Our History - Brookside BB Golden Jubilee
A poem written by William Livingstone, which was first recited during our 50th Anniversary Dinner.
We’ve been called to mark this milestone of Brookside church BB,
As they indulge in celebrating their Golden Jubilee.
Yes from nineteen sixty seven and with fifty years well spent,
We’ll recall from fading memories this historical event.
A need for Christian witness to our boys and our young men,
Was recognised and organised and plans laid way back then.
After prayer and some wise council our company was born,
And the sound of marching teenage feet our new halls did adorn.
Our minister Rev. Matthews was the project’s inspiration,
To utilise our new church hall built with love and dedication.
A team of keen new leaders would step up to the mark,
And with captain Stanley Gordon on this venture did embark.
Willie Laverty, Houston Gordon and Miss Elizabeth Shaw,
And a young Miss Erna Nicholl would lay down the BB law.
And of course the boys responded with keen and youthful zeal,
To set those early standards and on the company set their seal.
The advancement of Christ’s Kingdom amongst the Brookside boys,
And the promotion of those values towards true Christian joys.
The aim of all the officers, to fulfil this vital role,
And lead each boy to seek and find an anchor for his soul.
In fifty years of service under various changing teams,
This object was the focus of the different style regimes.
As time moves on the personnel of necessity do the same,
We say, “All may change but Jesus never, Glory to His Name”.
As we each recall those incidents which last long in the mind,
Those moments of hilarity and those of a sadder kind.
We’ll just leave them all to simmer in the annals of our thoughts,
Many better left unspoken as in emotions we get caught.
The highlight marking each new year was the annual display,
And no one done it better or surpassed the Brookside way.
Those oft poached unique comic themes were original and new,
A “Touch Of Tartan” “The Good Old Days” or “The Pot Of Irish Stew!”
Testing the production team with those flamboyant props,
Where Annie Young and Florence Brown’s costume skills were the tops.
Ann Little and Mary Barkley would add they’re own mischief,
As they all joined in the sketches to cause mayhem grief.
The wonky donkey done its rounds and bedlam would descend,
And I’m told the present captain performed a great back end.
Not forgetting then our great flute band where our invites did abound,
From Garden Fetes or Fancy Dress to a display in Dublin town.
With Clarence and Mo conducting we produced a sound so grand,
The Bell Ayres blending with the flutes like McNamara’s band.
Our drummer boy was Robert Dick he could really give it some,
When the girls were asked what hymn they’d like, they screamed “Him on that big drum!”.
Our Bell-Ayre skills were limited so we called in some recruits,
Deborah Kyle and Irene Woodrow let John Barkley join the flutes.
The boys they really loved it as around them they would clamour,
Just what BB needed a little bit of glamour!
There were many sports achievements, too numerous to mention,
But suffice to say the Brookside lads were always in contention.
The football had big problems, though never on the field,
It was the hooligans who followed them, the mums who yelled and squealed!
As we bring this look back to a close we pause to render thanks,
For all the boys and leaders who have graced our BB ranks.
From the founder Stanley Gordon to Rev McKay,
To the unforgettable Thomas Bell a legend of his day.
There followed next a fine quartet, a conveyor belt of Youngs,
James, then Ian, then Geoffrey and now William’s praise be sung.
And we haven’t time to mention those in the junior ranks,
But we all know who you are tonight and we simply just say “Thanks”!
So here’s now to the future for more blood and sweat and tears,
God bless and guide and keep BB for another fifty years!