’True enrichment in life’

“I REMEMBER quite clearly being taken out for breakfast in Singapore. I sat down to a bowl of soup that had bits of ish in it – including the eyes which seemed to be staring up at me. I was very glad of the pint mug of very strong black cofee that went with it!”

Susan MacKenzie laughs as she recalls one of the many strange situations she found herself in as she represented the Girls’ Brigade in diferent situations around the world.

Singapore was a long way from Susan’s starting place with the Brigade, as a child in the Girl’s Guildry, in Inverness.

“Mum and Dad attended Inverness East Church which was Dad’s family church and is where I was baptised. I attended Sunday School and Bible Class at the East Church throughout my childhood and of course Girls’ Guildry/Brigade.

“Early memories of Girls’ Guildry include the Guildry Garden smocks and berets and weekly Greenwood inspection when I regularly got a row for biting my nails and of course the excitement of camps.

“I developed a keen interest in sport during my time in secondary school. I followed this up by studying PE at Dunfermline College of PE in Edinburgh in the mid 1970s, when I attended Cramond Kirk where the Rev Campbell MacLean was minister and also college chaplain.

“This led to a career in secondary teaching that lasted for 35 years, 32 of which were at Charleston Academy in Inverness. The first half of my career was in PE before moving into the role of Guidance in the early 90s.

“Over 60 years after my baptism I still worship at Inverness East Church, becoming a member in the late 70s and appointed as a member of the Deacons’ Court in the 80s.”

But it’s the Girls’ Brigade that Susan has a special relationship with.

“My involvement with Girls’ Brigade started in 1959 when I was four years old.

I received a lealet through the post inviting me to go along to what was then the Girls’ Guildry. The youngest age group – the Guildry Garden – met on Saturday afternoons in the church hall, so of I went with Mum at the start of the 1959/60 session. Little did I know how long my attachment with the organisation would last!” she says.

“Our Garden girls were known as Bluebells and our uniform was a sky blue smock with a white collar and a white beret. It was great fun, lots of friends from Sunday School getting together to sing, dance, play games, make things and of course learn about Jesus. I wasn’t too keen on the dancing activities but loved everything else, well maybe not the beret!”

“As an only child, I think initially it was the fun I had with the other girls that appealed most, but as I got older I realised that, through the various activities, I was learning about values and respect.

“As one of the younger members I always looked up to the older girls and like most of the others, aimed at being a squad leader, being a member of the colour party and so on. As I got older and started achieving these goals, I enjoyed being given responsibilities while helping out with the younger girls.

“No matter what age you were there were always challenges to overcome and goals to achieve.

“It was also nice to learn that it wasn’t only our Company meeting in a church hall in Inverness but that we were part of a much bigger family. We learned about other Girls’ Brigade Companies meeting in a variety of diferent places around the world.

“Most of my memories of growing up in Guildry/Brigade are from my time in the Girls’ Brigade Seniors and Brigaders. In 1965 when I was moving up from Guildry Greenwood, the Girls’ Guildry of Scotland joined up with the Girls’ Brigade of Ireland and the Girls’ Life Brigade of England and Wales to form what is now the Girls’ Brigade, so I moved up to the Senior section of GB.

“I remember the uniform change at that time, instead of blouses, ties and sashes of Guildry days our Senior GB uniform consisted of blazer, blouse tie, forage cap and white gloves – all a bit formal for week night activities but very smart on parade.

“I remember at Christmas time we would visit the old folks’ homes around Inverness and sing carols for them and when I also remember our Seniors, Brigaders and officers cooking and serving an early Christmas dinner to around 20 senior citizens who lived on their own and had no family close by. Three courses with all the trimmings and not a dishwasher in sight!

“It was through taking part in these events that we learned that not everyone was as blessed as we were, not everyone would have gifts under the Christmas tree, not everyone would be surrounded by friends and family and not everyone would have a turkey dinner.”

Susan MacKenzie, Girls’ Brigade National President

“Susan’s devotion to the Brigade meant as she rose through the ranks, she began to be given more responsibility, not just within her company, but within the Brigade at both regional and national level.

Susan’s devotion to the Brigade meant as she rose through the ranks, she began to be given more responsibility, not just within her company, but within the Brigade at both regional and national level.

“I don’t think I conscientiously made a decision to move on with the brigade; my life in GB seemed to just fall into place. I’m sure it is all down to God calling me to serve Him through GB. Having come through the Company from the age to four until I left Inverness to go to college, and having been involved during college holidays, the next step when I returned to Inverness was officer Training and becoming a Lieutenant. In 1984 our Company Captain decided to retire from GB after 29 years and as the only officer who was a member of the East Church at the time, the Kirk Session asked me to take over as Captain.

“Having represented Highland Division on the National Board for seven years I had become friendly with GB folk from across Scotland but I was somewhat taken aback when in 1992 I received a letter from another Division asking if I would allow them to put my name forward for the post of National Vice President. My initial reaction was ‘Don’t be daft, I can’t do that!’ but after a great deal of thought and prayer I decided that God may be calling me now to serve Him in this role so agreed to allow my name go forward.

Susan receiving the YouthLink Scotland Lifetime Achievement Award

“I was commissioned as a GB Scotland National Vice President in September 1992 and that was the start of 13 years travelling up and down the A9 most weekends to attend meetings and events, the rest as they say is history!

“Apart from being Captain of 2nd Inverness, I was Treasurer of Highland Division for three years and then served a six-year term and a three-year term as Divisional Commissioner. This involved representing Highland Division on the National Board which at that time was the decision making body for Girls’ Brigade Scotland. It also involved having overall responsibility for Divisional events and supporting the thirteen Companies we h ad in Highland Division at that time.

“Nationally I served six years as a National Vice President supporting the National President and attending a wide range of diferent events. During my time as National Vice President GB celebrated our centenary. This was an exciting time for GB and I attended lots of diferent events around Scotland including the Centenary Circus, Balloon Releases, Thanksgiving Services and Displays. I also attended the GB England and Wales Display in the Royal Albert Hall when I enjoyed the display from the Royal Box no less! I also travelled to Lisburn for the GB Northern Ireland celebrations but the highlight of the year was attending the International Conference of Girls’ Brigade in Dublin where GB started in 1893. During our time there we visited the church where it all began for the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the event.

“As National President of Girls’ Brigade Scotland the visits to various Companies and Divisions continued but the main aspect of the role was to chair the National Board and National Management Group meetings and meet regularly with the staff team at National Headquarters in Glasgow.

“I also represented GB Scotland at events such as the opening of the Scottish Parliament, Lord High Commissioner’s garden parties, Moderator’s receptions, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s Funeral, a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Breakfast at Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Parade in London.

“All the events and meetings saw me driving down the A9 to Glasgow most Fridays after school and back up on the Saturday evening, in all kinds of weather. I dread to think how many miles I covered during the twelve years I was in these posts!

“Having been involved in GB internationally I have friends and acquaintances in all corners of the world and am very aware of how members of the GB family can be afected by natural disasters, political unrest and such like and how important it is to keep all our girls and leaders worldwide in our prayers. It gives a wider perspective on the world, ”she says.

“The GB has changed in many ways over the years; it has to keep changing to continue to be relevant to the young people. Things are much less formal and it’s not the old fashioned organisation some people think it is.

“Uniform has changed in order to keep up with the trends of the day. Today’s uniform is much less formal.

“Changes to programme materials are vital so that we continue to provide the girls with activities that are relevant to the times in which we are living. Formal assessment for awards has gone with regular participation and giving of your best being the important factors. The Queen’s award, the highest GB Award does, however, have assessable elements.

“The national structure has also changed over the years with the change from the National Board to a much smaller National Executive with much of what used to be done by committees of volunteers now being undertaken by the headquarters staff.

”Despite all the changes that have taken place over the years the Christian commitment of the organisation is still as strong as ever, ”says Susan.

“For some girls, the teaching they get at GB is backed up at Sunday School/Club and at home but many of our members today have no church connection so GB is the only place they learn about Jesus.

“Friendships are developed through GB and many of them last a lifetime. The girls become supportive of each other and learn to encourage each other if things become challenging. Girls have a lot of fun while learning new skills and topics but also learn that everyone is diferent and what one inds dificult another inds easier and that they can help each other.

“Volunteering and serving others is something else our young people get out of their involvement in GB because service is part of our badge work from the Explorer stage our members learn the importance sharing what they have and working to help others.

“It is important for all our members, girls and leaders, to feel valued and respected, through this they will learn to respect and accept others. The girls gain conidence through their achievements and, even at an early age, learn to take on responsibility. They learn that now and again they have to come out of their comfort zone to achieve success and that perseverance is a must in challenging situations.

“Our older girls who have achieved Duke of Edinburgh’s and/or Queen’s Awards will tell you that the skills, qualities and achievements they have gained through being members of GB play an important part in them getting university and college places and also when they are being interviewed for employment.

“We have seven leaders in the Company, all committed Christian who are happy to share their Christian faith with the girls. Six have come through the Company from Explorers and when I retired as Captain of 2nd Inverness Company in June this year I was absolutely delighted to hand over the reins to two of these young ladies, both Queen’s and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards holders. That in itself is a highlight for me.”

“Our aim continues to be ‘To help girls become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and through self-control, reverence and a sense of responsibility, ind true enrichment in life.’

“And these young women are living it.”

2nd Inverness Company Girls’ Brigade

This article appears in the January 2019 Issue of Life and Work

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