Scouts

Thanks to Rodborough Scout Group for permission to copy items from their archive.

Rodborough Scout group was formed at Rodborough Tabernacle in 1909 by Rev. Ernest Watson, assisted by Fred Daniels and Frank Shaylor. One of the first Scouts was Mr Fred Hatton who was guest of honour at the 80th birthday celebrations in 1989

This greetings card was donated by Fred Hatton. It was sent from the troop to former Rodborough Scouts who were serving in the First World War

 

This very early photo show Rodborough Scouts taking part in the Tabernacle pageant in 1910.

A meeting for younger boys began in 1914 and in 1916 became the first registered Rodborough Cub Pack.

One of the earliest items in the archive is a Scout leader’s small notebook. It notes members, subs and plans and has various items pasted inside.

Details about the 1918 camp at ‘Ivy Lodge’.
Pasted alongside are the contact details for Scout Master Charlie Knee who was serving in the war.
Charlie Knee kept in contact with the Scouts, and pasted in the back of the notebook is the last known surviving letter from him written in July 1918.
He signs off with “Try to keep the flag flying at home boys and we will see that it does not go under out here.”

Sadly on 15th October 1918 Charles Knee, Assistant Scoutmaster died of wounds in the Belgium.

Charlie Knee, centre, c1916

1920s

The Scout Master was Mr Cyril Taylor and his ASM was Mr Harold Haines. The summer camp was held at Cranham.

1930s

Mr Harold Gazzard became Scout Master of two patrols, Bulldogs and Peewits, later Mr Haines became Scout Master.

Cub Masters were Miss Nellie Watts and Miss Daisy Smith and Mr Wally Cawthorne, a former Patrol Leader became Assistant.

The GSM was Rev. Watson.

The Wolf Cub Pack was led by Mr Mervyn Short with Mr Lionel Carter assisting.

The Re Lawrence Miller formed an extra Scout troop at The Endowed School.

Summer camps were held in 1935 at Porlock, Somerset

Raymond Sollars, Harry Haines

1936 at Westward Ho, Devon

Wesward Ho 1936
x, x, Wally Cawthorne, Mervyn Short
Westward Ho 1936
“Morning dip with help”

and 1937 at Osmington Mills, Nr. Weymouth, Dorset.

Scout camp 1937 Weymouth – no names supplied

At the Weymouth camp a diary was recorded in an exercise book with photos.

The Scouts left Stroud by GWR and the Rovers by car.

Sample pages from the diary.

Detailed notes were kept logging menus, expenses and provisions ordered. Those from International Stores included 4 pints of lemon blanc mange powder, flour, suet, raisins 1lb candles, 6lbs butter, 3lbs prunes, 4lbs sausages, 56 lbs potatoes and 4 Swiss rolls.

From Neaths of Preston 21 loaves of bread were ordered. A note records that 4lbs of steak was sufficient for one meal. The total cost of food, excursions and transport for the week was £20.

The Rover Den was built during 1936-7 and opened by Colonel W.F. Walton HQ Commissioner for the Rover Scouts. Mr Lionel Daniels became the Rover leader.

The Rover Den under construction 1936-7
A foundation stone was laid by Rev C.E. Watson, minister and first Scoutmaster

 

Another foundation stone was laid by Cyril Taylor Scoutmaster
Lionel Carter standing by the Rover Den with a totem pole. In the background Scouts can be seen camping at Stringers Farm.
1939 St George’s Day Parade leaving Stratford Park, Rodborough Scouts with standard.
Cub Pack 1938/9 Leader Lionel Carter. Back row: John Blick, Norman Blandford, Fletcher, Jim Bullimore, David Miles. Front row: x, David Phillips, x, Frank Harry?, X, Gunter
This photo is undated. Back row; x, Walter Cawthorne, Mervyn Short, Lionel Carter, J Lionel Daniels.  Front row: Doctor Helen Daniels, x, x, Mildred Humpidge, x, Nancy Philpotts  Location probably TH and J Daniels field – now occupied by B and Q.

Thanks to Facebook followers for information:

The picture may have some significance because there is a mix of “regimes” here among the ladies. The darker (blue) uniforms define them most likely as Rangers, the lighter coloured (blue) uniform is probably Guides, while the other lady is probably in a brownie uniform.

The lady in the middle does not seem to be in uniform and may be Mildred Humpidge.  Miss Humpidge was the step daughter of the Rev. C.E Watson (of Rodborough Tab), and she started the Rodborough Guides in 1914 when Rev Watson started the Scouts at the Tab. She was Captain of the Rodborough Guides until 1936 (then Captain Barbara Daniels – sister to Lionel and Eric and Betty Daniels took over possibly after the war, with my Nancy Cawthorne as Lieutenant).

1939-45 Second World War

Rodborough Sea Scouts 1943

Some Rover Scouts joined the Armed Forces, others joined the District Scout Air Raid Precaution / Messenger Service centred at the Rover Den.

Rodborough Sea Scouts camp 1940

During the 1940s Eric & Lionel Daniels led efforts to re-establish the Group back to strength. Rev. Watson died in 1942.

After WW2

By 1946 there was a mixed troop of Scouts and Sea Scouts. the latter led by Mr K. Jarvis (Tarka) and Mr Norman Blandford became ASM.

c1946 Rodborough Common, Back row T Tanner, E Daniels, N Blandford
c1946 Rodborough Common
c1946 Rodborough Common

1947 camp at Youlbury, Oxford

1947 Youlbury camp, best patrol Tony Wheeler, Barry Chapman, David Fowler, John Riddle.

In 1946 a small plantation of beech trees was was placed on Rodborough Common to mark the visit in 1915 of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. It is marked by a brass plaque.

Sadly, the trees died in the following severe winter of 1947 and in Autumn of that year were replaced by evergreen fir trees.

1949 – celebrating the completion o f 40 years of Scouting in Rodborough – photos from a commemorative card.

Back row: 1, x, 2 Eric Daniels (Skipper), 3 x 4 Brian Fletcher. Middle row: 1 x, 2 x, 3 Colin Cratchley, 4 Peter Howe , 5 x, 6 x Front row: 1 Geoff Turner, 2 x, 3 John Howe, 4 Keith Jarvis

1950s

The Group now known as 2nd Rodborough Scouts met under the Little Chapel in the former stables, above had been the coach house.

Lionel Daniels tragically died in a car accident in 1958. He had been head of the family firm T.H & J. Daniels and his death was a great loss to the district.

Eric (Skip) Daniels became GSL assisted by Bob Simmons, Tom Tanner and Kevin Shillham and with Cubs by Peter Howe.

1953 camp at Crickhowell names below.
Ron Cook and Tom Tanner, 1953 Crickhowell camp

1960s

Eric Daniels continued as GSL.

Cubs c 1962 with GSL Eric Daniels
c1962 with GSL Eric Daniels and after new uniforms.

1970s

Tragically Eric Daniels died in another car accident in 1970. For a time Peter Howe and John Marks stepped into the breach, with cubs led by Mr D.J. Holford and later Mrs Marks. Eventually Mr Wally Cawthorne who had been an ADC for Scouts was called upon to become Rodborough’s GSL.

Mr Wakefield took over as GSL, with Mr W (Prof) Alltimes leading the Scouts with Mike Swayne as ASL.

In 1972 Len Scarrot became GSL and Ernie Major became the Scout leader. Due to the baby boom of the 60s and new housing in the parish numbers swelled. There was a full Scout Troop and two Cub Packs, one using the Rover Den.

Torbay camp 1975
Youlbury Camp 1976

 

Angus Townley receiving the Chief Scout’s Award – Probably 1977 as the Scouts appear to be wearing the Queen’s Silver Jubilee badges. Scouts L to R; Steve Webb, Adrian Bingle, Angus Townley & Richard Evans. The district commissioner giving the award is Tony Howarth. John Daniels (of T, H & J Daniels engineering) Group Chairman at back. Copyright Gloucestershire Gazette.
1977 – Cubs inter-league football
1977
1977
1977

Regular summer camps were held at Youlbury, near Oxford, Southampton, Warwickshire and elsewhere.

1978 – leaving the Cockpits for Youlbury
1978 – ready to leave for Youlbury

 

1980s

Len Scarrott was still GSL and was succeeded by Nick Peters in 1989. Along with the usual summer camps, the District organised jamborees at Selsley. Scouts were assisted by Alan Prowse and Michael Edwards.

Scouts Job Week 1980. Total raised for the week was £60.62 of which £32.14 was from the shoe shine.

Tragically in November 1982 Venture Scout, Philip Cook died in a car accident and it deeply affected many young people in the group.

Cubs meanwhile were led by April Edwards, Agnes Arkell and Ann Milston, later Martyn Weaver took over leadership.  They had now returned to being a single pack of twenty-four.

Rodborough Scouts April 1989

In 1986 the group, urged by Mrs Mary Jones, formed a Beaver Colony for boys aged 6-8 years. It was one of the first Colonies in the county with Mary as BL and Celia Coates and Cheryl Bodenham as ABSLs.

In 1986 the group, urged by Mrs Mary Jones, formed a Beaver Colony for boys aged 6-8 years. It was one of the first Colonies in the county with Mary as BL and Celia Coates and Cheryl Bodenham as ABSLs.

Rodborough new Beaver Colony in 1986
Rodborough Beavers first enrollments 1986
Len Scarrott retiring as GSL 1989
On 9th September 1989 Rodborough Scouts celebrated their 80th anniversary.
The oldest Scout present was Tom Smith, unfortunately Cyril Taylor and Fred Hatton could not be present.

1990s

Beavers continued steady with Mary Jones at the helm with Denise Westerman and Liz Mooney as Assistant Beaver Leaders.

Mary Jones left with Rodborough Cubs c 1997

Carol Edmunds became Cub leader.

Rodborough Cubs c 1998

John Hallett acted as Scout Leader with Senior Scouts assisting as Young Leaders. He was followed by Paul Oates.

Mike Oates took over as GSL, followed by Martyn Weaver.

From the Stroud News and Journal September 1999

2000

Paul Oates with Young Leaders including Neil Edwards, Adam Blake and Ralph Blatchford kept the Scout Troop active and busy.

Wendy Tomlinson succeeded as Cub leader followed by Suzanne Powers and Theresa Mansbridge.

In April the Beavers led by Mary Jones and Denise Westerman celebrated 20 years.

In 2009 Rodborough Scouts celebrated their centenary. Photo from the Stroud News and Journal.