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Our History
The history of a youth organisation for girls in
Markethill goes back to the late 1950’s when there was a junior Girls’ Auxiliary
associated with the congregation. Its members, however, expressed their desire
to belong to a uniformed organisation, so in 1961 the GA leader, Mrs Leebeth
Bingham, approached Rev T H Witherow and the session of the church, and with
their support, established a local company of the Girls’ Life Brigade. Their
first meeting was held in November of that year and with forty girls on the
roll, Mrs Bingham was assisted a short time later by Mrs May Hamilton and Mrs
Edith Scott.
The Girls Life Brigade was organised into Cadets,
Juniors, Seniors and Pioneers, according to age. Their uniform was a navy dress
and hat, and girls were awarded individual awards badges to sew on one arm as
they achieved each aim. The GLB motto was “To save life”.
In 1965 there was a nation wide amalgamation of Girls
Life Brigade, Girls Guildry and Girls Brigade (Ireland) to form one
organisation, called the Girls’ Brigade, with the motto “Seek, serve and follow
Christ”. There was of course a change of uniform, and many will remember the
explorers in their bright red jumpers, navy tunics, and large hats! In fact,
with the exception of the hat, this uniform remains to this day. All the older
girls wore a navy skirt, jacket, hat, and a GB tie, with each section identified
by their distinctive braid: red and white for Juniors; blue and white for
Seniors; blue and red for Brigaders; and yellow for sub-officers. Officers also
wore a navy uniform and hat, with rank being indicated by a coloured lanyard:
blue for lieutenants; red for captain; and yellow & white for district
commandant (now commissioner).
The Girls’ Brigade went from strength to strength in
Markethill and eventually some girls progressed through the organisation to
reach officer rank. Among the first to do this were Bertha Johnston, Ida Porter,
Isa Wallace, Margaret Hamilton and Margaret Donaghy, who was also the first girl
from the company to obtain the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
Today the company Captain is Miss Gillian McWilliams,
assisted by Officers Mrs Joan Alderdice, Mrs Gillian Bingham, Mrs Victoria
Hooks, Mrs Pamela McCool and Miss Gillian Murdock. |
