A SPECIAL ceremony was held in dedication of the new Boys' and Girls' Brigade colours at Ernest St Baptist Chapel, in Walmsley Close, Church.

The First Church Boys' Brigade and the First Church Girls' Brigade paraded their new flags into church for the first time, and they will be paraded during each parade service.

Both Brigades each have a new three foot by three foot flag, with their First Church Brigade badge on it. The Boys' Brigade flag is navy blue with a Union Jack, and the Girls' Brigade flag is navy with tassels round the outside.

They worked hard to raise the money for the flags which cost more than £300 each, by holding various fundraising events including car washing, over the past year.

David Pilborough, Boys' Brigade Captain, and Judith Wilcock, Girls Brigade Captain, carried the flags into the church.

Lilian Stewart, regional training officer from Liverpool, and Harry Parish, battalion secretary for the Boys' Brigade from Burnley were special guests at the ceremony.

Joan Pilborough, Lieutenant of the First Church Girls' Brigade, said: "We started the Boys' and Girls' Brigade at the end of March last year, and we've now got 30 boys aged five to 12, and more than 40 girls, aged five to 15, who are from Church, as well as Dill Hall and Baxenden."

Pictured, from the left, are Geoff Briggs (Girls' Brigade chaplain), Judith Wilcock, Lillian Stewart, Harry Parrish, David Pilborough and Brian Heys (Boys' Brigade chaplain).

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