The Story of Stepps
Community Organisations
The Boys' Brigade
On the wall of a room in Stepps Parish Church Hall hangs a framed scroll bearing the words "The Executive of the Boys' Brigade enrolled the first Stepps Company connected with Stepps Parish Church on 17th November 1907... Entered on the Roll of Companies at Headquarters in time of the Honourable Lord Guthrie being President thereof'. At the time of enrolment the Captain was Mr I.C.Wilson of "Woodburn", Stepps, who had previously been Captain of the 27th Glasgow Company for ten years. The Chaplain was the Rev. George Condie, BD, and there were five officers - Robert Cameron, Donald Forbes, James Fell, Robert Allison and John Neil.  The company strength extended to 32 boys, rising the following session to 36. The meeting place was the Church Hall, on Fridays at 8.00pm. In 1915 Mr Wilson was succeeded as Captain by James MacNab of "Braeside'", Stepps, who continued in the role until December 1921, by which time the Company had been enrolled (on 22nd September 1920) in the Glasgow Battalion, as the 190th Glasgow Company (Stepps). It was originally placed in the Eastern District, but was moved to the Springhurn District in 1921 and into the the Dennistoun District in 1935, where it has remained.
The Chaplain in 1920 was the Rev. Malcolm Sherman, and there were five Officers John Moodie, Alexander Allan, Robert Smith, Joseph McEwing and William Montgomery. The Company strength stood at 51 boys, including four Staff Sergeants. There was a Pipe Band of ten members, which continued until 1925. It functioned again in the years 1935 and 1937, with seven and five members respectively.
Membership of the Company has had its highs and lows. During the early 1920s it exceeded 60 boys, a figure not achieved again until the mid-1970s. The average figure was generally around 35-45, with a lower figure in the 1939-42 period and in the latter years of the 1950s and 1960s, when it fell below 30. There was an upsurge in the 1970s, to a higher figure which was maintained until 1987, dropping sharply to 20 and even lower, during the present decade. The Junior Section, known before 1966 as The Life Boys, had a membership of 20-30 boys in 1956, rising to 41-51 in the early 1970s, before declining again into the 30s range and continuing downwards to the present figure of 19 (1995). A Pre-Junior Section (The Anchor Boys) commenced in 1978 and also has a strength of 19 at present.
Since formation of the Company there have been 13 Captains, namely I.C.Wilson, James MacNab, Robert M.Smith, John G.Jack, William Dollar, James Galbraith, Robert Frame, William J.Finch, James Greig, James Wilson, W.A.M.MacKay, James Hope, and currently Eric S.Hood. Many other men and women have served as Officers, and as Leaders of the Life Boys, the Junior Section, the Anchor Boys and the Pre-Junior Section. All have contributed sterling work towards the objects of the Founder of the Movement, namely: "The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that trends towards true Christian manliness".
(not mentioned in the book was Ian George Walker who was Captain from 1979-1982)
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