The 2008 JLGB Walton Trophy Challenge was won by Glasgow for the second year running, and for the first time ever at a weekend camp arranged specifically for this competition. Cardiff were this year’s runners-up with Nottingham and Cheadle in third and fourth places. The Walton Trophy Challenge is contested by every senior company in the JLGB’s Provincial Regiment to find the best in Drill, Brigade Knowledge, Uniform Inspection and Physical Activity.

The JLGB’s 11th Annual Sir Peter E Lazarus Debating Competition took place this year on 9th March 2008 at Immanuel College in Bushey. The competition saw 32 participants from 7 schools and 2 synagogues across London take part. The JLGB was delighted that Philip Skelker, Head teacher of Immanuel College, was Guest of Honour. The winners of this year’s competition were Zak Levin and Ben Goldstein (pictured) from St Paul’s School and the runners-up were Ben Lewy and Scott McDonald from Haberdashers’ Aske’s School.

Over 230 members of the London Regiment of the Jewish Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade were present when a triumphant Redbridge Band, led by Brigade Staff Captain Linda Diamond, won The London Regimental Banner Competition 2008. The runners up were Borehamwood Seniors with Ilford Girls taking third place. These units were joined by others from Bushey, Edgware, Hendon Band, Kingston, and Woodford. Redbridge Band will now compete against the winners of the Provincial Walton Trophy for the National Ancill Trophy at Summer Camp 2008.

Following on from the successes in Manchester, North West London and Hertfordshire, the JLGB Regeneration Project moved to Redbridge and Essex. With over 40 people in attendance, the local community really came out to support the JLGB’s regeneration initiative. The JLGB has an esteemed history in Redbridge and Essex, with many stalwarts of the Brigade hailing from there. The Deputy Commandant, Edna Terret, was a former Ilford Company girl and JLGB Chief Executive Neil Martin was born and bred in Ilford and still lives there. JLGB National Headquarters can even be found in South Woodford.

Five days before the end of 2007, 250 JLGB members from around the UK united to Save the World with random acts of kindness, including raising awareness of global warming and the plight of the homeless, and by producing two Children In Need - style charity music singles that were written, performed and recorded by the talented and enthusiastic members themselves. Members also helped to Feed the World – or at least a few of its inhabitants – by making sandwiches, cakes and new year cards which were taken to a homeless hostel nearby.

Over 40 Jewish Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade leaders from all over the country met for a full weekend of training and social activities and their annual Leaders’ Weekend. Seminars included working with children with special needs, Jewish programming, PR and awareness and Health and Safety and Risk Assessment. We were fortunate that two outstanding guest speakers were able to join us on Sunday; Leonie Lewis, from the Office of the Chief Rabbi, who spoke eloquently on How to build interfaith work into our programming; and Daryl Abrahams, a former Brigade officer and now a management training consultant, who spoke on Motivation and Communication.