or are, connected. This is to enable us to get a better knowledge of the age range of our members and Companies represented. However, if you do not wish to provide this information, we will fully understand.

I would like to thank family and friends of Leslie Tourell for their kind donations totalling £60.00 towards the work of the London District to whom it has been forwarded.

Do not forget to let me know of any change in your contact details especially change of address.

It just leaves Jean, my wife, to take this early opportunity to wish all members a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2011 and me.

Roger Wallis - LSA Membership Secretary