An historic occasion was marked in Portadown in celebration of three young men who received the highest honour in the Boys’ Brigade.
A morning service in Edenderry Memorial Methodist Church was held on Sunday March 9 for Adam Charles, Alex Jackson and Joshua Kelly who had all gained the King’s Badge (formerly the Queen’s Badge).
All three boys are members of the Seventh Portadown Boys’ Brigade Company, attached to Edenderry Memorial Methodist Church.
Since the formation of the Church’s Company Section in 1968 (the Church’s Life Boy section, now Junior Boys’ Brigade began in 1953), twenty five Queen’s Badges have been awarded, but these are the first King’s badges to be presented.
At the service, Mr. Kenneth Vennard BEM (Company Captain, Seventh Portadown Boys’ Brigade) told the congregation that to gain this prestigious badge, the three boys had to complete the following achievements/activities:
- Have to have been awarded the President’s Badge (the second highest badge in the Boys’ Brigade).
- Attend a King’s Badge candidate’s meeting.
- Participate in a skills – based training residential.
- Take responsibility within the Church or Boys’ Brigade for a minimum of thirty hours.
- Provide voluntary service to others for a minimum of thirty hours.
- Develop interests in skills or physical for a minimum of thirty hours.
- Complete a faith journey for a session.
- Participate in a completion residential.
- Record all activities.
The boys were presented with their badges by Mr. Kenneth Twyble BEM, former President of the Portadown and District Boys’ Brigade Battalion and ex-Company Captain of Seventh Portadown Boys’ Brigade.
Also in attendance at the service was the Company Chaplain, Superintendent Minister of the Portadown Methodist Circuit and President – Designate of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev. Alan Wardlow.
Following the service, tea/coffee was served in the Church Foyer, along with a special celebration cake in honour of the three boys.
