Hi, My name is Brian Crowe and I would like to tell you about my background and how I became the Captain of the 6th Ipswich Boys' Brigade Company

My Grandfather, Alfred Lodge formed the 119th London Boys' Brigade Company at Harlsden, West London. My Father's elder brother Frederick Arthur Crowe joined him from the 23rd London which was based in Willesden, North West London. My Father, Leonard Crowe was soon to transfer to the 119th where he met and eventually married my Mother Ruth Lodge. Frederick Arthur Crowe or Uncle Arthur as he was known to me, joined my Grandfather Alfred Lodge in forming the 119th London. He served with the BB until after the War when the 119th amalgamated with another London Company. As you can see I come from a background steeped in the traditions of the Boys' Brigade. I was born in April 1956 and joined the 1st Ruislip Lifeboys based at Ruislip Baptist Church in 1964. When I was promoted to the Company Section in 1967 a new Company was formed in Ruislip a year later. I transferred to the 2nd Ruislip when it started in 1968 at South Ruislip Methodist Church. I rose through the ranks in 2RBB and eventually became a Lieutenant in 1974. I worked with the Junior Section until 1980.

I left the Brigade at that point and married in 1981. Sandra and I have 2 children, Amanda the eldest and Matthew. Soon after Matthew was born I was approached by the Current Captain of the 2nd Ruislip to see if I would help out with the Junior Section as the current staff were leaving. I rejoined 2nd Ruislip as a Warrent Officer in 1990. I decided to go through Basic Training again in 1990/91 and regained my Lieutenant rank.

I took on the OIC Junior Section role until 1997 when I moved to Ipswich. By this time Amanda was in the Girls' Brigade and Matthew was just finishing his time in Anchors. The search for a new Company was on. After contacting both BB and GB HQ's I was eventually directed to Alan Road. Matthew and I joined the 6th Ipswich in September 1997 and Amanda joined the 5th Ipswich GB at the same time. Throughout the past years I have worked with the Junior Section at the 6th. When I joined the 6th it was just after their Captain, Ivan had died and David Gooding had just taken over. David was the OIC Company Section before taking on the Captaincy. He has a young family and his wife also works in the Company with the Junior Section. What with work pressures and family life, David decided that he could not devote the time necessary to the Company and so resigned in July 2000. Being a relatively newcomer I did not rush into putting my name forward. It soon came apparent however that other members of staff at the 6th thought that I could take on the role and so I thought long and hard and sought guidance in prayer. As you can now see I did eventually accept the Captaincy and so now a new era opens for the 6th.

I hope you have enjoyed this little self indulgence and did not find it boring, but I wanted to tell you how a non-native of these parts became Captain of an Ipswich Company.

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my father, Leonard Crowe, on 9th February 2001 at the age of 83. Please remember my family in your prayers. My sister Shirley, brother Michael and my mother Ruth.

Brian Crowe Captain 6th Ipswich