The 70’s and Further Changes

 For the 1st Kidderminster Company more changes were on the way. It was during this decade that the church decided to demolish the old school rooms and replace them with more modern, easy to maintain buildings. While this was in progress the Company met at Lea St. School, coming back to Lorne Street on the lighter nights to help barrow the rubble into skips at the front of the church building. The new buildings were soon opened and meetings resumed at Milton Hall.

It was around this time that the name Coopers Mill came into the Company vocabulary. A mill in the centre of Wyre Forest re-furbished for youth work. Some thirty years later the Company still makes regular use of the facilities.

In 1974 N.C.O. training was held at the newly equipped centre, Perrycroft, Malvern, owned by Birmingham Battalion and attended by N. Woods, R. Vale and M. Dwyers.

Another Worcestershire Battalion event was a camp held for 60 boys at Belbroughton. M. Dwyers, N. Lamb, R. Webb, M. Guise and N. Woods made two teams representing 1st Kidderminster.

1975 saw another change – that of holding camps indoors i.e. using church or school premises. The first was held at Southport and the highlight of that week was a visit to Liverpool F.C. and a tour of Anfield. The following years, places visited included Porthcawl, Mumbles, Great Yarmouth and Aberdovey.

At this time a mini-bus was purchased from 3rd Warley Company. Over the years newer models have been acquired and the company now owns a 17 seater…….a great help with transport.

In 1978 Marvin Dwyers was presented with his Queen’s Badge by Don Nardiello (Coventry F.C. and Welsh International), a member of Christians in Sport. This was the first Queen’s Badge awarded in the new Worcester Battalion.

In September 1978 a new section was added to the Company – Pre Juniors, soon to be called Anchor Boys (6-8) under the leadership of Mrs. Pam Mole.