Ardgay Harvest Supper and Boys Brigade Presentation

On Saturday 12th September in the evening some 50 or so folk of all ages gathered in Ardgay Village Hall to share a Harvest Supper. It was also an opportunity for the villages of Ardgay and Bonar Bridge and the churches of Kincardine, Croick and Edderton to pay tribute to the many years of dedicated service given by Donald Simmonds and Donald Brown to the Ardgay and Bonar Bridge Boys Brigade Company. The company was formed in 1980 by the Rev A. M. Rennie, with the first officers being Mr Hugh Chalmers and Mr Donald Simmonds. One of the first boys to sign up was a young Donald Brown who was an enthusiastic member of the company and who then went on to serve as an officer until earlier this summer when both he and Donald Simmonds stepped down as leaders. Sadly, as yet, no one has come forward to continue the tremendous work that the ‘Two Donalds’ have dedicated themselves to for over 35 years.

It was not possible to let such faithful, dedicated service go unmarked so the Harvest Thanksgiving Supper provided an ideal opportunity to give thanks not only for the abundance of God’s goodness to us all but also to thank ‘The Two Donalds’ and others who have worked so hard over the years to make the Ardgay/Bonar Bridge Boys Brigade Company the respected organization that it has been. Rev Hilary Gardner shared various tributes that had been received, from former BB members, from as far afield as Canada, from a former minister of the parish, the Rev Alan Watt, and from parents who expressed their appreciation for the discipline, instruction and life skills that have been given to the boys who have spent time in the company. These tributes revealed the great respect and admiration that many hold for ‘The Two Donalds’ and what an important part that they have played in the lives of many young lads over the years. Sure and Steadfast, The Boys Brigade motto, most definitely applies to Donald Simmonds and Donald Brown.

Presentations were made to Donald Simmonds and Donald Brown and also Daniel Thompson, another young man who had moved on from being a member of the Company to become a young officer in recent years. Flowers were also presented to Mrs Betty Simmonds and Mrs Catherine Brown, with thanks to them for giving up their husbands for so many Friday nights over the years plus