Congratulations to Cameron, Lewis and Nathan!

On the way to gaining this award they;
• gained their Compass and Discover Awards,
• created web pages for 1st Bletchley’s web-site,
• organised two Car Wash fund-raisers,
• ran the Company Section Christmas party twice,
• were promoted to L-Cpl,
• helped run activities in Anchors or Juniors.

Well done to the three of you!

This year the boys were challenged at the start of lent to forego their treats during the following weeks. The Company would then donate a nominal sum to a charity based on the number of boys and weeks in lent. I’m pleased to say that given the choice the boys voted to take on the challenge and of course maintain good behaviour throughout.

Easter has come and gone and I’m very pleased to say that the boys did exceedingly well and raised £48 through their lenten fast.

It was decided that this money would be donated to the Samaritan’s Purse Turn on the Tap project.

Just £48 could give a mother and her family clean water in the home through a BioSand water filter – no more sickness from drinking dirty water.

I hope that they learnt that Lent is about more than giving up chocolate, but doing something with what’s left when you do.

The ancillary structures include a solar panel array and power cell recharging bay, robot accessed stores bunker (like EDNA on CSI:NY) and a water drill. There is even a small sample return rocket with launch tower, just in case some evidence of simple life is discovered. We couldn’t resist constructing a utility vehicle to help the astronauts get around in.

I don’t have to tell you that Christmas is looming, along with the end of term. As we head into the Christmas break I’d like to share a number things with you for the new year. Firstly, when we start again! This will be Tuesday 10th January, 2012 (Amicus will make their own arrangements).

Family Services

We’ve already had the first of the new format Family Services and I want to remind you of the dates for the coming year; 15th January, 25th March, 6th May. Please don’t forget that these services are intended to be family oriented, shorter and finish with an invitation to lunch. January’s service will finish with a winter barbeque! So please put the dates in your diaries and bring the whole family along.

Half Terms

There appears to be some confusion with half terms and when we do or don’t meet. The problem seems to be rooted in the changes at the Premier Academy. Please find below the Tuesdays in 2012 when we will not be meeting.

• 14th February – Half Term
• 3rd & 10th April – Easter
• 5th June – Half Term

So with all of the information imparted, it just leaves me to wish you all a peaceful and blessed Christmas!

Mark Churchill, Captain.

(www.meccanouk.co.uk)

Check out Action Kids for Schools for some ideas.

(http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/en_GB/)

A small portion of the board. We decided to keep the four railway stations – Milton Keynes Central, Bletchley, Wolverton and Fenny Stratford – but replaced the Water and Electricity squares with “The Point” and “Xscape”. Rather than use street names, we chose local areas in Milton Keynes. There are over 100 of these, so apologies if the 22 selected didn’t include yours.

I was pleased to be able to award a number of service badges that can only be earnt by attandance both on a Sunday and parade night. The girls’ awards were presented by the Milton Keynes GB District Commissioner, Rachel Allen. Joining her as guest of honour was our very own Bill Bond.

There was some sneakiness going on before the event. Let me explain. Bill has now retired from work and has decided to retire from Boys’ Brigade. OK, you say, very nice. Nice doesn’t begin to describe the contribution Bill has made to our company since joining as a boy (I’ll leave you to do the arithermatic). He has been captain twice in our company’s history and touched the lives of many. Thanks to the sneakiness many of them attended the evening to catch up on old times during the post show BBQ. Bill was presented with a special silver version of the campers badge that he had as a boy and, in part, recognises his contribution to MK Summer Camp, but then that’s another story.

My apologies for the lack of photographs from the BBQ, Circus Skills, face painting, crafts and XBox games, we were just too busy enjoying ourselves !

Mark.

Whilst at the camp the battalion held a number of battalion competitions to close out the session. Congratulations to out members as they came back with not one, but two trophies!

The Anchor Boys won the potted sports competition.

Potted Sports Winners

… and the Juniors won the ‘triathlon’.

Triathon Winners

Well done to all who took part !