... my dad and his chums. They've been in the Boys' Brigade pretty much all their lives. Dad's 76 now and the others are in the same age bracket - give or take a decade. As kids they played football together, cycled about Ireland, camped here and in GB. -Dad sang in a quartet that I'm told was pretty amazing.
They've all been members of the BB Old Boys' Association for years too - meeting EVERY week for Bible Class on a Sunday afternoon, Friday night for indoor bowls and snooker and on Saturdays in the summer for outdoor bowls. A lot of them are in the BB Centenary Choir - dad loves it - and they sound great as they visit churches to sing at special services.
This wee video clip of the Old Boys was taken at the end of the annual district parade last Sunday afternoon - right after the service. All the young members of the BB had already passed by, but I love this bunch right at the end of the parade. They just never give up. I can't begin to imagine how many artificial knees and hips and heart pacemakers are helping these guys along, but I take my hat off to them.
For those who know Belfast, they'd just passed by the City Hall and the High Sherrif had taken the salute - they were on their way back to May St Presbyterian. The band is the Symington Memorial. (My dad's the happy chap on the far side - he waves at the camera as he passes...)
Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI have a BB boy and a BB dad too. I am wondering why son's company were not in attendance, probably too afraid of being shown up by the 'old-timers'!!
It's like riding a bike, once they learn to march they never forget!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant Etta - once its in your blood there´s no getting away from it!!
ReplyDeleteAli - think only some of the companies choose to parade every year - pity as it's great to see them. The kids all looked great.
ReplyDeleteCharlene - you're right... except there will always be one or two that still need stabilisers.... you know - left arm and left leg move out at the same time!
Laura - if you sawed a leg off, you'd see BB written right through the middle like a stick of rock!