Providing Leadership
Drew Buchanan MBE
Drew Buchanan MBE awarded by her Majesty the Queen in October 2009 for services to the BB in Northern Ireland.
Drew has over 60 years experience in Boys' Brigade.
Drew joined the Robins1962 in the 108th Belfast Company where he progressed through the ranks obtaining the BB highest award the Queen's Badge in 1975.
In 1978 he formed and captained the 1st Brookeborough Company before he joined the 1st Armagh Company as a Lieutenant 1982.
In 1984 Drew joined 4th Carrickfergus Company as Captain and in 1992 formed the 8th Carrickfergus.
He was Captain of 8th Carrickfergus Company from formation in 1992 until May 2013. Drew built this company into a very strong team with 133 boys and 24 leaders.
Drew was appointed Battalion President in April 2009 and served until August 2022. He was also Battalion treasurer for 21 years retiring in 2021.
He has served on Northern Ireland District Executive and the NI Regional Committee.
Drew was lead fundraiser for Newport, the new Headquarters, Training, Conference and Residential Centre.
Outside of Boys' Brigade work Drew has over 30 years experience in the public sector and has negotiating skill, committee and training experience as well as financial experience.
He was a founding member of a Credit Union.
Drew and has been Church Treasurer for the last 12 years and is responsible for PAYE, Charity Commission and pension regulations.
Drew was a member of the Boys' Brigade UK&ROI Executive / Trustees board from September 2018 and chairman from September 2020 until September 2023 and has experience with the Finance and governance committees.
Walter Lambe MBE
I have been in Boys Brigade for almost 60 years.
Having grown up in the120 Belfast Company on the Shankill Road, Belfast. I achieved my Queen's Badge in 1977. I currently serve as an officer in 1 Ballylinney Company and act as Queen's Badge Adviser for East Antrim Battalion.
I have held numerous positions in The Boys' Brigade - Secretary for Northern Ireland District of The Boys' Brigade Training Committee for 10 years, National Coordinator for Competitions, Working Party for the development of The Discover Programme to name a few.
I am currently Disability Consultant for Boys Brigade United Kingdom and am Autism Champion for Boys' Brigade Northern Ireland. I serve on the coordinating committee for The Leadership Development Group of the Boys' Brigade.
Outside Boys' Brigade I was a teacher for 38 years and served as Head of Behaviour Support Services for The North Eastern Education and Library Board for 20 years before retirement. I was awarded an MBE for Services to Education. During my career in teaching I was invited to be an Associate Inspector with The Education and Training Inspectorate and I am still involved in Initial Teacher Training with Stranmillis College, a college of Queens University Belfast.
I am an elder in The Presbyterian Church and provide Safeguarding Training to Presbyterian Churches
Donald Blair BEM
I joined the Life Boys of the 1st Greenisland Company of the Boys' Brigade in
September 1964, was promoted to the Company Section in 1967 and worked my
way through the NCO ranks. I enjoyed most of the activities on offer - the
badgework, sporting activities, camps to various parts of the UK, the Christian
influence of several great leaders and the lasting friendships made. I also managed
to gain President's and Queen's Badges along the way.
On discharge in 1974, I was asked to become a leader. I wanted to give something
back to the organization which had given me so many great experiences and
opportunities. I accepted the offer willingly.
I have served 1st Greenisland ever since as Lieutenant-in-Charge of the Junior Section
(1976-2004) and as an officer in the Company Section since 1974.
At East Antrim Battalion level, I have served on the Executive on many occasions from
as long ago as 1978. I was a member, for many years, of the Sports and Drill
Committees and as Convenor of the Training Committee for almost a decade, I was
responsible for updating officer training, camp and holiday leadership and President's
Badge training. I was delighted and indeed privileged to have been elected as the
East Antrim Battalion President in 2022.
On a personal level, I was thrilled, along with 5 others from my company, to be part
of the BB UK contingent at the National Remembrance Day Parade in London in 2018,
to have taken my company Junior Section to annual camp in Saltcoats, Scotland for
28 consecutive years, to be the coach of our 5-a-side football team which won the BB
UK championship in Falkirk, Scotland in 2016 and to have become only the 3rd Company
President in the 85 year history of 1st Greenisland.
I was truly shocked, but delighted, to be awarded the British Empire Medal in the
Queen's New Year's Honours List in 2021 for "voluntary service to 1st Greenisland
Company of the Boys' Brigade and to young people in County Antrim".
Married to Myrtle, I was a school teacher in the Carrickfergus area for 35 years before my retirement in 2014.
I have always had an interest in church-life, music and sport.
I was brought up in Greenisland Presbyterian Church where I served on Committee, as a choir member, organist and a member of Kirk Session before being appointed as organist/musical director of Carrickfergus Methodist Church in 2010. I have been a member of the Boys' Brigade Centenary Male Voice Choir for many years and became conductor in 2022. As musical director of the PSNI Ladies Choir, I have travelled throughout Northern Ireland to concerts and church services and on tour to all countries of the UK and also to Denmark.
As a keen footballer in my younger days, I have subsequently coached many school and youth teams and was manager of East Antrim Schools and Boys' Brigade Battalion teams over the years. I was Secretary of Carrickfergus & District Primary Schools' Football Association for many years and served as Chairman of East Antrim Schools Football Association.
In my spare time, I enjoy holidays, am a keen golfer, having been a member of Greenisland Golf Club for over 40 years, and I am a regular supporter of my local football team, Carrick Rangers, as well as the national team as part of the Green and White Army!