At 2pm on Monday, October 21 residents attended a ceremonial planting of a tree and unveiling of a plaque in Croxley in memory of the “extraordinary” Colin Abbiss.
In recognition of his remarkable 58 years of service, around 90 people attended Stone’s Orchard Croxley Green to recognise Abbiss’ “influence on the lives of so many Croxley lads”.
Colin was a founding member of the 2nd Croxley Green Boys Brigade in 1952, at age 12. Then, after three years of service with the RAF, Colin became the Boy’s brigade captain in 1956 until a month before his passing.
Organised by Robert Simpson, members of the community who were touched by Abbiss’ legacy also attended – including London District President of the Boys Brigade Matthew Smith, Senior Tree Officer at Three Rivers District Council Alex Laurie and clerk to Croxley Parish Council Ryan Bennett.
Joined by BB members old and new, Abbiss’s wife, who was a “total supporter of his youth work”, planted the tree.
Reverend Steve Elmes, Minister of Croxley Green Baptist Church to which the company was attached shared: “With his irrepressible energy, sense of fun and regard for every lad in his care… he threw himself wholeheartedly into the BB”
Councillor Chris Lloyd, who successfully applied for a grant for the memorial, shared: “It was good to see former boys brigade members Cllr Steve Drury and Cllr Stephen King at the ceremony today in Stones Orchard. Mr A as he was known within the Community was remembered many from the Church and the community.
Thanks were given to those who donated to the memorial, with an additional amount of around £800 a grant is being mad to a BB company in South Africa and the Global Fellowship of Christian Youth.
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