Boys Brigade New Field Officer Visiting City

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 22

Boys Brigade New Field Officer Visiting City

If a boy was kept out of mischief until he was 17 or 18 he would “be 0.K.,” said the recently-appointed Boys' Brigade Field Officer in New Zealand, Mr Hugh Nicol, yesterday. Recently arrived from Scotland to take up the new position of full-time field officer, Mr Nicol said that the Boys’ Brigade aimed at influencing boys between the ages of eight and 18, as this was the most critical period of their lives.

At present visiting Christchurch to attend an annual brigade officers’ training week-end, Mr Nicol is based in Wellington and will travel throughout New Zealand working in co-ordination and extension of the brigade. Before coming to New Zealand at the end of January Mr Nicol’s home was Airdrie, 30 miles from Edinburgh, where he was captain to the 7th Airdrie Company. He has been attached to the Boys’ Brigade in a voluntary capacity for the last 25 years. Expanding in most parts of the world, the Boys’ Brigade offered challenge and fellowship to boys in an age where, although they had much more time and money on their hands, many lacked security, Mr Nicol said.

Often when parents were approached about the interest in the brigade shown by a son their own interest did not

extend beyond the fact that someone was going to look after the boy. “Boys well into their teens require the love and care of parents,” Mr Nicol said.