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Dr John N MacAskill

I am sorry to intimate that our oldest Ex Member, Hugh McKinlay passed away on the 10th April aged 98.

Hugh and his brother John managed to attend the reunion 2 years ago.

Hugh was a bit of a character who loved his dancing and attending his beloved Royal British Legion at Knightswood.

Hugh was at school with Alex MacIver they were both pipers and both joined the Signals regiment.

Hugh taught German, Italian and Japanese code breaking during WW2, for the famous code breakers at Bletchley Park.

(The home of “Colossus” the British computer that broke the German Enigma files.)

This article appeared in the Daily Record last December.

(I managed to visit Bletchley Park last year where Hugh is recorded on the Roll of honour. I am currently in the middle of compiling an article on Hugh and Bletchley Park for the website.)

Funeral arrangements:-

Maryhill Crematorium

Monday 16th April at 3.15pm.

(Small chapel at the rear)

I’m sure all the ‘214 boys’ pass on their condolences to Hugh’s brother John and all the family.

Sure & Stedfast

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate a suitable Friday evening to hold a rescheduled reunion, taking into account venues, caterer, location and budget.

Sorry for any disappointment this may have caused and hope to see as many as possible coming along next year, weather permitting.

If you have sent in a cheque I will be in touch soon.

I hear from Tom Connelly that Dr Ian McBain passed away on 1st of April 2018.

Ian lived in Elgin and managed to make it along to the annual reunion a couple of years ago.

He had a brother Gordon who was also in the company, (who passed away about 5 years ago)

I reckon Ian would have been around 75 years old. (My mother was his Sunday School teacher).

The family lived in Primrose Street.

He was heavily involved in amateur dramatics and could never manage along, as shows always clashed with the April date.

I have no details regarding his funeral, if anyone needs them or has any other information regarding Ian please contact me by email.

Regards

Alan

Due to the extreme weather conditions hitting us now & over the next few days, we have taken the decision to postpone this years reunion.

We are hoping to rearrange, so watch this space.

Juggling possible dates, caterer and venue may cause us a headache but that’s our problem.

We had confirmed 44 attendees for Friday 2nd of March and there were about 12 regulars who couldn’t manage along. So maybe we could still beat the magic 50.

Take care out there and keep warm.

Click here to see STV news report.

Sorry to advise that Sheila Finlay (John Finlay’s wife), has passed away.

Dan Finlay (John’s cousin) advises us that Shiela passed away yesterday, he thought in Hairmyres Hospital.

Her funeral is at Daldowie on

Wednesday the 14th February at 12.45.

There are no further details beyond that she had become very unwell and was in hospital for about a fortnight.

For those of us who never managed along to see the B.B. Exhibition at the Mitchell Library, this will be of interest:-

Ex Member Robert Wallace has recorded a video for the website pipers persuasion.

It shows the display cases and Robert talks of the B.B. in general, then the 214.

You need to watch this for the amazing coincidence that a 214 Ex Members wife from Australia, just happened to be there at the time of filming.

Click here to see the videos on pipers persuasion.

Well done Robert.

Click here for Roberts blog on pipingpress.

This appeared today on the website that 214BB Ex Member Robert Wallace runs.

Click here to see his full blog.

The picture up top will stir the heart of every ex-BB piper out there. Over 600 pipers! The photograph is from the Jubilee celebration held at Queen’s Park, Glasgow, in September 1933 held to mark the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the movement by Sir William Smith. The picture was on display at a recent exhibition held in Glasgow’s Mitchell Library and mentioned last week. So many of the young men on parade would be caught up in the WW2 conflagration only a few years later and all would have done the BB proud.

The astonishing crowds at Bellahouston Park in 1933

To quote from a report: ‘The Jubilee in 1933 was the biggest event ever held in the history of The Boys’ Brigade : numbers were at their very best, with a total enrolment of 111,871 Boys and 52,219 Life Boys. Jubilee weeks, pageants, displays and thanksgivings were to be held up and down the land. The Jubilee Review took place at Queen’s Park Recreation Ground on Saturday 10th September with a parade state of 32,520 Officers and Boys. 100 special trains and as many buses carried the BB to Queen’s Park where 16 schools were open to provide 1230 breakfasts, 10,949 lunches and 17 ,700 teas during that long exciting day. The Inspecting Officer for the great event was His Royal Highness, Prince George, in naval uniform. The Parade of 17 Battalions was led by the 1st Glasgow, under their Captain, Douglas Pearson Smith, son of the Founder. 637 pipers formed the Massed Pipe Bands, all bravely playing ‘Highland Laddie’. The most dramatic moment was the Advance in Review order – thousands upon thousands of Boys advancing as one man.’

Our oldest Ex Member, Hugh McKinlay told me the 214 band played at this and paraded with the Company.

All the Companies marched from George Square to Queens Park in numerical order.

By the time the 1st Glasgow BB Company had arrived at the Park there were still lots of Company’s who hadn’t left George Square, so vast were the number of boys on parade.

The Glasgow Battalion of the Boys Brigade, currently have a display of memorabilia from the Glasgow City Archives in The Mitchell Library.

Running until 22nd November 2017, this special exhibition showcases Battalion records and B.B. history from it’s inception in Glasgow’s West End in 1883.

There are special talks by B.B. historians, (only one left to do on Wednesday 15th November at 2pm.)

I have not been able to go and see it yet.

(If anyone does go could they drop me a message?)

Information shown on Facebook

I was informed today that Angelo Lombardi passed away on Friday 7th July.

Angie was a great 214 stalwart, he came through the Company as a boy at the same time as my father.

He was also an officer and regularly attended the reunions until a few years ago. 

Angie sitting on the right. (Donnie MacIver standing with the Tenor stick.)

Angie’s funeral will be held on Wednesday 19th July – 12.00 noon at Linn Crematorium.

We all send our condolences to his family at this sad time.

I’m sure there will be a good turnout in 214 ties at the funeral.