MAYBOLE Boys’ Brigade is working on an exciting international project, and hopes to use the town’s celebrated website to support it. The boys aim to contact schools in the USA, in a bid to start regular correspondence. And tpo help with their ambitious project, they visited the Maybole Community Development Group office to use computers there. MCDG offers free internet access, and the boys spent a couple of hours researching American states and possible schools to contact. Maybole BB captain William Boyce told the Post: “The idea is to give the boys something difficult and more challenging to do. “And it is a project that can go on for years if, as I hope, we receive favourable replies from the schools we contact.” Mr Boyce added: “We hope to contact a school in each state in the order they joined the Union, starting with Delaware and working through to Hawaii. “And we hope to make new and lasting friendships.”

1st photo: Boys with their captain William Boyce are (from left): Stephen Paton, Gregor Connolly and Connor Lucas. 2nd photo: Boys with Peter Walker of MCDG are (from left): William Jess, Karl McClure and Douglas Paton. Third photo: Boys and their leaders made good use of the high-tech gear in the Maybole Community Development Group office

Our American school project - a cultural exchange with schools in the USA

LETTERS are going from Maybole to 50 schools in the USA - one in each state. And 1st Maybole Boys' Brigade hopes to get replies from as many as possible. Carrick Round Table has gifted the BBs a cheque for £200 to help fund the exciting project. And each boy has to research a state. The lads will then write to schools in the USA with their findings, also enclosing information on Maybole. Company captain William Boyce told the Post: "We have nicknamed the project Letters to America and we hope to receive Letters from America - just like the Proclaimers' song!" He added: "We are very grateful to the Round Table for their valuable donation, and we would be delighted to hear from anyone else who can help with sponsorship as the project progresses." (Ayrshire Post. June 14th 2002 ) 

If you wish to participate in our project please contact William Boyce at  WllmBy@aol.com or boysbrigade@maybole.org

In 1883 the Boys Brigade movement was founded and it was not long until Maybole had its own company which was formed in 1898 by the Rev. Thomson, ably assisted by Sergeant Stewart, the first drill master. The local company was registered as the 16th Ayr (Maybole) Company and in 1948 was presented with Company Colours by the Women's Guilds of the West Church and Old Church to mark their Golden Jubilee. In 1929 the Junior branch of the Boys Brigade was founded and again Maybole was not long in forming its own company of Life Boys in 1936. From the book Maybole - Carrick's Capital by James Gray. | Photos contributed by Jim Shields.

Click on the images below for more photos of the boys.

Boys Brigade meets in the West Parish Halls on Thursdays from 6.30 to 8.30 pm.

Review of Boys Brigade activities for the year 1978-79.