A message from Louise Martin, daughter of the late Percy Donald Bickerton.
I write with reference to my father Mr Percy Donald Bickerton (Don) who was a captain with the CLB for many years at Christ the King, Aldersley, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. I wish to inform you that he passed away on 20th April 2022. He was diagnosed with dementia approx 5 years ago which left him housebound. Although he did suffer towards the end of his life he remained very cheerful and happy ‘with his lot’ and enjoyed more time with his family during his confinement. The funeral is to be held at Christ the King on Monday 13th June at 12.15 at Christ the King and should any member of the brigade want to attend they would be most welcome. I know that after his group closed he used to go to brigade camp, each year, with the 1st Chester CLB to Prestatyn and other places. If they could be informed I would be most grateful.
Richie Clarke from Bebbington Company paid respect by saying:
We have many happy memories from our Annual Camps. I remember my first night duty was with Don. I was a sergeant at the time and at around 2am wondered where Captain Don was. I found him asleep on a camp bed in the mess ! Rest In Peace Don"
Also Colin Malone said:
"RIP Sir, Thank you for your service to the Brigade"
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Brigade HQ for more information.
Over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend, we have made some amendments to BMS!
You will now notice that any expired date such as DBS or First Aid certificates these dates will turn red on your screen as pictured.
If you see any of these dates in red that are incorrect please contact NHQ as soon as possible.
Further amendments are going to be made, with the automation of reminders by email for those whose dates have expired or no dates have been entered. Therefore, please ensure your data is up to date.
From our Bishop Visitor
On the Occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of the Sovereign
On behalf of the Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade, I offer thanks to Almighty God for the work of His grace in the life and reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, whose Platinum Jubilee as Monarch we celebrate at this time.
As spiritual preparation for her Coronation in 1953, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher, gave to Princess Elizabeth a small book of Private Devotions: prayers and scriptural readings to be used from 01 May until the Coronation on 02 June. These served as a guide for the awesome responsibilities of monarchy, drawing on the relationship of human authority to the authority of God from which it is derived. Within the ceremony of Coronation came the rite of Anointing, in which the Archbishop marked the Queen, wearing a simple white dress without regal robes, on hands and head with sacred oil. To be anointed is to be set apart for a special task by God, as Christ, ‘the anointed one’, was marked by the Holy Spirit at His baptism, and as all Christians are marked or anointed with oil at baptism.
In these simple yet beautiful acts, we see the priestly task of the Christian sovereign, who is given a unique authority to lead and to care in God’s name. The Queen has reflected on her Anointing as the ‘inward and spiritual’ substance of sovereignty, with the Crowning as the ‘outward and secular’ aspect. But the Crowning too is priestly, as Archbishop Fisher made clear in the Private Devotions. He wrote: ‘There is another crown, the crown of thorns: its wearer wore it for an unworthy people and, by wearing it, made a way for their return to God.’
Queens and Kings, like Priests, are called to a way of life that is deeply sacrificial. There must have been times over the past 70 years when the royal crown seemed very heavy indeed. We can only be immensely grateful that our Queen has worn it faithfully as our anointed sovereign and, in so doing, has exemplified for her people a life of Christian service under the grace of Almighty God.
+ Peter Sodor as Mannin
Bishop-Visitor, CLCGB
02 June 2022