Looking Back
St Hugh's Company - The Early Days.


It was at the 8.00a.m. service one Sunday that the Vicar, the Revd. J. E. Roberts, noticed that one of the congregation wore a C.L.B. badge in his coat lapel. That person was Mr W. H. Walker, and the Vicar made sure that he caught him before he left the church. It was from that beginning that the C.L.B. started at St. Hugh's.

November 11th. 1949 at 6.30p.m. the first meeting of the C.L.B. in St. Hugh's Old Brumby was held. Among those first boys were the Gosling boys, who along with a few more could not join because they were Scouts. Their parents did support the Brigade and continued to do so for many years. By Christmas of that year a trip was arranged to see the pantomime at St. Peter's Sheffield. Four cars were used, Revd Roberts, Eric Taylors, Bob Wattams and Billy Harringtons. That was the beginning of the Pantomimes. The following year Jack and the Beanstalk was held at St. Hugh's. This was written by Mr N. A. P. Stanley of Sheffield and produced by A. A. H. Kidd Miss Valerie Foster was the Dancing Mistress and the piano was played by 17 year old Brian Bowness. It was a tremendous success and a dinner was held at Brigg to celebrate its success. Twenty two men attended, and talked, and out of this came "Let us build a new hall" It was built, but that is another story. The pantomime continued for many years, amongst the writers and producers were Sam Lord, Jack Goodyear, Jack Hall, George Barlow, Peter Harrington, Jill Hardman and Rex Kiddle. Hedley Wigfall was the main stay in the design of the scenery and its painting and he was still involved with the last show, held in 1971 - also, the Parrott was still performing!
On the 27th January 1950 the following appointments were made to the J.T.C. 1840 company at St. Hugh's.

The Revd J.E.Roberts, Company Chaplain, the Revd W. Harrison, Assistant Chaplain, and Mr W. H. Walker, Captain and Commanding Officer of the Company. By the 12th March 1950, there were 18 members and St. Hugh's company was enrolled. Names that come to mind are Alan Brumfield, Paul Harrington, John Ladds, Colin Goodyear, David Wigfall, Barry Parker, Michael Jackson, Danny Ward, Dennis Smith, Michael Hale, Paul Taylor, Keith Moy, Robert Podmore, Tony Wolfe, Bob Radford, Trevor Morton, Colin Smith and Granville Jude. They were joined with over 600 members from Grimsby, and also Sheffield and District led by Col. The Revd. C.W.Tabor. The church was so full that only visitors were allowed in.

Colonel Tabor spoke during the service of a great work that was being started by the founding of a Brigade unit at St. Hugh's. He said, "It can be the means of bringing into the great fellowship of the Church - not only lads like yours, but men, and will be an influence for good, not only in the Church but outside as well."
The company enjoyed strong support of the Vicar, the Revd. J. Roberts and the Curate, the Revd W. Harrison as well as Bob Wattam. Sid Isaac, Eric Taylor, Messrs Wilmore and Loveday, Lt. Commander G.W.Wells and the Mens Society.

During 1950 names that appeared were Astbury, Walker, Dawson, Disney, Freear, Fish, Harvey, Parnham, Sawyer, Stainton, Woodrow, Westoby, Brothwell and Green. Parents too had been roped in, amongst them Jack Goodyear, Hedley Wigfall, Cyril Brumfield, Clifford Hale, Arthur Smith, Harry Morton, Ivor Jackson, Walter Olley and Len Slack, but to name a few.

Camp for 1950 was held at Rhyl when 18 boys attended at a cost of £2. 5. 0d (£2.25) The following year saw Mr Wigfall at camp, followed later by Messrs. Wattam, Brumfield, Goodyear, Showler, Lord and Proctor. The second camp was at St. Annes and St. Hugh's won the tent cup, quite an achievement for their second camp.

It was about this time that the Revd. D. Graham Jakeman came on the scene. He had to be trained in C.L.B. matters, but it was not long before companies were being formed in all parts of the Diocese.

It was not long before the C.L.B. became a household word and well know in industry, thanks to the support of Lt. Commander G. W. Wells (Managing Director of Appleby Frodingham) and Lt. Col. T. P. Lloyd.

In the 1950's there was strong rivalry between the Boys Brigade and the C.L.B. in sporting events. On one occasion 80 boys took part from Crowle, Keadby & Scunthorpe BB, and St. Hugh's & St. Lawrence's C.L.B. to battle it out for the Roger Morton Sports Cup This was held on Revesby Green. Roger was disabled and could not take part in field athletics, but was always present with his parents at Brigade events. The sports cup is still presented annually to the senior boys sports winners at the Scunthorpe & Taunton Camp.

On the 18th October 1951 a complete and impressive silver band with an estimated value of £1000 was presented to St. Hugh's Company by Lord Quibell. The company had to pay £100 for the instruments, the money being shared between the RSPCA and the Lincolnshire Naturalists Society. At this time Mr Teddy Burke joined us as Bandmaster. No one can doubt that he became one of the outstanding figures and examples . He built the band to such a high standard that they played at Quibell Park and Hyde Park London, and nearly played at the Royal Albert Hall..

In 1954 following on from the success of the pantomimes the parents decided that they would have ago. The show was called the M.A.D. Show (Mums and Dads) and ran for two nights. The following year it ran three nights and in 1956 was up to four nights. The shows were written and produced by Sam Lord, Jack Hall and George Barlow, Hedley Wigfall painted the scenery and Billy Harrington was in charge of the lighting. The last show was in 1960. In April 1975 members of the original cast were persuaded to come out of retirement to stage a one off show as part of the Company's 25th Birthday celebrations.

The Company's 6th Birthday in 1956 saw 120 members on parade. This was some achievement from 1950 when it started with only 18 members. At the 1956 Open Night a leopard skin was presented to the band in memory of Dick Boston, a former brigade member who had died whilst serving in the Army. It was worn for the first time by 17 year old Tony Wolfe.

One of the most outstanding successes of St. Hugh's Company was attending the 1958 Royal Review, held in London to mark the 65th Anniversary of the C.L.B. 152 members plus parents travelled to London by special train and some went to Buckingham Palace to take part or watch the inspection.

A Royal Review was held again in 1963, when St. Hugh's were once again represented.