| Seniors receive Queen's Badge awards |
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16th May 2010
What started as a cold, unknowing weekend at the BB's North West Training Centre at Kirkham, today became an Award Ceremony held at Liverpool Road Methodist Church in Southport on a glorious, sunny May day. Seniors Phil Wright, Chris Burrows, Joe Dixon and myself, Ryan Mellor, ended the Queen's Badge journey with the presentations of our awards with around 30 other lads being presented by the Queen's representative in Merseyside, the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside Dame Lorna Muirhead DBE.
The ceremony took a very formal setting as boys were called up one-by-one to receive their award in front of a audience made up of proud family, friends and officers in the Boys' Brigade who I'm sure me and my following Queen's men would agree were of great support during our journey. This was followed by speeches from Ben Brookes of 5th Wigan Boys' Brigade on behalf of the new Queen's men, Dame Lorna Muirhead DBE and the President of the North West District Boys' Brigade, Alan McLoughlin Esq paying tribute to all the hard work of the boys and those who have supported them along the way.
With our badges and certificates, we took the opportunity for photos, handshakes and hugs as we left the hall officially as Queen's men and caught up with familiar faces we haven't seen for many months. A time for smiles and happiness, much complimented by the beautifully warm day and a wonderfully prepared buffet to help celebrate the achievements of the last year.
The road has been long and at times difficult, we've fallen out and we've laughed, we have been united and we have been separated. The Queen's Badge is a real test of teamwork, leadership and friendship but as a company we have worked hard to pull through this and in different ways made a positive contribution to the success of each other being present at the Awards Ceremony. I would like therefore to thank my fellow seniors for the hard work they've put in to making this journey a success and importantly I would like to thank our officers, Rob Welch, John Quigley and Allen Morris, all our parents and to our Queen's Badge Officers including Bob Tolmie who have been of incredible support.
What we have achieved, as mentioned in the ceremony, will inevitibly help to advance our future and it makes me so proud to say that lots of boys today achieved this, the highest award in the Boys' Brigade.
Ryan Mellor