Rob Bolton and Les Howie’s new book

Rob Bolton and Les Howie’s new book ‘Wilder than Panthers and as ignorant as the Heathens’ is well worth getting.

In addition to explaining how the juvenile Shoe-Blacks, Industrial Brigades and Training Ships crews were formed, it tells how the cadet units which led to the formation of the Boys’ Brigade originated.

Both the Ulbster Juvenile Volunteers and the British League Cadets were formed in Edinburgh when the One o’ Clock Gun was being set up. The well designed and illustrated book contains a photograph of the Sinclair Fountain which stood outside St. John’s Episcopal Church in Princes Street.

Although the fountain which was gifted to the city by Catherine Sinclair the founder of the Ulbster Juvenile Volunteers now lies in one of Edinburgh City Council’s warehouses, a section can still be seen, as it was incorporated into the Boys' Brigade memorial which stands on the Water of Leith Walkway.

This extremely interesting book costing £10.00 plus £2.00 p & p. is available from: Rob Bolton, 116 Aldridge Road, Little Aston, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 0PF. Cheques should be made payable to: ‘R. Bolton’.