Members of the Bermuda Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade came out in top form, to help one of their founders, Cecil Downs, celebrate almost a century of living.

Mr Downs turned 99 years old on April 23. On Sunday, St Paul’s in Paget, host to Brigade, held a special service for the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades and then had cake and coffee. Mr Downs also inspected a parade Brigade members.

“He continues to be an inspiration to all of us,” said Sheila Semos, whose husband, David Semos, is Captain of the Boys’ Brigade. “Mr Downs never fails to give words of encouragement and thanks to our leaders. He always takes time to talk to the boys and is a great example of our motto ‘Sure and Steadfast’. He personifies the object of the Boys’ Brigade which is the advancement of Christ’s kingdom among boys and the promotion of habits of reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.”

Mr Semos said Mr Downs was a little reluctant to let them fuss over him for his birthday, but the Brigade lovingly insisted.

“Mr Downs has always, as far back as I can remember, been involved with St Paul’s Church and the Boys’ Brigade,” said Mr Semos. “He is not one to say ‘I’; it is always ‘us’ or ‘we’.”

Mr Downs helped to form the Bermuda Boys’ Brigade, and his late wife, Gertrude, the Bermuda Girls’ Brigade, in 1961, with Reggie Ming. Mr Downs came to Bermuda from Ireland in 1957.

In an earlier interview with Jessie Moniz Hardy he said: “I was amazed to see how there was nothing going on in Bermuda for young people. Canon Peter Evans was a former Boys’ Brigade boy and was anxious to have a Boys’ Brigade here, but he had nobody to run it. He found out that I was on the Island and he asked me if I would do it. I said I would go home and discuss it with my wife. We agreed that we would do it for 12 months. I am still involved today.”

Mr Downs is originally from Dublin and grew up during a turbulent time in Ireland’s history. He joined the Boys’ Brigade in Ireland at the age of 11, and continued to be actively involved as a leader when he grew up.

The Boys’ Brigade was an inter-denominational Christian organisation started by Sir William Alexander Smith in Glasgow, Scotland in 1883. It combines drill and fun activities with Christian values. As of 2003, there were 500,000 Boys’ Brigade members in 60 countries, including Bermuda.

Mr Downs said: “The Boys’ Brigade really did a lot for me. I joined the Boys’ Brigade and it took care of my shyness. It made me a different person. You will find many boys involved will say the same thing. It is just what they put into it. To get something out you have to put something in.”

Mr Semos took over from Mr Downs as Captain of the Boys’ Brigade in 1986, but since then, Mr Downs has continued to be involved as a supporter and advocate and was President of the Boys’ Brigade Council. He attends all the parades and services and takes the salute before inspecting the boys and girls in the Girls’ Brigade.