BEM for years with Boy's Brigade

Monday 30 December 2019

After 55 years of involvement in the Guernsey Boy's Brigade, Bryan Brehaut has been recognised for his work with a British Empire Medal.

He has had to keep the news under wraps since October, when he received a phone call from His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor to say he had been mentioned in The Queen's New Year Honours List 2020.

"I was completely shocked," he said. "It came right out of the blue!

Mr Brehaut will be awarded the medal by His Excellency in the New Year for his services to young people in the island.

Pictured: Sir Geoffrey Rowland, Bryan Brehaut and Captain Steve England.

"I joined the Boy's Brigade as a boy in 1950, when I was a mere seven-years-old," he explained. "I worked my way up through the ranks. It was in 1964 that the leaders of the Junior Section stepped down and the Captain asked my wife and I if we would take over temporarily.

"My wife stepped down when we had a family of our own but I carried on until the middle of last year."

Pictured: 2nd Guernsey Company 2017.

It has become a true family affair, with all of Mr Brehaut's daughters getting involved with the brigade and becoming officers themselves.

Mr Brehaut still serves as the Guernsey Battalion Secretary.

Pictured top: Boy's Brigade Junior Section with Baton.