Officers of the 1st Malvern Company

Sir William Alexander introduced ranks to the BB from its founding in 1883, taking inspiration from his time as a Lt Colonel in the Lanarkshire Militia. There is a modern tendency to use the term Youth Leader, though 1st Malvern has elected to retain the rank structure as it denotes a level of responsibility, which is determined by individual commitment.

Boys in the Company Section begin as Privates, and can then be promoted through the ranks of Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant and finally Staff Sergeant - the highest NCO rank.

Officers are either Warrant Officers or Lieutenants. A senior Lieutenant can be elected as the Captain, which is a title and not a rank. Leaders can also be official Helpers if they are unable or do not wish to commit to being an Officer in full.

Our current Captain since 1 September 2015, Captain Simon Noble started as an Anchor Boy with the Company and is a Gold DofE Award holder. Now working as an engineer in Malvern, he primarily takes care of the Company Section and is training to be an Expedition Officer. Whilst at Plymouth University he spent 4 years with the University Officer Training Corps. He attends St Andrews Church.

Rev. Dave Clarke is the Minister of our parent church, Malvern Baptist Church, arriving from Strood in October 2016. He is the BB Company Chaplain and a camping Officer.

Lt. Angela Noble works as a Programme Manager in Malvern and has a BB background, her parents having been active in the BB for many years. She manages the Junior Section. Angela has had 2 sons in the Company, both Gold DofE Holders and current Officers. She attends Malvern Baptist Church.

A Gold DofE Award Holder, Lt. Chris Noble joined as an Anchor Boy at 6 years old. He acts as our Bandmaster and is the leading drum instructor. He helps with the Anchor and Juniors Sections, and is also a drum instructor with BADOTSA. He works in Malvern and attends St Peters Church.

WO Ian Outram is a retired scientist and a very experienced Expedition trainer and DofE Assessor for Company Section. His son joined as an Anchor Boy, and is now a Gold DofE holder. His wife Sylviane was formerly an Officer with 7th Malvern GB. They are both members of Great Malvern Priory.

WO James Walters has been part of the BB since age 11 at the 1st Cheslyn Hay Company. He joined 1st Malvern as an Officer in 2019 after moving to the area post-university. He works in Malvern as a software engineer, and is the leader of the Anchor Section and a Gold DofE Award holder.

WO Fred Wilks became an Officer after graduating from the Company Section. He helps run the Band and physical activities in the Company. He is a member of BADOTSA and also helps run the Battalion Camp. He attends Malvern Evangelical Church.

Andy Noble, husband to Lt. Angela Noble, is a Helper in the Anchors and Juniors Sections. Andy is a former member of the 7th Hastings Company, and works as a teaching assistant in Upton-upon-Severn. He attends Malvern Baptist Church.

Reserve Officers

Lt Gerry Davies is a member of MBC and has been involved in BB work for more than 17 years. He is a retired Environmental Health Technician with an extensive Outdoor Education background. He specialises in Company Section work. He is a keen canoeist, walker and cyclist, and was Captain of 1st Malvern for 2 years from 2009 until 2011. He attends Malvern Baptist Church.

Lt Luke Walters joined the Company in the Boys' ranks, and returned as an Officer after completing his university studies. He helps run Duke of Edinburgh's Award activities and is a leading bugler in BADOTSA.

A Gold DofE Award holder and member of the Company from 5 years of age, WO Alex Easterby helps to run the band, having acted as Drum Major for multiple marching bands. Alex assists with activities in all Sections of the Company. He is the Bandmaster for BADOTSA and works as a trained Chef in Malvern.

WO Paul Goodman joined the Company Section and quickly showed promise in the bugle section of the band. A University graduate, he helps run the Company Section, and organises physical training for DofE candidates.

WO Russell Lodge left college in 2018 and is currently a digital marketing apprentice in Malvern. He joined 1st Malvern as a Junior in 2011 and has completed all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Since then he has been promoted to Warrant Officer and helps out with each of the Sections on a Friday night, along with continuing to play bugle in the company band and in BADOTSA.

In Memoriam

Sheila Burrows

Warrant Officer with the Company from September 1989 until May 1995

(Junior Section)

John Easterby

Lieutenant with the Company from September 2000 until January 2017

(Company Section)

Captain from September 2013 until June 2016

Timothy Greenwood

Lance Corporal with the Company from 1988 until 2002

(Company Section)

Paul Hern