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SCOUTING IN BEXLEYCELEBRATING THE FIRST 100 YEARS
Lord Robert Baden-PowellFounder of the World Scout Movement
Chief Scout of the Worldwith his son Peter, at Foots Cray Place, 1924
“ The sport in Scouting is to find the good in every boy and develop it. “
•
“ The spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light. “
•
“ Leave this world a little better than you found it. “
8th January 1941 - Nyeri, Kenya.
Scouting in the borough of Bexley - the Districts of Bexleyheath,
East Wickham & Welling, Erith & Crayford and Sidcup - dates back to the
earliest days of the Movement, evolving through a century until the present day.
In this Scouting Centenary year the four Districts are coming together
for a celebration event called ScoutFest100 at Welling United Football Ground
on May 20th and an exhibition of Scouting Memorabilia in
the Austen Gallery, at Hall Place, Bexley.
This brochure commemorates this special year by looking back at the histories of the Districts and to the future of Scouting. The information contained in it is
believed to be generally correct, it has been collated from various sources and byvarious authors, to whom we are grateful, however some inconsistencies may occur.
I am sure that although Baden-Powell had high hopes for our Movement when
he started it in 1907, he could never dreamed it would be as big and successful
and wide-reaching as it is today.
One hundred years ago, his response to providing activities for young people, who were
hitherto not considered as important, was innovative and unique. His vision for our
Movement was spectacular and life changing for young people and adults alike.
Scouting offers challenge and adventure to 400,000 young people aged 6-25 years in the
UK. We believe in helping our Members fulfil their potential by working in teams, learning
by doing and thinking for themselves. We're working to make Scouting available to all and
we're passionate about what we do.
Through the adventure of Scouting, young people get to take risks in a safe environment,
and have their first taste of responsibility. We aim to give young people experiences they’ll
never forget. The sort of adventure Scouting offers is the chance to experience something
different and the opportunity to challenge yourself. When a Beaver Scout wakes up the
morning after a sleepover, or Cub Scout has just got over her fear of heights by completing
her first abseil - that’s adventure.
In Scouting, we provide over 200 activities from abseiling to zorbing (that’s falling out
of the sky in a foam ball in case you were wondering). If we don’t have an instructor who
can help we can normally find someone who can. But Scouting isn’t just about activities
for their own sake. We encourage our young people to feel the buzz of the challenge and
then reflect on what that means. Did they have fun? Do they feel more confident? Would
they do it again?
All this is made possible by the efforts of 100,000 voluntary adult leaders. With award-
winning training and one-to-one support, we make sure that each one of our volunteers
gets to make best use of their skills and talents. It’s something different from the norm, and
that’s why a lot of people like it. In fact, it’s what’s made us the largest co-educational youth
Movement in the country.
I hope you will enjoy this special year and continue to support into the future.
Diane Robertson
County Commissioner, Greater London South East
If you are not already a member of the Scout Movement
and want to find out more about getting involved in Scouting
in Bexley go to www.glsescouts.org.uk
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER
The Scout County of Greater London
South East was formed at the time of
the reorganisation of London government
in the mid-1960s comprising the Scout
Districts that fell within the new London
boroughs of Bexley and Bromley.
Greater London South East today
comprises of the Scout Districts of
Beckenham, Bexleyheath, Bromley,
Chislehurst, East Wickham & Welling,
Erith & Crayford, Orpington and Sidcup.
The County badge depicts Tower Bridge,
surely one of the most recognisable
landmarks in London, the same design
features on the badges all six Greater
London Scout Counties.
Tower Bridge is probably the world’s
most famous drawbridge. Its construction
employed 432 people, using over 11,000
tons of steel, to provide the frame work
which is clad in Cornish granite and
Portland stone. After eight years of
construction it was opened in 1894 and was
the gateway bridge to London for nearly a
hundred years, until the Queen Elizabeth II
Bridge further downstream at Dartford was
opened in 1991.
In 1910 the high-level walkways were
closed due to lack of use and in 1912
aviator Frank McClean had to fly his Short
bi-plane between the walkways and the
bascules to avoid an accident.
However the most famous story of all
was in 1952 when a number 78 double
deck bus had to leap from one bascule to
the other as the bridge began to rise.
In 1982 the high-level walkways
reopened to the public after 72 years as
part of the Tower Bridge Experience.
GREATER LONDON SOUTH EAST
Scouts rally in Danson Park for Empire Day - 1952
Mention Scouting to many people outside and you are bound to get the mocking
retort ‘dyb, dyb, dyb, dob, dob, dob’ andyou think ‘... yeah, alright’ whatever makes you happy! The fact is that thisrefrain has not be used by anyone inScouting since the demise of Wolf Cubs inthe mid-sixties, except on the Russ AbbottShow, and never by Scouts anyway. In theGrand Howl the Akela would gather thePack in a circle and the duty Sixer would call "Cubs, DYB, DYB, DYB" and the rest ofthe Pack (and it was only boys then) wouldrespond "We'll DOB, DOB, DOB”. It onlydawned to me the other day as to what itactually meant - its ‘Do Your Best’ and we’ll‘Do Our Best’, abbreviated.
Scouting seems to like abbreviations, rightfrom the very beginning everyone calledthe founder of Scouting ... B-P. It maybe due to its military background, butabbreviations abounded - the PL led thePatrol and answered to the SM (Scout-master), etc.
In our modern world our young people arevery good at using abbreviations in the formof mobile text messaging, in a code thatmost adults would struggle with. Scoutingalso seems to have its own language - somany people talk in abbreviations that ‘TheTwo Ronnies’ could easily have written asketch on it.
This page might give the uninitiated, a fairchance.
The Scout Group which is led by a GSL(Group Scout Leader), comprises of threesections, all of which are open to both boys and girls:
Beaver Scouts meet as a Colony, that isdivided into small groups called Lodges.Beavers are aged 6 – 8 yrs. They are led byBSL (Beaver Scout Leader) and ABSL(Assistant Beaver Scout Leader/s).
Cub Scouts meet as a Pack, divided intosmaller groups called Sixes, each led by aSixer. Cubs are aged 8 - 10.5 yrs. They areled by CSL (Cub Scout Leader) and ACSL(Assistant Cub Scout Leader/s). To be furtherconfusing, leaders in the Cub Scout Pack stilluse names drawn from Rudyard Kipling’sJungle Book. The CSL is called ‘Akela’ andthe Assistant Leaders use the names ofother characters: Bageehra, Baloo, Hathi,Kaa, Rikki, Ratcha and so on.
Scouts are members of a Troop, which willbe made up of a number of Patrols eachlead by a PL (Patrol Leader). Scouts are aged10.5 - 14 yrs. They are led by SL (ScoutLeader) and ASL (Assistant Scout Leader/s).In many Troops it is traditional that theScout Leader is called ‘Skip’.
Besides the Leaders, the Group will have ateam of other adults who provide supportchiefly with administration and fund raising.These will be led by a Group Chairperson,who is strictly speaking the Chairperson ofthe Group Scout Council. This meetsannually as the Groups AGM (AnnualGeneral Meeting) and includes all those,especially parents, who are connected tothe Group. The more routine managementof the Group’s affairs is conducted by theGroup Executive Committee often called‘the Executive’.
On leaving the Scout Troop, the youngpeople become Explorer Scouts and meetas an Explorer Scout Unit, which has itsown identity, but is managed by the localScout District. Members are aged 14 - 18 yrsand they are led by ESL (Explorer ScoutLeader) and AESLs (Assistant Explorer ScoutLeader/s). At District level there is the
DESC (District Explorer Scout Commissioner)and the DESA (District Explorer ScoutAdministrator).
The Scout Network is a County co-ordinatedsection for all members aged 18 – 25 yrs,some of whom may or may not already beLeaders of other sections.
The terms Leader and Scouter are bothused to describe those adults who hold aWarrant. The warrant is the appointmentcard that is given to those who accept theappointment as a uniformed Leader. Suchappointments are made by the ScoutDistrict. Other adults may be Helpers orSkills Instructors. Helpers usually providegeneral help to a section on a regular basiswhilst Skills Instructors provide morespecialised support. Both are issued withCertificates of Appointment.
Your Scout Group is part of a Scout District,which exists to provide support to andpromote co-operation between Groups. The District will be led by a DC (DistrictCommissioner). The DC is supported by a team of ADCs (Assistant DistrictCommissioners). These will each havespecific responsibilities and thus holdappointments such as ADC(CS) (AssistantDistrict Commissioner Cub Scouts).
The District may also have a DistrictFellowship, whose adult members are notattached to Groups, but still wish to providehelp and support to both Groups and theDistrict.
Districts look for their support to a ScoutCounty, which will be led by a CC (CountyCommissioner). Similarly to the Districtthere will be a team of ACCs (AssistantCounty Commissioners).
Richard CroweSL & GSL, 1EW, EW&W, GLSE (work it out!)
DYB, DYB, DYB ... DOB, DOB, DOB
1907 First experimental camp onBrownsea Island.
1908 Publication of ‘Scouting for Boys’ insix fortnightly parts.
1910 Girl Guides founded.
1911 King George V at the Windsor Rally.
1912 Royal Charter granted.
1916 Wolf Cubs started.
1918 Rover Scouts started.
1919 Gilwell Park opened.
1920 1st World Jamboree at Olympia,London. B-P acclaimed Chief Scout of theWorld.
1922 The Great Alexandra Palace rally.
1923 International Chalet opened atKandersteg, Switzerland.
1924 2nd World Jamboree, Copenhagen.
1925 Handicapped Scouts sectionstarted.
1928 Group system introduced.
1929 3rd World Jamboree, Arrowe Park,Birkenhead. B-P created LordBaden-Powell of Gilwell.
1932 The first Gang Show (to raise fundsfor the Swimming Pool at Downe).
1933 4th World Jamboree, Hungary.Downe Scout Camp opens.
1935 2nd Rover Moot, Sweden.
1937 5th World Jamboree, Holland.
1939 3rd World Rover Moot, Scotland.
1941 B-P dies and is buried in Kenya. Lord Somers becomes Chief Scout.Air Scouts started.
1945 Lord Rowallan becomes ChiefScout.
1946 Senior Scouts started.
1947 6th World Jamboree, France.
1949 4th World Rover Moot, Norway.First Bob-a-Job Week.
1951 7th World Jamboree, Austria.
1953 5th World Rover Moot, Kandersteg.
1955 8th World Jamboree, Canada.
1956 Wolf Cubs celebrate 40 years.
1957 Jubilee Jamboree, Sutton Coldfield.
1959 10th World Jamboree, Philippines.Sir Charles Maclean becomes Chief Scout.
1961 HM The Queen opens Baden-Powell House in London.
1963 11th World Jamboree, Greece.
1965 Greater London South East Countycreated.
1967 12th World Jamboree, Idaho, USASections reorganised into Cubs,Scouts and Venture Scouts. New uniforms.
1971 New World Membership badgeintroduced.
1972 Sir William Gladstone becomesChief Scout.
1975 14th World Jamboree, Norway.
1976 Girls officially allowed to joinVenture Scouts.
1981 Major General Michael Walshbecomes Chief Scout.
1983 15th World Jamboree, Calgary,Canada.
1985 New Scout Training Programmelaunched.
1986 Beavers Scout section becomesofficially part of the ScoutAssociation.
1987 16th World Jamboree in Australia.
1988 Garth Morrison becomes ChiefScout.
1990 Scouts Go For A Million Campaignlaunched which eventually raised£141,998 for Barnardo's.
1991 17th World Jamboree, South Korea.Girls join all sections.
1995 18th World Jamboree, Holland.
1996 George Purdy becomes Chief Scout.
1999 19th World Jamboree, Chile.
2000 Chief Scout visits Campdowne.
2002 Sections reorganised. ExplorerScouts and Scout Network created.
2003 20th World Jamboree, Thailand.
2004 Chief Scout George Purdy and ChiefScout Designate Peter Duncan visitCampdowne at Downe.
SCOUTING TIMELINE
06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
2002
1989
1967
1947
1922
1918
1914
1908 Boy Scouts
Wolf Cubs Boy Scouts Senior Scouts Rover Scouts
Wolf Cubs Boy Scouts Rover Scouts
Wolf Cubs Boy Scouts
Wolf Cubs Boy Scouts Rover Scouts
Cub Scouts Scouts Venture Scouts
Beavers Cub Scouts Scouts Venture Scouts
Beavers Cub Scouts Scouts Explorer Scouts Scout Network
In conjunction with the formation of the early Scout Troops in 1908, local
committees (later called Local Associations)formed for the purposes of encouraging thenew movement. It is recorded that the 1stBexleyheath Troop (known in 1908 as the3rd North-West Kent) belonged to such anAssociation which held its meetings atBlackheath and later at Woolwich.
In March, 1910, the formation of a localAssociation at Sidcup was recorded, and inJune 1911 the Mid-Kent District was formed.In April the following year the 3rd NorthWest Kent Troop was transferred to this newDistrict as a member of Sidcup, Chislehurst,Bexley, Bexleyheath, Crayford, EastWickham, Welling, Foots Cray and North Cray.
By 1923 the Sidcup Association hadbecome too large for administration and theBexleyheath and District Local Associationwas formed to cater for the Troops whoseheadquarters were “easily accessible fromthe tramway car lines."
The new Association included all Troops atBexleyheath, East Wickham, Welling andCrayford, but did not originally take inBexley. The Association was re-registered in1932, and the 1st Bexley Group added. Thenext change came in June 1946, when it lostthe 1st and 3rd Crayford Groups to Erith, butgained 1st Brigden on its transfer fromSidcup.
The earliest days of local ScoutingIn early 1908, following the publication of"Scouting For Boys", a number of boys in thearea were anxious to form Scout Patrols. Thethen Vicar of Christchurch, Rev Fry, handed acopy of the book to a Mr Wintersgill, whobecame interested, and advised that ‘asthere was already a Boy's Brigade Companyattached to Christchurch, the Scout Troop, ifformed should be an "open" one so thatboys of all denominations might join.’
The first Patrol meeting was held on 8thSeptember 1908 and was attended byseven boys. It was duly registered in April1909 as the 3rd North West Kent Troop. In 1919, after several changes ofheadquarters, they finally settled in theScout Hall in Mayplace Road, which hadbeen purchased by friends of the Troop.
During the next few years other Troopsappeared. The 1st East Wickham in March1911, then 1st Crayford in November andalso 1st Welling, although they were notregistered until 1913. A Troop known as the1st Bexley, for boys living at the Crayfordend of Bexley was formed, unfortunatelythis closed down in 1915.
1912 saw the production by the 1stBexleyheath Troop of the first Patrolmagazine in the whole movement. InFebruary the 1st Bexley Troop (then knownas 2nd Bexley was registered).
In 1909 the 1st Bexley held their firstcamp in Bexley Woods, with the permissionof the Curator of Oxford University, the thenowners, with cooking, fire lighting,signalling, and scouting games continuedfor many years in these woods. Summercamp was held in Danson Park in 1909,
When war was declared in August 1914,many Scouts were at camp, but they quicklyresponded to calls for there help. The 1stBexley were camping at Chislehurst, underthe orders of Scoutmaster Cockerill, itarranged guards for nearby railway bridges,similar duties were undertaken at Foots Cray and the Scouts guarded some maintelephone and telegraph wires leading tothe coast.
Other Scout Troops carried out similarduties within the local area. One Troop atcamp in Epping Forest were recalled toguard telephone and telegraph wires in thevicinity of Crayford. Forty Scouts from 1stBexleyheath assisted in guarding theLondon to Dover road. The Scouts in the areacarried out many similar duties, by nowtheir leaders were being called up to theservices so a lot of Troops were continuingtheir scouting with a Patrol Leader takingthe lead. Of the 6 Troops that existed in thearea at the the outbreak of war, only one(the original 1st Bexley) closed down. Bythe end of the 1915 over 70 former Scoutsand officers from the District were serving inthe forces.
After the First World War. With the end of the war, the movementmade still greater progress, by 1938 thenumber of Scout Troops/Groups hadgrown: 1st Bexleyheath - 1908 (nowclosed), 2nd Bexleyheath - 1918-1985, 1st East Wickham - 1911, 1st Welling -1911, 2nd East Wickham Hutment - 1917(now closed), 1st Crayford - 1911, 3rdCrayford - pre-1920, were existing before1923, then from 1925 more Groups wereformed.
BEXLEYHEATH
SCOUT DISTRICT
1st Bexley - Jamboree, Mount Mascal - Whitsun 1934.
8th Bexleyheath - Troop Flag Completion - 1942.
St George’s Day Parade - Early 1960sLed by Don Beven (now District Chairman of EastWickham & Welling). Flagbearer with glasses is RichardWillgoss (Later to be District Commissioner of EastWickham & Welling). Location is just past Lion Road,Bexleyheath.
2nd Bexley Wolf Cubs - 1960s.
1st Bexleyheath - Sports Team - 1932.
3rd Bexleyheath (Trinity Baptist) - 1925 2nd Welling (Danson’s Own) - 1927 3rd Welling (St Stephen's Own) - 19294th Welling (Methodist) - 1929 1st Baldwyns Park - c19294th Bexleyheath (Congregational) - 19305th Bexleyheath (St Peters) - 19306th Bexleyheath - 1931-19467th Bexleyheath (Methodist) - 19311st Bexley - 1912 (from Sidcup)*1st Bridgen - 1932 (from Sidcup)5th Welling (Congregational) - 19331st Barnehurst - 1933-19386th Welling - 1934-19378th Bexleyheath (Brampton) - 19359th Bexleyheath - 1936 10th Bexleyheath (Salvation Army)2nd Bexley (Congregational) - 1936*2nd East Wickham (St Mary’s) - 1935 2nd Barnehurst - 1936-1939 3rd Barnehurst (Methodist) - 1936 7th Welling (Falconwood) - 1937 8th Welling - 1938-1949
4th Barnehurst (St Martin’s) - 19381st Blendon (Methodist) - 19423rd Bexley - 19434th Bexley - 1944-19455th Bexley - 1945 (Closed)*1st & 2nd Bexley now joined as BexleyScouts
During the Second World War the Groups inthe District were actively involved, as wereScouts nationwide, such as farm work,cultivation, forestry work, firewatching,distribution of leaflets, assistance with theHome Guard (as cooks, and casualties etc).Following the end of the War, Scoutingreturned to more "normal" activities.
The present Bexleyheath DistrictIn 1965 the Groups in East Wickham &Welling split from Bexleyheath to form their own District. Bexleyheath took as theirDistrict Badge the ”Black Prince" on a creambackground.
Since forming the Bexleyheath District,some of the above Groups have closed, afew others have merged.
The last major event that has happenedwas in 1982 when the Beaver Scouts werestarted for those between 6 and 8 years old,this took off well with every Group havinga Colony.
The total number of Beavers, Cubs,Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Network Scouts andLeaders at the last count (2007 census) -777 plus a Fellowship of 26.
Pat Barker, Bexleyheath District.
After being without
a District badge for
a while, following
the split from East
Wickham & Welling in
1965, Jack Gillette,
the then DC designed
the present badge
using THE BLACK
PRINCE. The Black Prince was Edward of
Woodstock, Prince of Wales and lived from
15th June 1330 to 8th June 1376. He was the
eldest son of King Edward III and father of
Richard II. It is rumoured he courted Joan,
Countess of Kent (known as The Fair Maid of
Kent) by the banks of the River Cray at Hall
Place.
The name, The Black Prince, was given
some 200 years after his death and there are
many conflicting reasons for this name, the
most probable being black was the main
colour of his armour. There are tales his ghost
haunts Hall Place.
Originally the badge was designed to have
a white background, but this was rejected
because it would get dirty, so a light cream
was used instead. Today a locomotive
(number 11) on the Romney, Hythe and
Dymchurch Railway in Kent carries the name,
The Black Prince.
1st Bexley Scouts and Wolf Cubs - 1932 Twegen Venture Unit - Raft Race on Danson Park Lake - 1986
Although the first activities that led to Scouting being formed where held in
1907, it is understood that it took a whilefor the structure to be set up and it was notuntil about 1908 that the first Troop in theform of the 1st Erith was formed. Themeeting venue for this Group was ErithGrammar School, which was located at thejunction Upper Holly Hill Road and ErithRoad, Belvedere.
The District’s oldest continuous Group,2nd Erith, originally met at the top ofColyers Lane, moving later to St. Paul'sChurch, Mill Road, Northumberland Heath.
The 3rd Erith started as land Scouts, it isunderstood that they then transferred to beSea Scouts in 1910. Since their formationthey have had three barges on the RiverThames. The “Jim Coles” name for thebarges was named after their first GroupScoutmaster.
Around 1914 it is understood that therewas a Troop meeting in Maxim Road, Erith.This is understood to be the origins of the4th Erith. The records of the 4th Erith ScoutGroup (All Saints Belvedere) with the Scoutinformation centre are that the Group wasregistered in June 1932. The Group movedlocations from the Church to their currentlocation in Hoddesdon Road, Belvedere andare currently rebuilding their HQ.
The first records of the 5th Erith is aregistration document dated October 1919.The building in where the 5th Erith metwas called the Christian Grey hall, this wasnamed after the first president of the ErithDistrict. The Group has met continuouslyuntil their recent closure.
The 6th Erith started at CongregationChurch, Picardy Road. After a gap, the Groupwere reformed at St. Augustine's Church,the earliest registration, with HQ of the 6thErith (St Augustine's) was in 1951.
It is understood that the 7th Erith startedat the Baptist Church, Queen Street, Erith.Although there are no records, it is thoughtthat the Troop/Group amalgamated withthe Sea Scouts.
The 8th Erith was first formed in 1914, itclosed and then was reformed in 1918. In1922 the Group was restarted at BedonwellHouse, Belmont Road, moved to BrookStreet School, and then on to The Dell inCarlton Road and then to their last locationon to the ground to the rear of CheviotClose. The current building, now used as the Erith & Crayford District HQ was built in1967/68.
St John’s Church, West Street, Erith wasthe original home of the 9th Erith again likethe 3rd Erith these started life as landScouts. The first registration with HQ for theGroup was in 1919. It is understood that duea dispute with the church they moved to StAugustine’s Church. Then later moved totheir current location, and then proceed tobuild their current headquarters. They arestill operational today as Air Scouts
10th Erith (St Thomas More) was firstregistered with national Headquarters in1967. It is understood that the Grouporiginally met in the Abbey Wood area.
There is nothing known about the 11thErith. From what has been found out the12th Erith has had a continuous presence inErith since it was registered in 1948. Formedat Our Ladies of Angels Church, and haverecently moved back into their HQ (thechurch hall) after it was rebuilt.
The 13th Erith (Christ Church) was firstregistered in 1950 with headquarters. TheGroup is still active today.
It is understood that the 14th Erith waslocated in the grounds of Bedonwell School.Other than that there is not much moreknown about the the Group.
The Salvation Army hall in Erith Road wasthe home of the 15th Erith, although theGroup is no longer in existence.
The 16th Erith started meeting in thePantiles Methodist Church hall, then in1955/56 moved from the church hall intothe building that they are still using to date.
Starting in 1956 the 17th Erith wasoriginally based in the Church hall of StJohn’s, West Street in Erith. Later built theirown hall. During their history the Group hassuffered with two fires to their meeting hall.
1961 saw the 18th Erith (St Andrew’s)being started. The Group, still operatingtoday has always met at the church hall ofSt Andrew’s, Brampton Road.
There once was a Group known as the
ERITH & CRAYFORD
SCOUT DISTRICT
8th Erith - 1919
3rd Erith Sea Scouts - The ‘Jim Coles’ Barge, their
headquarters at Pier Road - c1992.
1st Crayford Wolf Cubs and Scouts
and their camp gateway at the
Jamboree Camp - Whitsun 1934
4th Erith (Vickers’ Works) - At Farningham Garage on
the March from Erith to Eynsford with Vickers 303
Gun under the supervision of Gunner Budge of Vickers,
Erith - c.1910.
19th Erith, this was later renamed 1stThamesmead. There is a 2nd ThamesmeadGroup, however it is attached to WoolwichDistrict.
During the First World War it is understoodthat there was a Group calling themselvesthe 1st Slade Green. However the present1st Slade Green was started c1958 by Frank Keller. Formed around 1966 the 2nd Slade Green originally met in StAugustine’s Church hall. It is thought that aGroup was started “unofficially” duringWorld War II and offered an EnglishRestaurant (soup kitchen). The 1st & 2ndSlade Green later joined together to formthe 1st Erith (Slade Green) which wasregistered with headquarters in 1973.
The original 1st Crayford was registered inNovember 1911. The first records of the 1stCrayford (St Paulinus) with headquartersdate back to December 1927, after a yearsbreak. The 2nd Crayford was located in theCatholic Church but it is understood thatthey only ever had one Cub Pack. 3rdCrayford was existing pre-1920 and movedto Erith District, with 1st Crayford, in 1946.
The 4th Crayford was formed in theCrayford Methodist Church.
Over the years the District has held socialevents such as Dinner Dances. These have
been at venues such as the Running Horsepublic house and Crayford Town Hall. Guestat these events have included the Mayorand other local dignitaries.
The Scouts helped at many events in thelocal area and when the great floodhappened in 1953, the then DC (Eric Payne)reported at the AGM of that year, “AllGroups did excellent work in a variety ofways, some members being early to thescene and taking part in rescue work and inhelping to plug the breaches in the riverbank. Some Groups suffered loss in theflood, but despite difficulties all carried on.”
Erith and Crayford District was originallypart of the County of Kent. At this time themembers of the District wore a Red Invictabadge and it was following reorganisationin 1965 that they became part of GLSE.
Over the years in the District there havebeen many Scout Shows. Some have beenmore successful than others, but the latestrun of Scout Shows, known as ‘Capers’ arethe first time Erith and Crayford have beenofficially recognised as a ‘Gang Show’.
The DC’s of Erith / Erith & Crayford Districthave been Frank Clark, Rev’d Huffum (StPaulinus Church), Eric Norman Payne(Gaffer), Frank Perry (50’s), Les Irwin,Bernard Tull, John Terry, Alec Nunn, Geoff
Erith & Crayford’sbadge depicts theship “THE HENRYGRACE DE DLEU” orTHE GREAT HARRYwhich was thename given by thesailors to thegreatest ship ofher time. It wasbuilt at Woolwichand “Hallowed”(blessed) at Erith.
Construction commenced on 4th December1512, and the ship was required to replace theRegent (“a great frigate of 1000 tons”)destroyed by the French on 10th August 1512.The main mast was given by the Abbot ofSaint Osyes, (near Clacton-on-sea). Most oftimber came from Essex. The Greatest singleitem on the detailed cost list was nearly£1000 for Cabylles, Cabilettes, Halsers, Ropes,Ratelyn, Marlin, Calkinge, Hempe andOkeham.After launching she seems to have usually
moored at Erith. According to Henry Machyn, adiarist of the day, THE GREAT HARRY wasdestroyed by fire on 25th August 1553 atWoolwich, by negligence of the crew. TheCalais Chronicle describes the ship thus: THEHENRY GRACE DE DIEU, 1000 tons, Souldurs349; Marryners 301; Gunners 50; (acompliment totalling 700!). She carried 102iron guns (cannons) and 19 brass (bronze)pieces. The confusion over her resting placemay be due to there being more than oneship with the same name.Anderson states that the pictures of THE
GREAT HARRY that survive show her after acomplete rebuild in 1536-39. Anotherinventory shows that she had 384 guns. Afterher rebuild she was listed as having 21 heavybrass guns, 130 iron guns and 100 hand-guns,giving a total of 251 guns.
Amass and the current incumbent is LesleyButler.
Over the history of the Erith and Crayford there of course have been many members.The information here is generally basedaround news articles and personalmemories of events, if you have moreevidence to build up a better history, whynot let me know.
Neil Churcher, Erith & Crayford District Scouts
Silver Acorn recipients from Erith & Crayford who attended the St George's Day parade at Windsor Castle - 2007They are, from L-R: Jean Treveil (District Badge Secretary), Sharon Amass (ADC Cubs), Pam Baker (GSL 12th Erith), Fred Vidler (District Chair), & Dave Reynolds (District Secretary).
Den Turrell meets the Chief Scout, Peter Duncan - 2005
Erith Wolf Cubs and Scouts - Going to camp - pre 1920
1EW
2EW
4W
7W 2W
1W
3W5W
9S
4S
7S
1S6S
2S
1FC
1N3S
KO
1BL
5B
7
8B
4B
1BR
1TM
18E
L
P
S
K2
T
BN
East Wickham & Welling
1EW 1st East Wickham
2EW 2nd East Wickham
1W 1st Welling
2W 2nd Welling
3W 3rd Welling
4W 4th Welling
5W 5th Welling
7W 7th Welling
L Legend Explorers
P Pirates Explorers
S Shogun Explorers
Fellowship
EW&W District
Sidcup
1S 1st Sidcup
2S 2nd Sidcup
3S 3rd Sidcup
4S 4th Sidcup
6S 6th Sidcup
7S 7th Sidcup
9S 9th Sidcup
KO Kemnals Own
1FC 1st Foots Cray
1NC 1st North Cray
K2 K2 Explorers
T Trigon Explorers
Sidcup District
Each Scout Group has its own Scarf (or Necker). The
colour(s) are usually the Group colours which may have
a particular historical significance to the Group or to the
local community. The Scarf is usually fastened at the
front with a Woggle.
Many Group scarves feature a Group Badge on the back,
however has not been possible to show these here.
© Crown copyright reserved
NC
BS
7B
4BH
3BH
BHQ
3C 1C
1E
HQ
13E
2E
12E
9E
4E
6E
17E
16E
1BP
BE
THE SCOUT GROUPS
IN BEXLEY
F
SN
TOTI
E
N
Erith & Crayford
1E 1st Erith
2E 2nd Erith
4E 4th Erith
6E 6th Erith
9E 9th Erith (Air)
12E 12th Erith
13E 13th Erith
16E 16th Erith
17E 17th Erith
18E 18th Erith
1C 1st Crayford
3C 3rd Crayford
1TM 1st Thamesmead
N Nemesis ESU
E Erhede ESU
TI Titans Air ESU
T0 Tomahawks ESU
SN Adrenaline Scout Network
F Fellowship
Capers Gangshow
Bexleyheath
BHQ Headquarters
BS Bexley Scouts
3BH 3rd Barnehurst
4BH 4th Barnehurst
4B 4th Bexleyheath
5B 5th/7th Bexleyheath*
7B 5th/7th Bexleyheath*
8B 8th Bexleyheath
1BL 1st Blendon
1BR 1st Bridgen
1BP 1st Baldwyns Park
BE Bexley Explorers
BN Bexley Network
* 5th & 7th Bexleyheath are joined as one Group
The origins of Scouting is complex and not well recorded. Originally some Troops
were affiliated to churches, schools, or largeemployers, such as Dunlop, Brooke Bond,and, locally, 2nd Crayford (Vickers’ Works),whilst others had no affiliations and werebased on local neighbourhoods.
In January 1910, local Scout Troopsdecided to get together to form a ScoutDistrict called ‘The Sidcup and District BoyScouts Local Association’. Its area coveredthe neighbourhoods of Abbey Wood, Bexley,Bexleyheath, Chislehurst, Crayford, EastWickham, Foots Cray, North Cray, Lamorbey,Sidcup, St. Mary’s Cray and Welling.
By April 1918, Abbey Wood had left, withthe rest of the Association having seventeenScout Troops and nine Wolf Cub Packs. Untilthis time, all Troops and Packs wereregistered with the local Scout Association,however, from 1919 onwards, they had toregister with Scout Headquarters, thenlocated in Buckingham Palace Road.
In 1923, seven Troops and six Packs left toform a new District, called Bexleyheath. Thisnew District was to cater for Scouts whoseheadquarters were “easily accessible fromthe tramway car lines”, they included EastWickham and Welling and Crayford. This leftthe Sidcup Association with eleven ScoutTroops and five Wolf Cub Packs.
Until now Scout Troops and Wolf CubPacks were registered as separate units. In1928, all Troops and Packs had to re-registertogether under the present Cub and TroopGroup System. The Sidcup, Chislehurst andThe Crays Local Scout Association wasformed in August 1946 and containedeighteen Groups.
In 1965, the map of local governmentwas redrawn, with Chislehurst and The Craysleaving to join the newly formed ScoutDistricts in Bromley. At the same time,Sidcup left the Scout County of Kent andtogether with Bromley created the newScout County of Greater London South East.
Today, the Sidcup District ScoutAssociation covers Blackfen, Foots Cray,North Cray and Sidcup and contains tenGroups.
1st Sidcup were registered in October1910. The founding Scoutmaster was W. Reed who had two assistantScoutmasters, J. E. Read and Harry J.Rodgers. Their hut in Nelson Road opened inJanuary 1914 next to Harry RodgersEngineering Works. Harry, later to become aScoutmaster, would often ‘poach’ Scoutsinto becoming apprentices at his company.
In 1955, 1st Sidcup moved to the site ofGreens Nursery (now Etfield Grove) onSidcup Hill and in September 1975 openedtheir present hut behind Oxford Road. Theyoriginally had a green scarf until the 1970sand when Harry Rodger's, who also servedas an army signaller, died, and a blue andwhite semaphore square was sewn onto thebottom of the scarf in his memory. Later, thescarf was changed to blue and white. This isone of the few Scout Groups formed thatwere not associated with a church or largeemployer. In 1986, Alan Godfrey startedSidcup’s first Beaver Colony.
2nd Sidcup (St John’s) were registered inOctober 1909 by Harry Hale. They originallymet at The Stables in Elm Road, then eitherin a room over The Black Horse Pub or itsstables. They moved to Grassington Road in1920 and their hut was officially opened in1921. Due to wind and weather damage thehut was destroyed and replaced with thepresent one in the 1930s. The land wasgiven to them by Roy Shapley, a churchmember and Scout Leader. 2nd Sidcup wereone of the few Scout Groups who continuedto meet during both world wars. Their scarfis grey with a badge at the apex containingthe eagle of St. John the Evangelist.
3rd Sidcup were registered in March1915, and then reformed in February 1935by the Congregational Church in StationRoad. In the 1950s, the CongregationalChurch joined with other churches to createthe United Reformed Church. The church inStation Road was sold in the 1980s and theScout Group moved, a section at a time, toits present home at Emmanuel Church inHadlow Road. 3rd Sidcup retain aconnection with the Congregational Churchthrough their scarf colours of blue with gold
SIDCUP
SCOUT DISTRICT
2nd Sidcup Scouts at Foots Cray Place c.1919.
4th Lamorbey / 4th Sidcup - At Holy Trinity Church
1st Crayford - 1958.
1st Sidcup Beavers - At their first meeting and beforeuniforms had been issued - 1985.
Sidcup Scouts meal time at camp, possibly at Foots Cray.
edging, which were the colours of theCongregational Church.
4th Sidcup (Holy Trinity) wereregistered as 4th Lamorbey in 1941 byCannon Groom of Holy Trinity Church.However, records show there was a 4thSidcup registered in July 1914 and werebased at The Parish Hall, Longlands. InFebruary 1933, 4th Sidcup (County School)were registered and based at The CountySchool for Boys (now The Bexley MusicCentre) in Station Road. Little is know ofthese Groups. 4th Lamorbey changed to itspresent name in February 1946. Theiroriginal Troop Flag is still hung in theChurch. From 1941 to 1950 their scarf wasgold. Since then it has been dark blue withthe Trinity Rings embroidered at the apex.
5th Sidcup were registered as a Cub Packoriginally in July 1932 for The SidcupPreparatory School and Kindergarten at 115Main Road and subsequently closed inNovember 1936. In August 1939 it reformedand was based at Sidcup Baptist Church inMain Road. Their scarf was old gold andthey closed finally in 1969.
6th Sidcup (St. Lawrence) wereregistered in August 1943 at St. Mary’sCollege (now St Luke’s Sixth Form CatholicCollege) in Chislehurst Road. During in the1950s, they met in what are now thegrounds of Queen Mary’s Hospital. Formedby Fr. Wilf Duffy, a Marist Priest, they havecontinued their association with the RomanCatholic community, however, they are anopen Group and accept young people of anydenomination. Their scarf is the Papalcolours of yellow and white.
7th Sidcup were registered as a Cub Packin January 1946 by The Lamorbey ResidentsAssociation. They met at various locationsincluding Burnt Oak Lane School, Days LaneSchool and The Pavilion in Burnt Oak Lane. Ayard in Wellington Avenue, which storedtimber from bomb damaged buildings,became available and George Lewis (thecurrent president of 7th Sidcup) bought theland. An army hut from an anti-aircraft gunsite in St. Paul’s Cray was bought andtransported to the present site in circa 1953.The hut has since been replaced, althoughsome remains are still there. The scarf wasoriginally green and yellow, however it wasfound that the colours ran when washed, soit was replaced with the present purple.
8th Sidcup (Proud Endeavour) wereregistered in April 1954 exclusively for thedisabled, including many wheelchair bound,
deaf and blind. They were originally basedat Kemnal’s Own in Main Road, and latermoved to the Congregational Church inStation Road. Run by Fred Gage, it ceased in1967. Their flags are kept with 3rd Sidcup’sat Emmanuel Church, Hadlow Road.
9th Sidcup were formed in February1932 originally as 3rd Lamorbey based inDays Lane and from 1939 to 1951 behindPinewood Avenue. They registered inAugust 1946 as 9th Sidcup (Old Farm) andwere open “to boys living between HalfwayStreet and The Southern Railway”. Theywere based at Burnt Oak Lane School beforemoving to its present site. They dropped(Old Farm) from their name in 1969.
10th Sidcup were originally 2ndLamorbey and registered in June 1917,although in April 1947 were registered as10th Sidcup. They were formed to serve TheL.C.C. Residential School, later known as TheLamorbey Residential School, and then TheHollies Children’s Home. As 10th Sidcup, itonly had a Cub Pack, with older boys joiningnearby Scout Troops. Their scarf was brownand white and later green and maroon andwas run by Ron and Carol Church. Theyceased in June 1965.
1st Lamorbey held their first meeting inJuly 1913 at the School Room in Hurst Road.In January 1914 they moved to a room overThe Stables in Penhill and then to a buildingat the corner on Main and Woodside Roads.They registered March 1917, and werebased at The Mission Room in Days Lane,but during The First World War they joined2nd Lamorbey at The Lamorbey ResidentialSchool. It is not known what happened to1st Lamorbey.
1st Blackfen first registered in November1935 and were based at 217 Blackfen Road.Although they closed in 1945, theyreformed in February 1966 and were basedin Days Lane, later moving to The Church ofThe Good Shepherd in Blackfen Road. Theirscarf was orange and in 2004, they mergedwith 7th Sidcup. For many years RonNarborough was their Group Scout Leader.
1st Foots Cray was registered in October1912, and its Wolf Cub Pack in October1917, at The Rectory, Foots Cray. This wasSidcup’s first Cub Pack. It closed in 1950 butre-registered in 1951 as 1st Foots Cray (AllSaints) and met at The Memorial Hall inRectory Lane. In March 1958 it changed toits present name of 1st Foots Cray. At onetime, so many boys attended, they had twoCub Packs and Scout Troops (A and B).
1st North Cray were registered in October1911, and in April 1925 as a Cub Pack, atNorth Cray Place Stables. In 1927, the ScoutTroop was registered at The Orchard, NorthCray. Between 1938 and 1984 it wassponsored by St. James Church. Their hut,Geoffrey Hall is named after Geoffrey VaseyHolt, an Assistant Scoutmaster who died inthe First World War. They moved to theirpresent site when North Cray Road wasrealigned.
Kemnal’s Own were registered as 1stLonglands in March 1925. They originallyplanned to be 4th Sidcup, but the DistrictAssociation said they would have to be 5thSidcup. However, given their location, thetitle 1st Longlands was registered. Their firsttemporary home was The Parish Hall inWoodside Road, although later Sir JamesKemnal was approached, and a piece of theKemnal Manor Estate was found as apermanent home. Because of the supportfrom Sir James and Lady Kemnal, their titlebecame 1st Longlands (Kemnal’s Own), andin 1932 they dropped the 1st Longlands tobecame the present Kemnal’s Own. They areone of the few Scout Groups to have a nameand not a number and since 1936, haveworn their own badge based on the Kemnalcrest with the inscription ‘Animo et Fide’,meaning ‘by Courage and Faith’.
K2 Explorer Scout Unit was formed in2001, taking its name from the world’ssecond highest mountain. They are based at1st Sidcup, but draw Explorers from all ofSidcup’s Groups. Its scarf colours of black,red and white come from their distinctivebadge.
Trigon Explorer Unit evolved from TrigonVenture Scout Unit. Trigon means “by earth,wind and fire”, and they are based at 4thSidcup.
If you would like to find out more about Scouting in Sidcup visit our website atwww.sidcupscoutnet.org.uk or phone us on0845 094 4017.
Tim Harlow, Sidcup Scouts
Sidcup District badgedepicts AN ANVILrepresenting the forgethat used to be inCross Road (betweenRectory Lane andSidcup Hill). It servedthe local Coaching Innssuch as the BlackHorse (1705) on the
historic London to Maidstone road. The forge isremembered by Old Forge Way – a 1936development designed by Kenneth Dalgleishin the style of Kent and Sussex Weald 17thand 18th century cottages. Today it is aconservation area. The green backgroundreflects Sidcup’s rural background and thechain the link between Sidcup and Scouting.
2nd Sidcup Scouts on bikes outside their hut in 1920s.
East Wickham & Welling connection withScouting goes back even before thefounding of the Movement, Baden Powell’sfather was Vicar of St Michael’s, EastWickham in the mid 1800’s.
Following the publication of "Scouting forBoys" by Baden-Powell in 1908, Patrols
and Troops of Scouts began to form up anddown the country.
In April 1912 the 1st East Wickham (StMichael’s) Troop (formerly 9th North WestKent Troop formed in March 1911) and 1stWelling (formed 6 months later) weretransferred to the new Sidcup District LocalAssociation which covered the parishes ofSidcup, Chislehurst, Bexley, Bexleyheath,Crayford, East Wickham, Welling, Foots Crayand North Cray.
In 1917, a Group was formed composedof boys from the Government Hutments(built to house the workers from theWoolwich Arsenal) at the top of Lodge Hill,this Group was known as 2nd EastWickham (Hutment), although it was notthe same Group as the present 2nd EastWickham which was formed later.
By 1923 the Sidcup Association hadbecome too large for administrativepurposes and the Bexleyheath and DistrictLocal Association was formed to cater forthe Troops whose headquarters were "easilyaccessible from the tramway car lines". Thisincluded all Troops in Bexleyheath, EastWickham, Welling and Crayford. The 1stBexley was added in 1932.
During the First WorId War [1914-18] localScouts, as elsewhere, were involved invarious forms of service, giving bugle"alarms" of air raids and the "all clear",guarding main roads, railway bridges,telephone and telegraph lines, acting ashospital orderlies, patients for Red Crosstrainees, distributing handbills in connectionwith appeals for National Relief Funds andNational Savings. The Home Defence Corpsof the 1st Bexleyheath Troop, was the firstcorps registered in Mid-Kent. The 1st EastWickham Troop gave hospitality to Belgiumboy refugees and a Belgium Patrol wasformed in the Troop.
Most of the Scoutmasters and theirAssistants joined the forces during the firsthalf of the war including Ray T Storer,founder of the 1st Welling Troop, who waskilled at Ypres in 1915 aged 21. Theresponsibility of carrying on Scouting restedmainly on the Patrol Leaders. Patrol LeaderA Hudson of the 1st East Wickham wasawarded the Medal of Merit in 1916 for"Good work done on behalf of the Boy ScoutMovement".
During the war Scouting continued todevelop and younger boys were clamberingto join, and although the Wolf Cub Section
was not officially recognised until 1916,there were "Cubs" in 1915 attached to the1st Bexleyheath and 1st East WickhamTroops.
From 1924 to 1939 the borough of Bexleychanged in character from a comparativelyrural one to a suburb of London. Thepopulation of Bexley alone quadrupledbetween the years of 1921 and 1939.
During the twelve years prior to theSecond World War, the following Groupswere formed in Welling.
2nd Welling (Danson’s Own) 19273rd Welling (St Stephen's) 19294th Welling (Methodist) 19295th Welling (Congregational) 19336th Welling 1934 - 19392nd East Wickham (St Mary’s) 19357th Welling (Falconwood) 19378th Welling 1938 - 19493rd East Wickham 1949 - 1984Following the September 1938
international crisis there was a year ofuneasy peace during which time Scoutersand Scouts were involved in various formsof public service: digging shelter trenches,distributing and fitting gas masks, ARPduties and training - ARP control centres,depots, first aid posts and warden's postswere supplied with Scout CyclistMessengers. Even when things became"organised" the Civil Defence MessengerService was substantially a Scout affair, andremained so throughout the war. The SeniorMessenger and Deputy at Civil Defence HQBellegrove Road were both active Scouts.
Many jobs of service were carried outduring the war. Scouts and Cubs wereinvolved in salvage collections, waste paper,bottles, jam jars, rubber, razor blades etc.The erection of hundreds of Morrison indoorshelters, farm work, cultivation ofallotments and forestry work. "Firewatching" during air raids, distribution ofleaflets for the civil authority and assistancewith various "weeks" in the borough.Helping the "Home Guard" [Dad's Army]with their mapping and field training, andas cooks, and "casualties", "first aid", repairsto bomb-damaged houses.
The Scout National Service Badge wasintroduced for a given period of servicetogether with the Scout Civil Defenceproficiency badge. National Servicepennants were awarded to Troops of which50 per cent of the Scouts held both badges.The 7th Welling Troop were awardedpennants in 1940, 1941 and 1942.
Many members displayed heroism andshowed disregard of their own safety in theinterests of others. Scout David Cotgreve ofthe 2nd East Wickham Troop was presentedwith a Certificate of Gallantry in December1940 following his courage and common-sense when showers of incendiary bombs
EAST WICKHAM & WELLING
SCOUT DISTRICT
1st East Wickham Scouts at International Jamboree atFoots Cray Place in August 1929.
3rd East Wickham Wolf Cubs during Job Week - 1965
Drum Major Andy Blackburn leads the District Band at St George’s Day - 1978.
7th Welling Summer Camp at Kemsing - 1947. The twotallest at the back are Dick and Sam Tozer.
St George’s Day Parade outside Danson Mansion - TheGroups in the picture are (from right to left); 7thWelling, 3rd East Wickham, 1st East Wickham and 2ndWelling - April 1958.
fell near his home. During the post war years Scouting
continued to develop, locally, nationally andinternationally. Gilwell Park - Adult TrainingCentre was returned to the Movement andmore training facilities were made availablewithin the County of Kent, for Leaders,many of whom were returning from theServices.
The "Scout Soap Box Derby" wasrestarted. Scouts were involved at theQueen's Coronation selling programmes etc,and at many other Royal events. ManyTroops had camps abroad and we wererepresented at most of the six post warWorld Jamborees starting with the 6th atMoisson in France under very difficultconditions in 1947, to the 11th at Marathonin Greece in 1963.
During Scouting's Jubilee Year in 1957, forthe National Scout Week, it was decided tosplit Bexleyheath District into three areasjust for that week. The areas were:Bexleyheath, Bexley and Welling includingEast Wickham, each having its ownprogramme of Group and collectiveactivities led by a District Scouter. All were agreat success and no doubt gave someindication to those, who a few years later,planned the splitting of the District. Theculmination of the week's events in theWelling area was a barbecue, a wholesheep was cooked on a spit on open groundon the comer of Bellegrove Road andWestwood Lane [now a car park], the guestof honour was B-P's son, Lord Peter Baden-Powell. During the week there was a granddisplay of Scouting in the foyer of theGranada Cinema in Bellegrove Road.
In 1964 Bexleyheath District with its 34Cub Packs, 27 Scout Troops plus severalSenior Scout Troops was proving difficult tomanage. East Wickham and Welling District[East Wickham is first because the 1st EastWickham is a few months older than the 1st
Welling] became independent on the 1stApril 1965. This coincided with the ScoutCounty changes made necessary by theformation of the new Greater Londonboroughs.
The two "new" Districts celebratedtogether that year with a "Jamborette" atMount Mascal. This was a tremendous eventsetting both Districts off on a high note.
East Wickham & Welling started with 10Groups in an area including Danson Park andbounded by Brampton Road, East RochesterWay and the old London/Kent boundary atthe foot of Shooters Hill. It later adopted the"Bow and Arrow" as a District badge.
With the introduction of Venture Scouts in1967 for the 15 to 20 year olds it wasdecided to form a District unit of membersfrom all Groups in the District. This becameknow as the "Skogen" Venture Scout Unitand in 1971 started training as an"Emergency Aid Team". The following yearthey turned out to assist at the Eltham Railcrash. In October 1971 the first "News andViews" was published as a two page DistrictNews Sheet, a smaller folded multi pageformat was adopted in 1977 and hascontinued every since but with a change ofname to "The Arrow" in the year 2000 andproduced to a much higher standard usingnew technology.
The District Scout Band was started in1975 and the following year entered a bandcompetition, winning the Novices' Trophy. In1976 the District Scout Fellowship "our adultsupport group" was one of the first to beformed in the Scout County of GreaterLondon - South East based on our alreadyexisting "District Service Team". Since then ithas provided support to local Guiding andScouting, both at District and unit level. In addition it is often involved with Countyevents.
An annual competition which assessesthe achievements of each Group, it is
The East Wickham andWelling badge depictsa BOW AND ARROW.From at least the 14thcentury and up to the19th century the areaon each side ofWatling Street (nowShooters Hill) wasnotorious for high-waymen. Henry IV
had the woods along the road cleared asprotection for travellers and it was later usedfor archery practice in Henry VIII’s reign. Thismight be the origin of the name Shooters Hillor it may be derived from two Old Englishwords ‘shaw’ meaning a wood and ‘tot’meaning a hill. Also The Bow and Arrow wereadopted because in 1965, one of the fewarchery clubs in Southern England was basedat Crook Log.
East Wickham as a postal area is not usedthese days but the origins of the area dateback to the ancient manor of East Wickham,which was centred on St Michael’s Churchwhich dates from the 13th century. Wellingwas originally called WELLYNGS, probably from the Old English word WELLA meaningspring or well.
called "The E S Willgoss Memorial TrophyCompetition" because the shieldcommemorates Stan Willgoss who was verymuch a "Group" man, and the first Chairmanof East Wickham & Welling District when itwas formed in 1965.
During the 1970s the 2nd Welling and the3rd Welling each built their ownheadquarters. In 1986 our youngest existingGroup, the 7th Welling opened their ownhome, just a year before their 50thanniversary.
The first of our Scout Groups to have a"Beaver Colony" attached, for the 6 and 7year oIds, were the 2nd East Wickham andthe 3rd Welling in 1986 and by 1990 sevenout of the eight Groups had Beaver Scouts.
Since East Wickham & Welling District wasformed, we have been represented by atleast one member at all the World ScoutJamborees, commencing with the 12th inAmerica in 1967. The 18th in theNetherlands in 1995 we provided seven asservice team staff, including the ContingentLeader. The 21st World Scout Jamboree inHylands Park, Chelmsford in Summer 2007is to celebrate Scouting's Centenary, a campof 40,000, our District has ten members plusa Contingent Leader and an Assistant Leaderone of the County’s two contingents.
Over the years several Groups, with theaid of local radio enthusiasts, have set upradio stations during "Jamboree on the Air",Members of the District have risen to theoccasion when support for other charitieswas called for. From the simple butworthwhile distribution of leaflets for Helpthe Aged and similar organisations, orraising money as the Cub Scouts did in 1977to name a Guide Dog for the Blind. TheScouts raised £446 in the 1974 "OperationLifeboat" - the second largest amount anyDistrict in our County achieved. The total
1st Welling Scouts - Jamboree Mount Mascal (Mount Misery) - 1965. Leaders were: Stan Willgoss (Chairman EastWickham & Welling), Dick Tozer (ADC Scouts East Wickham & Welling), Ken Owen (DSL ), George Kent (ADC ScoutsBexleyheath). Owen Simmons (Deputy County Commissioner) inspects what's cooking.
produced nationwide for this project was£103,000. The boat was built, and on the14th July 1977 two of our Scouts attendedthe ceremony at Hartlepool when HM TheQueen named it "The Scout".
In 1982 older Scouts and Venture Scoutsthroughout the borough assisted with asurvey, undertaken by the Bexley AccessGroup, to determine the accessibility ofbuildings to the disabled. During theInternational Youth Year 1985, togetherwith the rest of the Scout County, moneywas raised for Crohns Disease Research,the 1st East Wickham managed £500.
Our greatest charity achievement in thisfield was in 1988, when, for the "WishingWell Appeal", the District in conjunctionwith the local Guides raised £11,782,mainly by a Walk from Welling to GreatOrmond Street Hospital. The District alsoresponded to the more recent ScoutAssociation Tsunami appeal with anotherSponsored walk, raising over £4000.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Bexleyattended the "Scouts' Own" service on theSunday of the "Jambolee" (JubileeJamboree) weekend held in July 1990 atHillview Field, Welling, just belowShooters Hill. There was a full programmeof activities for campers and visitors tocelebrate the 25 years.
The District held a Millennium camp onthe Woodlands Farm at the foot ofShooters Hill. Unfortunately heavy rainmade the camp field very muddy, hencethe burying of the "Time Capsule" on thefarm was postponed until the autumn.
The two years 2001-2002 involvedadopting the Scout Association's newstructure and programme. In that sameyear Sue Hall became our first lady DC. In2004 a District scarf was introduced,coloured orange with a black border andthe "bow and arrow" emblem.
Also in 2004, the longest monkeybridge (as far as we know) was built byDon Beven and his pioneering team atDowne campsite, swung at an angleacross the valley, a single foot rope andtwo hand ropes supported by only twosets of shear-legs, the length was anincredible 231ft 4 ins (70.5 metres).
2005 being East Wickham & Welling's40th Anniversary, a day of activities washeld at Downe in September for allsections, involving all age groups,culminating with a birthday partyincluding cakes and finishing off with acamp fire.
Fifty five of our Beaver Scouts took partin activities to celebrate the 20 years ofBeaver Scouting in 2006. The District isadjusting to the new structure and mostGroups are making good progress in theirBeaver Scout Colonies, Cub Scout Packsand Scout Troops despite some adultleader shortages. The three Explorer ScoutUnits - Legend, Pirates and Shogun - aredeveloping well co-ordinated at Districtlevel.
Dick Tozer, EW&W District President
Contingent Leader
Darren Vidler Legend ESU/1st EW
Assistant Leaders
Mandy Fenton 1st East Wickham
Carol Jackson Chislehurst District
Danny Southby Chislehurst
Members
Robert Allen Lewisham Manor
Lewis Baird 16th Erith
Alex Ball 1st Foots Cray
Katrina Baxter Chislehurst
Peter Brooks 1st Erith/Titan Air ESU
Kristian Buckstone 15th Bromley
Robyn Burge 5th Beckenham South
Kate Fuller Chislehurst
Oliver Colville 6th Beckenham South
Chris Cowan 25th Bromley
Molly Cox 4th Beckenham South
Gary Ditcher 1st EW/Legend ESU
Ellie Edmondson 5th Bromley
David Goodwin 23rd Bromley
William Holliss Bexleyheath
Stephen Lawler 1st Foots Cray
Jack Manley 9th Erith/Titan Air ESU
Chloe Marriott 2nd East Wickham
Tom Martins Legend ESU
Tom Mehmet 23rd Bromley
Jemma Payn GLS Scouts
Luke Fox Shogun ESU
Tom Saunders Bexleyheath
John Scott Chislehurst
Rebecca Sturgeon-Lewis Titan Air ESU/E&C
Sophie Sweeney GLS Scouts
Aidan Thomas 1st Foots Cray
Jamie Thomson Bexleyheath
Oliver Thomson Bexleyheath
Luke Tovey Orpington
Chloe Whittaker 1st EW/Legend ESU
Sarah Williamson 4th Erith
Rebecca Wray Chislehurst
David Wybourn Titan Air ESU/E&C
Lynsey Yeomans 1st Welling/Shogun ESU
Bryn Youens 2nd EW/Pirates ESU
St George’s Day Dinner 2007 - Presentations for Long Service Awards - Don Beven (District Chairman) 60 years, Dick Tozer (Ex-DC & President) 60 years andRichard Willgoss (Ex-DC & Vice President) 40 years.
The longest Monkey Bridge - 231 feet 4 inches
[70.5 metres] - across the valley at Downe - 2004
Scouting rapidly spread around the world after the first experimental camp
in 1907 on Brownsea Island. Scouting’sfounder, Robert Baden-Powell planned tohold a special event to bring together Scoutsof all nationalities and to celebrate thetenth anniversary of the camp on BrownseaIsland.
Due to the First World War, where manyScouts were killed, the first internationalgathering of Scouts was not held until 1920at London’s Olympia for 8,000 Scouts from34 Countries.
Baden-Powell chose ‘Jamboree’ as thename for this event, based on the commonSwahili greeting ‘Jambo’ meaning ‘Hello’.Jamboree is now an international term usedto describe a large gathering of Scouts.Since 1920, World Scout Jamborees havebeen held almost every four years, exceptduring the Second World War, and hosted allover the world.
The 21st World Scout Jamboree will beheld at Hylands Park in Chelmsford from27th July to 8th August 2007. It will helpmark the Centenary of Scouting with over40,000 Scouts attending from 200 countriesin the world.
Eighty young people and leaders will beattending the Jamboree from Greater
jkuk contingent 2007
THE 2007 WORLD JAMBOREE
COUNTY CONTINGENTS
Contingent Leader
Lee Curtis GLSE
Assistant Leaders
Gemma Baker Chislehurst
Mark Knill Beckenham
Sarah Childs GLK Guides
Members
Jamie Alloway 1st Crayford/Titan Air ESU
Joe Armstrong 5th Beckenham
Richard Atkins 23rd Bromley
Alex Bees 25th Bromley
Tom Bentley Chislehurst
Siobhan Brown Royal Eltham
Matthew Brown Orpington
Natalie Buist-Kernan Chislehurst
Sarah Bunting GLK Guides
Matthew Burton Titan Air ESU
Emily Carlton GLK Guides
Samantha Curtis GLK Guides
Michaela Deane Lewisham Manor
Caroline Dommett GLK Guides
Alex Doney Titan Air ESU
Iain Forward Bexleyheath
Nicholas Hall 2nd East Wickham
Chris Halstead Chislehurst
Alex Hicks Bexleyheath
Jake Holmes Bexleyheath
Alys Hudson GLK Guides/Titan Air ESU
Harry Kent Bromley
Roy Killick Woolwich
Fred King 1st East Wickham/Legend ESU
Cornelius Mendez 7th Beckenham
Robert Mogg Erith and Crayford
Rebecca Newman GLK Guides
Steph Peek 1st East Wickham/Legend ESU
Dean Peppiatt Orpington
Jane Sell GLK Guides
Dominic Shipp Bromley
Bart Smith Chislehurst
Georgina Stroud GLK Guides
Adam Thomas Titan Air ESU
Kirsty Wood Woolwich
Eleanor Woolway Titan Air ESU
London South East Scouts and GreaterLondon Kent Guides.
Since June last year, they have trainedand worked together in preparation for thisunique event and would like to thank localpeople and businesses for their support intheir fund-raiding activities. If you wouldlike to offer any help, services orsponsorship to those attending, contact:[email protected]
To visualise the size of this event, the totalpopulation of Bexley’s primary andsecondary schools in January 2003 was39,826, Hylands Park is 574 acres (FootsCray Meadows is 480 acres) and thisJamboree will make Hylands Park the 5thlargest village in Essex – for two weeks!
With over 40,000 people attending theJamboree over the 14 day period, over 1.2million meals will be consumed! This is partof the shopping list,60 tons of apples,133,334 heads of lettuce,567,812 litres of milk/liquids,33,333 loaves of bread,800,000 eggs,100,000 pounds of chicken,12,500 pounds of cheese,16,000 bottles of ketchup,800,000 carrots,26,667 bunches of bananas.
What is not known are the number ofsupermarket trolleys required for this bigshop! And who gets the club card points?
THEN ... AND NOW
This is one of B-P’s famous quotes and
2007 is a good time to see if we are still
moving forward.
Ninety years ago in November 1917, The
Sidcup and District Local Boy Scout
Association published its Third Annual
Budget. Up until 1923, the Sidcup District
covered what is now the borough of Bexley
(but not Erith) and Chislehurst.
Given the background was the First World
War, it makes interesting reading as it gives
a snapshot in time. In particular on Page 2
is a list of Troops and Wolf Cub Packs and
their numbers show below.
Note that Bexley Heath was two words,
there were two Troops called Lamorbey and
the war was having an impact on Scouting.
1st Chislehurst, although registered in 1911
was disbanded during the war, but on the
other hand two Troops were formed in
1917 as a consequence; 2nd East Wickham
(Hutments) and 2nd Crayford (Vickers’
Works). The ‘hutments’ was a village of
temporary homes built to house the
additional workers at Woolwich Arsenal at
the top of Lodge Hill, and 2nd Crayford a
result of workmates getting together to
form a Troop.
What is interesting from these figures is the
growth of Scouting during the war with four
Troops and three Packs being formed.
Below is the result of the 1917 Census and
is printed in date of registration order.
‘It is a Movement, because it moves forward. As soon as it stopsmoving, it becomes an Organisation, and is no longer Scouting’.
Fast forward ninety years to 2007 and
look at the latest figures for the four
Bexley Districts of Bexleyheath, East
Wickham & Welling, Erith & Crayford and
Sidcup.
Bexleyheath (9 Groups)
Beaver Scouts 205
Cub Scouts 259
Scouts 147
Explorer Scouts 23
Total 634
East Wickham & Welling (8 Groups)
Beaver Scouts 37
Cub Scouts 141
Scouts 98
Explorer Scouts 41
Total 407
Erith & Crayford (13 Groups)
Beaver Scouts 182
Cub Scouts 248
Scouts 172
Explorer Scouts 46
Total 648
Sidcup (10 Groups)
Beaver Scouts 75
Cub Scouts 103
Scouts 80
Explorer Scouts 10
Total 268
Total number of young people
in Bexley involved 1,957
Of course you can’t really compare the
two totals. Bexley has changed out of all
recognition from being a rural society to a
suburb and its population has grown
enormously, although the birth rate has
actually fallen enormously in the past
ninety years.
Also in 1917, Scouting was for boys only
from the age of 8; today both boys and
girls can join from the age of 6.
However, the 2007 Bexley census creates
many questions. The Wolf Cub section
was originally created to attract younger
boys who were too young for Scouts, the
modern-day Cubs has more members
than Scouts! Could it be that there is
now more for older boys to do when
compared to 1917?
Why is Scouting more popular in
Bexleyheath and Erith & Crayford when
compared to Sidcup? Could it be simply
‘there are more children living in those
areas’?
I wonder what historians will make of
our figures in the 2107 celebrations. The
popularity of Scouting, like so many
subjects, moves in circles. What is
important the circles are moving forward.
I think Baden-Powell would be happy
with these figures.
Tim Harlow, Sidcup Scouts
Adults in Scouting are from all walks of life, yet the one thing they share is the
enjoyment of helping young people reachtheir full potential. Did you know?
• None of our Leaders are paid – they are allvolunteers
• The majority of our Leaders have full timejobs and a family
• 44% of our Leaders are female
• Leaders get involved to have fun andmake new friends themselves
• Leaders don’t have to be ‘superheroes’who know everything. They are giventraining on the job and learn new skills asthey go along. The one thing that unitesour Leaders is the energy and enthusiasmthey have for giving young people theadventure of Scouting
• Whilst all our volunteers are passionateabout what they do, many help out on a flexible basis due to othercommitments. Some may help out once a week or fortnight whereas others mayonly help occasionally or at summer camp
• 27% of volunteers help out in Scouting asthey are a parent of a current Member.Many were not Scouts when they wereyoung but have learnt new skills andmade new friends through Scouting
• Not all volunteers have to wear uniform
• Many of our adult volunteers say they aremore confident in their everyday lives asa result of their involvement withScouting
• Not all adults who volunteer for Scoutingwork with young people. There are avariety of other support jobs that need to be done. This enables the adult Leaders to spend more time doing whatthey do best.
ADULTS IN
SCOUTING
Where does it hurt sir? - Being subjected to Scouts’ FirstAid skills during a District competition.
This set of stamps commemorating the Year of the Scout are printed in lithography by JohnEnschede Security Print in sheets of 25/50. The Scouts wanted the stamps to show thecontemporary nature of Scouting and for this reason the illustrator Jez Fry was chosen. Jez ishalf Japanese and works in a style similar to Japanese Manga (comic illustration) and Anime(film animation). © Copyright Royal Mail 2006/07.
http://www.royalmail.com
This year, on 1st August 2007, the Scout Movement will celebrate its 100th birthday. It allbegan with one man’s vision in the summer of 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell organisedan experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Dorset. To commemorate the 100thanniversary of the Scout Movement the Royal Mint has designed a wonderful limited-editioncommemorative fifty pence coin for 2007.
Designed by Royal Mint engraver Kerry Jones, the coin depicts the familiar arrowheademblem, embossed on a representation of the globe, along with the famous Scout motto‘Be prepared”
http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Annexes/scmove.asp
COLLECTORS ITEMS
Scout & Guide Uniforms • Badges • Trophies • Books
Bexley Scout ShopBexleyheath Scout Headquarters Mayplace Road West
(forecourt parking)
Open Thursday evenings 7.30 - 9.30pm (during term time)
Run by Scouts for Scouts of all ages and all sizes
Brochure compiled by Tim Harlow and Richard Crowe. Contributions from each District.Designed and produced by Richard Crowe ([email protected])
USEFUL CONTACTS & WEBSITES
Greater London South East Scout County
www.glsescouts.org.uk
Bexleyheath Scout District
email: [email protected]
East Wickham & Welling Scout District
email: [email protected]
Erith & Crayford Scout District
www.ecscouts.org.uk
Sidcup District Scout District
www.sidcupscoutnet.org.uk
or ring 0845 094 4017
National Scouting
www.scoutbase.org.uk
www.scouts.org.uk
www.scoutsreunited.org.uk
Student Scout and Guide Organisation
www.ssago.org.uk
Bexley Council For Voluntary Youth Organisations Ltd
www.bcvyo.org.uk
or ring 020 8855 9496
Jamboree Contingent Unit 35
www.myspace.com/arcticmonkeys_unit35
