The company, 1st Andover Girls’ Brigade, met for the final time on Friday, July 17, drawing a close to a chapter that began at Andover Congregational Church in East Street in 1927. In recent years the group had been based at Bridge Street Methodist Church, having moved there after the United Reformed Church closed in 2022. Despite efforts to keep the brigade going, no new leader could be found when company captain Marian Brewer decided to retire after 23 years in the role. Marian said it had been both a privilege and a pleasure to lead the company for so many years, and she paid tribute to the generations of girls and volunteer leaders who had been part of 1st Andover Girls’ Brigade throughout its long history. Its closure brings to an end 99 years of support for Andover families.