North West Durham Battalion - 17th Delves Lane

Anchor Boys, Thursday 17:30 - 18:30
Junior Section, Monday 18:15 - 19:45
Company and Senior Section, Monday 19:45 - 21:00 and Thursday 19:00 - 21:00

Captain :- Paul Knowles

Website :-

Church :- Delves Lane Methodist Church

Notes :- Early records show that a Life Boy Team was started in 1931 by Mr Thomas Robson and that a Company Section run by Messrs Fred and Jim Richardson, helped by their brother Bob was in existence from about 1932 up to the beginning of the war in 1939, although there is little information regarding these in the archives.

The company as it is now was begun in 1964 by Mr Thomas A Cartmel, which was initially a Life Boys Team, and became the Junior Section B.B. when Life Boys ceased in 1966.

Between 1964 and 1987, the company was Junior Section only for all bar one year in 1967-68 when a company section was tried but did not continue. During this period boys were encouraged to transfer to the 2nd Consett Company Section at age 11, which worked very successfully for many years.

In 1988, Anchor Boys and Company Section were established and are still going strong thanks to the initially small numbers of boys and officers who got it going and most of whom are still keeping it running today.

The achievements gained in this time is remarkable in the number of boys to pass through from age 5 to teenage years, and can be borne out by the high level of awards gained: 7 Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze, 16 President’s Badge, 5 Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver, 11 Queen’s Badge, 5 Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold