| Awards Evening 2009 |
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The Awards Evening is always a special night for our Company. It lets our Brigade relfect on the past year and share our experiences with the community through a range of displays and awards. This year, our 39th Awards Evening, was particularly memorable for a range of reasons.Having been in the company now for about 8 years or so, the Awards Evenings have always ranged and been very different. After a particularly successful Awards Evening last year, it was hard for us to imagine how would we top last year's event.
All the boys took part in a series of displays to show off some of the work we have done this year as a company. The first item, and perhaps one of the favourites year after year is the Drill display. This year's performance had somewhat of a twist with a different style. Marching to the soundtrack 'Kids' by MGMT, the Company Section put on a great performance and corrected a mistake which was apparantly invisible by the audience. A much loved display for the Awards Evening and I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Quigley for the time and effort he put into choreographing the routine.
Next item was a Junior Section prayer which was written by the younger Junior Section boys to thank the Boys' Brigade for the opportunities that it gives and for its continuation. A good piece by the boys which was well read out and thoughtful. A great effort by all who helped to read it out.
It was then the Junior Section's turn again to perform a short play called 'David and Goliath' which was based on the Biblical story. Again, another great performance by some of the older members of the Junior Section and was great to see them performing together really well. A well spoken performance and a great effort by all the members who took part.
It was then the turn of the Company Section to show a video filmed and planned by the younger members of the Company Section as part of work towards their badges. It involved all members of the Company Section coming in and out of a tent using special effects and computer technology to create what was in effect a great piece of film. Many thanks to Mr and Mrs Carrahar who helped the lads to create it and to put the final video together with the use of music and animation. Thanks especially goes though to the boys who helped come up with the ideas and played a big role in helping to make a fantastic video.
This followed by a game run by the Junior Section which aimed to find certain objects of a description and to get it back to the front as quickly as possible. I think the audience and members would agree with me, it was a well enjoyed and funny game which was very competitive to the point where members of the audience were donating their handbags. All which of course was returned.
The final piece was again another video put together by myself and Joe Dixon. It was a video giving a review of the year through photos and very cheesy 80s music. A very entertaining video which saw John Quigley appear singing along to song being played in the mini-bus during the 125th Anniversary Camp as well as a range of our best and funny photos to show what our company gets up to during the course of a year. Gathering from the reaction of the audience, it was most enjoyed by everyone present.
The Awards themselves were presented last and presented by our guest of honour, Cheshire East Councillor for Doddington, John Hammond. Every boy did really well to achieve their badges and some went on to win fantastic awards. Amongst the awards were also two promotions from the Junior Section to the Company Section. There was also three certificates awarded to Phil Wright, Chris Burrows and myself for our Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award.
Junior Section Awards
Best Boy - Jack Spurrier
Most Improved (Jeanette Lee Trophy) - Matthew Reade
Section Attendance - Matthew Reade, James Morris, Benjamin Stell
Company Section Awards
Dedication - Dominic Mellor
Leadership - Chris Burrows
Young Person (Stuart Balfour Award) - Reece McLaughlin-Knowles
Attendance - Robert Dixon
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards - Chris Burrows, Ryan Mellor, Phil Wright
Congratulations to all the boys for doing so well in the Awards Evening and making it a very enjoyable night. I also extend congratulations to all who won awards and all who achieved levels and badges.
Ryan Mellor