A Long Overdue Reunion of the 7th Altrincham Boys Brigade ‘Old Boys’

The Boys Are Back in Town

Ah, reunions! There’s something quite magical about meeting up with old friends, isn’t there? Especially when those friends are the lads from the 7th Altrincham Boys Brigade (BB). We’d suggested some five years ago that we were in need of a get-together but sadly hadn’t done anything about it. Life has a funny way of getting in the way, but finally, the stars aligned, and five of us made our way to Society in Manchester for a day of nostalgia, laughter, and a fair amount of cheeky banter.

The Magnificent Five

Allow me to introduce the cast of characters for this grand reunion:

• Pete: Our retired GP, who travelled in from Timperley. Always the voice of reason, with a dash of dry humour.
• Rob: My brother, also hailing from Timperley. The one with the best memory (maybe not) of our BB days.
• Nigel: Soon-to-be-retired graphic artist, coming from Reddish, near Stockport. The creative genius of the group.
• Greg: Equipment Engineer from Wythenshawe. The one who could fix anything, be it a broken tent pole or a tricky situation.
• Me: Your humble narrator, making my way from Hindley Green. The organiser, the instigator, the one who’s always up for a good time.

We hadn’t seen some of these faces since the 11th of May 2019, a full five years ago at the ‘Final Farewell to the 7th Altrincham BB’ reunion. Time flies, doesn’t it?

What’s the Boys Brigade?

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of our day, a bit of context for those not in the know. The Boys Brigade (BB) is a youth organisation that’s been around since 1883. It aims to combine fun activities with Christian values, offering boys a chance to learn new skills, make friends, and develop into well-rounded individuals. We, the 7th Altrincham BB, were no exception.

From the tender age of eight, we spent countless hours together, diving into the myriad activities that BB had to offer. From camping adventures to learning new crafts, and from sports to community service, we did it all. And let’s not forget the pinnacle of our BB journey – earning the Queen’s Badge, the highest award in BB. Nigel, Pete, Greg, and I managed to get ours simultaneously, a proud moment shared with four others from our company. My brother Rob earned his a few years later with his age group.

The Golden Days

We’d spent our youth camping across North Wales, North Yorkshire, and the Isle of Man. Easter, Summer, and Autumn camps were the highlights of our year. Each trip was an adventure, filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the occasional mishap. Ah, memories!

The Reunion Begins

Fast forward to the present, and here we are, gathering at Society in Manchester at 13:00. If you haven’t been, Society is a brilliant spot. It’s a hub for street food, paired with a fantastic bar run by Vocation Brewery. The perfect setting for a bunch of old friends to catch up.

We grabbed a table in the sun, ordered a round of drinks, and the stories started flowing. It was like stepping back in time. Pete regaled us with tales from his GP days, while Nigel talked about his plans for retirement – he’s going to become a professional Grandpa and help look after his grandchildren. Rob, with his impeccable memory (well maybe not), reminded us of some of our most hilarious BB moments. Greg, true to form, kept the conversation grounded and flowing with the many memories we’d all buried in our brains for many years. We even took a group selfie (because if there’s no photo, did it really happen?)

The Afternoon Rolls On

As the afternoon wore on, we decided to change venues. Enter The Britons Protection, an older style bar known for its fantastic pint of Guinness. If Society was the perfect place to start, The Britons Protection was the perfect place to continue. The dark, cosy interior contrasted nicely with the sunny outdoor seating we’d just left. We settled in with our pints, the conversation growing even livelier.

We reminisced about our BB days, laughed at old jokes, and talked about where life had taken us. Pete’s tales of his medical career were fascinating. Greg, helped us fill in some of the blanks.

Parting Ways – For Now

All too soon, the clock struck 19:00. We drained the last of our pints and said our goodbyes. There’s a certain bittersweetness to these moments. The joy of reunion is tempered by the knowledge that life will inevitably pull us back to our separate ways.

But this time, we made a pact. No more five-year gaps. We’re aiming to meet up every quarter, and hopefully, we’ll expand our group to include more of the old BB gang. There’s a lot of us scattered about, and it would be fantastic to see even more familiar faces.

Looking Forward

As I travelled back to Hindley Green, I couldn’t help but smile. It had been a fantastic day, one that reminded me of the importance of old friends and shared memories. The 7th Altrincham BB might be a thing of the past, but the bonds we formed are as strong as ever.

So here’s to the next reunion, the next pint, and the next round of stories. The boys are back in town, and we’re not going anywhere.