Boys' Brigade

14 th West Kent Boys' Brigade, taken from an article written by the outgoing Captain of thirty seven years, Mr Bernard Clewes MBE. (and Vice-Chairman of the BCVYO Ltd)

It was early in 1904 that the then vicar of Christ Church, Bexleyheath, felt he needed a BB Company. He approached William Dickinson, a well known local businessman, and also a leader of a very successful boys' club. After discussion and much prayer WD, as he became known, summoned his members to a meeting. All were keen to go ahead with a Company, an application form was forwarded to the Brigade forthwith, and on October 31 st of that year the Rev Fry had his BB Company , to be known as 14 th West Kent .

In 1912 a piece of land was leased from a Departmental Store and a building was erected at a cost of £340. Sadly a number of founder members died during the war but afterwards the membership and band continued to prosper and their skills took them to the finals of London 's Devonshire Cup. The following year the 14 th won the Daily Telegraph shield for drill.

In 1926 after the lease had run out another new site was found and a secondhand wooden medical clinic was erected. Another war in 1939 devastated the numbers, and at the end of the war WD decided that a new hall was needed as the old wooden one was now supported by a tree trunk, and eight years later the Dickinson Memorial Hall was opened.

With renewed numbers a full blue uniform was introduced, which led the way for the Brigade to launch theirs in 1963. The Duke of Edinburgh's award involved all the seniors and the first gold D of E was won by a 14 th Sergeant. In 1981 the 'double' was achieved by winning both the Daily Telegraph Shield and the Devonshire Cup in the space of twenty minutes!

In 1985 an appeal was launched due to rain pouring through the roof and God must have heard the prayers as a developer appeared out of the blue. A supermarket was built with a brand new BB HQ alongside, known as the BB Centre.Apropriately it was opened on the 31 st of October.

Today there are four sections - some ninety members in all ranks who will celebrate the Centenary with a thanksgiving service. When? October 31 st of course.

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