March 2024 – The informal get together

Details have been emailed out regarding our upcoming informal get together, on Friday 8th March 2024 at Tennents Brewery. (The Civic reception on 4th October is replacing this years reunion).

Ex Members should have received these today, unless you have changed your email address and have forgotten to update us with the new details.

If anyone has not received an email can they please email the secretary or use the website contact form.

Please pass on the details to anyone who you know does not have access to email or website.

Secretary’s update

Sorry for the lack of updates lately but I have been rather busy.

Here are some things that I think will be of interest to you all.

50 years ago

I received this from Ally Hunter last week, a cutting from the Glasgow Herald.

I’m sure this brings back great memories of the 214’s big 50th Anniversary night back in 1974.

Centenary year 2024

March 8th 2024 (not the reunion)

We will be letting you know soon about an upcoming informal get together evening at the Tennent Caledonia Brewery in Glasgow.

October 4th 2024 (Civic Reception/ Reunion)

With only 8 months to go, plans are underway for our evening of celebration.

Formal invites to ex members for this event will be sent 6/7 weeks prior to the evening.

214 Bagpipes

We currently have 2 full sets of pipes and one half set of pipes being assessed and refurbished.

Our thanks go to Kenny MacLeod & Stuart McCallum at McCallum Bagpipes for their support in this project.

Once ready we hope to lend these pipes to BB Companies for teaching purposes.

Currently there is another half set out on loan to Renfrew North Parish Church.

One of two half sets that we own which were made by Alex Ibell.

We have other projects we are working on to continue the 214 name.

Things you come across

Shotts Highland Games winners

Alex Robertson -Art Exhibition

I received an email from Alex….

“I’ve got an exhibition of my poster prints at the new gallery 174 Dorchester Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow.

It is running from Friday 8th Dec 5-8pm till Saturday 9th Dec 12-5pm and thereafter till the end of the year.

These prints are scenes of Glasgow with a particular and unique perspective.

I think they could be of interest to the members. I’ll attach an example.

Alex Robertson.”

I‘m sure if any ex-members are available it would be worth a trip along for a look.

Well done Alex.

Eddie Thomson

Sorry to report that Eddie Thomson (77) has passed away on Tuesday the 21st November 2023.

Eddie was the 214 Bass drummer during the late 50’s early 60’s.

Eddie standing behind the Bass drum in 1962 (from website pic 155c)

Eddie was well known in Bowling circles.

A member at Victoria Park Bowling Club he was club champion in 1981, 1983, 1992 & 1995.

Eddie Thomson

The funeral is to be held at Clydebank Crematorium (Dalnottar) on Wednesday 6th December at 2.30pm.

Eddie on the right with tenor drum (pic 107)

We all send our condolences to Eddie’s family at this sad time.

Andy Hosie

It is with great sadness that we have to advise our ex-members of the passing of Andy Hosie, just short of his 83rd birthday.

Andy played with the 214BB pipe band from 1953 till 1958 and was leading drummer of the World Juvenile Championship Band in 1957.

He continued playing, after leaving the 214, with the Red Hackle Pipe Band and Renfrew Pipe Band, becoming leading drummer of the Renfrew in 1961.

The Renfrew Pipe Band Drum Corps, under Andy’s leadership, won the World and British Drum Corps titles in 1965 and he was runner-up in the World Solo Drumming Championship in 1963.  He was arguably the most exciting and innovative drummer to come out of the 214.

Andy retired from the pipe band movement in 1965, at the top of the tree, to pursue a career with British Airways.  His drumming career was short but spectacular and could have been prolonged if he had taken up the offer to go down to London and become involved in the drum session scene.

When he left British Airways, Andy went on to work with Loch Lomond Golf Club, taking care of celebrities and high-profile guests.

Andy passed away on 19th November 2023 after a lengthy illness and is survived by Mary, his wife of 58 years, and daughter Debbie.

Our condolences go to Mary and her family.  

Further information on funeral arrangements will be posted in due course.

This photo can be found on the website in the Band Album…… no (30)

Andy was the Leading Drummer of this 1957 Juvenile World Championship winning band.

Front Row (left to right) Ian McLellan, Hugh Davidson, Jimmy Wright, Lawson Callaghan, Jim Hamilton, Frank Hopson, Gordon McIntyre, Rab Wallace, Rab Little

Middle Row Alex McIver, Andy Hosie, Joe Noble, Robin Hunter, Dougie Law, George Robertson, Alec Ibell

Back Row Alex Rae, Gordon Ferguson, Charlie Grindley

4th October – 1 year and counting!

The 4th of October is very important day, not only in the 214th’s eyes but the whole of the BB organisation.

140 years ago today in 1883

The Boys Brigade was founded in Glasgow by Sir William Alexander Smith.

From this one Company formed in Scotland the BB has grown in to a worldwide movement.

99 years ago in 1924

In 6 days time (10th Oct 2023) it is the 99th Anniversary of the formation of the 214th Glasgow Company of the Boys Brigade.

In 1 years time from today in 2024

We will be celebrating our 100th Anniversary (4th October 2024) on founders day at our Centenary Civic Reception in Glasgow City Chambers.

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Where the Boys Brigade was founded

North Woodside Hall

The first meeting took place in the Free Church Mission Hall on North Woodside Road, shown here. Only 28 boys attended. The movement expanded rapidly in the following decades, but Glasgow remained at its heart.

(This was also the building that our Treasurer (Stephen McQuillan) held his Company Offices, prior to them being turned into flats by The Woodside Club.)

In 1933 it celebrated its jubilee with an assembly at Hampden in front of 130,000 spectators. Members from across the globe again gathered in Glasgow to celebrate the Brigade’s centenary in 1983 with a series of events, including a service at Ibrox Park.

Key Timeline

1854 – William Alexander Smith born (27th October)

1883 – BB Founded in Glasgow (4th October)

1886 – First BB Camp (Tighnabruiach)

1897 – First Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of York

1908 – Scout Movement Formed (by Baden Powell, developed from the BB)

1909 – William Alexander Smith knighted (July)

1913 – The King’s Badge introduced

1914 – Sir William Alexander Smith died (10th May)

1917 – Boy Reserves started for 8 to 11 year olds


1924214th GCBB founded -Whiteinch


1926 – Amalgamation of The Boys’ Brigade with The Boys’ Life Brigade

1933 – Jubilee Celebrations

1955 – BB involved in Duke of Edinburgh’s Award pilot scheme

1963 – World Conference (of The Boys’ Brigade) formed

1974 214th GCBB – Golden Jubilee, Glasgow City Halls

1977 – Pre-Junior Section formed (now known as Anchors)

1982 – Royal Mail issue 1st Class stamp celebrating The Boys’ Brigade

1983 – Centenary Celebrations

1985 – 214th GCBB merge with the 135th Glasgow Company

1993 – Junior Section 75th Anniversary (previously called ‘Life Boys’)

1994 – Royal Review by HM The Queen at Windsor Castle

214th GCBB Ex Members parade at 70th Anniversary Scotstoun Parish Church.

2002 – World Conference renamed Global Fellowship of Christian Youth

2008 – 125th Anniversary of The Boys’ Brigade

214th GCBB – Ex Members parade at Braehead Arena

2008 – Girls’ Association formed

2011 – 125th Anniversary of Camping

2012 – HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Baton Run

2017 – Centenary of Juniors age group

2022 – HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

2023 – Celebrations of the Coronation of King Charles III

2023 – 140th Anniversary of The Boys’ Brigade (Today)

Looking ahead……….

2024 214th GCBB – Centenary Civic Reception Glasgow City Chambers (4th Oct)

John Fulton

Sorry to intimate that another of our members John Fulton passed away last week on Wednesday 13th September 2023 aged 80.

Johnnie was a bit of a well known character in the 214 BB and also among the Bowling fraternity.

John at the Ex Members Reunion 2014

He was a member of Old Kilpatrick Bowling Club for 57 years and was presented with a medal by the club for 50 years membership in 2016.

Picture courtesy of Old Kilpatrick Bowling Club

As a boy he was a great footballer and played for Drumchapel Amateurs who produced many a great footballer.

I am led to believe that Johnnie still holds the record number of goals scored for the club in one game, a triple hat trick (9).

He then went on to play with Cambuslang Rangers and won the Scottish Junior Cup with them.

The Funeral will be held at :-

Dalnottar Crematorium on Tuesday 26th September at 2.30pm.

I’m sure all the Ex Members send their condolences to his wife Allison, daughter Karen and the family at this sad time.