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Group Log 1908 – 2008

The History of the

1st Cheltenham (Highbury) Scout Group

June 2008

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On my honour I promise that 1. I will do my duty to God and the King. 2.I will do my best to help others, whatever it costs me. 3. I know the Scout Law and will obey it. The Promise 1908 1a

On January 13th 1908, General Baden-Powell gave a lecture before one of the largest audiences for such an occasion at Cheltenham Town Hall. He was on a lecture tour of the country following his successful camp on Brownsea Island the previous August. The invitation to Cheltenham had been given by the Y.M.C.A. His diary entry for that day says that he “had tea with Estella. Lectured to “900 mixed, YMCA” 1. The lecture entitled “Scoutcraft” was reported in the Cheltenham Ex-aminer and the Gloucestershire Echo. The report in the Examiner notes that “the pictures, some photographs, some drawings showing life in camp and the various

exercises etc imparted to what might otherwise have seemed a rather whimsical idea a great sense of real-ity.” Reaching the climax of his lecture B-P said "There are we are told, two million boys who might be doing good for themselves and their country in the way of learning how to be useful should an emergency arise. Less than 300,000 of these have been captured by the Church Lads Brigade, the Y.M.C.A. etc so that the great majority simply loaf about and numbers get into mischief. How is this to be prevented?”2 He went on to encourage his audience to use scoutcraft with small groups or patrols within their existing organisations,

Sunday Schools and camping clubs. Two days later the first instalment of “Scouting for Boys” was published and became a best seller.

Baden-Powell visits Cheltenham - January 1908

March 1908 - Scouting starts at Highbury

There is no record of events leading to the start of Scouting at Highbury but from later references, recently acquired photographs and memorabilia we can say that in March 1908 there was a Troop of Scouts meeting at Highbury and that they were led by Mr A. R. Norman Jose-land. We also know that around Cheltenham, Patrols formed within other churches and organisations were doing scouting. At Highbury there seems to have been more than one Patrol and they declared themselves to be the 1st Cheltenham Troop (this was long before official num-bering started in 1919, so they are say-ing “we are the first)”. From various sources including church records and family history we know that a W. B Simpson and Leslie Paynter were among the first boys in the Troop. In the picture on the front cover Leslie is the boy holding the top right corner of the flag. The Bloodworth family will figure in this history at several points and Raymond Bloodworth is likely to have been one of the older ones involved at 18yrs old in 1908 and his younger brother Oscar about fourteen.

The 1908 flag - red with yellow lettering

A Scout’s honour is to be trusted.

A Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others.

A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other be-longs.

A Scout is courteous.

A Scout is a friend to animals.

A Scout obeys orders - of his Patrol Leader or Scoutmaster, without question.

A Scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances.

A Scout is loyal to the King, and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers.

A Scout is thrifty.

The Scout Law 19081b

Group Log 1908 – 2008

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Church Manual 1916 Those who were Scouts

J Sanders 1/5 Glos. A E Trigg “ L Cpl L Paynter “ H Clemm “ H Timms “ C.E. Hopson “ L Cpl A Speller 8th Glos. Sgt R Warren 2nd King’s Royal Rifles W Tomlin 1st Glos. W Matthews “ C.P. Evans “ L Browning Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C.) Cyril Harvey R.A.M.C. G Garbutt 5th Royal Irish Sgt G Ryland 9th Glos. Frank Warren “ Sgt A.R.N. Joseland 2/5 Glos. A Brooker “ E Yeend “ (later Machine Gun Corps) Mark Carpenter “ Raymond Bloodworth R.F.C G Waghorne O.T.C. Sgt Alan Guppy 3/5 Glos. G Beere “ A Cleeveley 13th Glos. A.E. Dyer 19th Hussars W. Bowles “ Pioneer W.B. Simpson F J Chambers A.S.C. H Coates H.M.S. Impregnable C Page H.M.S. Gloucester E Smith H.M.S. Benbow S E Stokes H.M.S. Hilary later H.M.S. Hope) E P Stokes H.M.S. New Zealand A W Williams Devonport (later H.M.S. Gabrael) Church Manual 1917 added T Stibbs H.M.S. Sandhurst L Broom Hampshires S Claude Evans R.A.M.C. E Curtis 16th Rifle Brigade E Jeffery 1/6 Devon Church Manual 1918 added B Hayward Shotley Barracks H Evans W Hayward 1st Glos. C Rutland R.F.C. A Williams

It is likely that many of the early members of the Troop would have had connections with Highbury Congregational Church through its Sunday School, Pioneers and other activities. One clue to the names comes in the records of the Church for the period of the Great War. The earliest available Manual for the Church is 1916 and this lists “men formerly connected with Highbury now serving in H.M. Forces” The list indicates those who are members of Highbury Scouts. (See column to left) Of these L Cpl W.G(J) Bowles and 2nd Lt J E Sanders died. The former on 25th March 1918 in France aged 21 and the latter having been reported as missing in the 1917 and 1918 Church Manuals is recorded as having died on 25th August 1916 aged 173

By November 1909 a number of Troops had been formed in the area. A meeting was called by the Mayor to form a central committee responsible for the control of these dif-ferent bodies. The meeting was attended by Col. de Burgh, Deputy Chief Scout Com-missioner in London. The report in the Cheltenham Examiner notes 'that the first man to obtain a regular warrant as a first-class scoutmaster is Mr. Joseland, who commands the 1st Troop of the Cheltenham Scouts'6.

Mr. Joseland received his warrant on the 6th November 1909. The local committee re-corded that the 1st Troop was formed in March 1908. Their Group Scarf was orange. The Scouts met in the Highbury British School in Grosvenor Street. This was the original home of Highbury Congregational Church and was still owned by them and used for a wide variety of purposes.

Who were the first boys?

Local association formed

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Other Scouting activity in the Cheltenham area Although we know that two brothers, J M Evans-Lombe and T B A Evans -Lombe from Cheltenham College took part in the Brownsea Island Camp there is no evidence they played any active part in the beginnings of Scouting in the town. In other parts of the country we know that boys who had read “Scouting for Boys” started to practise scouting skills and approached others to help them. Two such in Cheltenham, were Frank Brailsford and Harold Jackson. They recruited other boys from the Grammar School and used Rossley Farm at Dowdeswell, which was Harold Jack-son's home, for camps and exercises. Later they asked a Master from the School to be Scoutmaster and the School Troop was formed at Easter 1909 according to the School Magazine4. Initially called the 1st Cheltenham Grammar School Troop but later changed to the 3rd Cheltenham they wore green shirts. On April 13th 1908 there was the first meeting of Baden Powell Scouts in Winchcombe with Miss Adlard of Postlip Hall as President.5

John Emerton Sanders of Old Bath Rd. a (left)

William Joseph Bowles of 3, Rosehill St. a

(right)

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Two short biographies

Private W. F. Leslie Paynter of the 5th Gloucesters was promoted to Lance Corporal in August 1915 and also that month he was added to the Roll of Qualified Grenadiers having passed tests at the British Grenadier School12. He later ran his own motor cycle business in Bath St and then Regent St. He had attended the Dame School in London Road as a boy. George Ryland, who Leslie recalled to his daughter as a friend in Scouts, is mentioned in the early war service lists for Highbury. In 1913 a Ryland was in the Grammar School troop where he was a pupil then later he was ASM with the 7th Cheltenham (Charlton Kings) troop. The School Magazine for 1909 reports that he won the Mile race in 4 mins 56 secs which was a school record and for which he was awarded the Corfield Cup at the prize giving, together with the Drawing Prize4. Subsequently he became Art teacher at the School. His first wife died having their second son and he married again, Mavis, who was Guide leader at the Ladies College.

Mr. Joseland was a member of the Church and became a Deacon in April 1914. He worked as a Bank Clerk for Lloyd’s Bank. In 1907 he was living with his mother in Sydenham Road but two years later he was living with the Miss Lances in St Mark’s, who also belonged to Highbury. They were the daughters of the late John Lance and owned the Drapers and Furnishers shop in the High St. Mr Joseland was a member of the Association of Free Lances, which was a Young Men’s Debating Society and Social Institute7. In Jan 1902 the Cheltenham Examiner reported one of their meetings under the headline ”The Town Council Mimicked” and described the occasion as two hours of wit as the members presented their ideal of what a Council meeting ought to be. Walter Ansell took the part of the Mayor but couldn’t stop “Aldermen and Councillors all talking at once notwithstanding vigorous use of a gigantic mallet and the ringing of an alarm clock” . Mr Joseland had the task of extracting information from the Baths and Recrea-tion Grounds Committee. In Mar 1903 the same paper reported their annual dinner at

which a successful year was noted with papers and debates on a variety of subjects political, municipal, theological, scientific and literary. He also belonged to the Territorials. He acted as Secre-tary to the Juvenile Branch of the London Missionary Society at the Church. In May 1911 he was elected to the Diaconate. He served in the war as a Company Sargeant Major in the Glouces-tershire Regiment and later moved to the Royal Inniskiling Fusil-iers8. On returning to Cheltenham he married Gertrude Lance in 1920 and they moved to Weston-Super-Mare having purchased the firm of Messrs Masters & Co, leading auctioneers, valuers and estate agents. He joined Boulevard Congregational Church and was elected Deacon there in 1922 and remained one until 1937. He

was also Sunday School Superintendent, Building Warden and served on the Missionary Committee. His wife died in 19339, he later remarried. He was also Sunday School Su-perintendent, Building Warden and served on the Missionary Committee. He started the St Paul’s Scout Troop, became a District Commissioner and attended either the1937 or 1947 Jamboree. He chaired the Y.M.C.A. Junior Dept which included the Scout System in its activities. He died in March 1955.

Arthur Richard Norman Joseland

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Gertrude Lance was the third daughter of John Lance and Co Ltd. Her brother Arthur left his wife in England to go to Australia for 3 years. He was returning home due to ill health when he died at sea in 1902. Unfortunately his wife and sisters did not hear of his death until they met the ship as it docked10. In 1938/ 39 Lances was bought up by Shirer and Haddon and the new firm was called Shirer and Lances. This business closed in July 1978 from the site currently occupied by Starbucks11.

A R N Joseland in Scout uniform b

Leaving the Empire Day celebration at Glendouran

House 1913. Highbury lead the way b

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On October 5th 1910 B-P with Lady Baden-Powell (his sister-in-law), called at “The Famous” to inspect the Boy Scout window.14

Lady Francis Baden-Powell neé Wilson was the widow of George Baden-Powell, B-P’s older brother. Her family lived at Glendouran House, Keynsham Parade and George and Francis were married at St Luke’s Church.

W.B Simpson entered a competition set up by Arthur Pearson the publisher of the “The Scout” magazine. The 30 winners would camp with B-P at Humshaugh, Northumberland between Aug 22nd and Sept 4th 1908. Although the camp was free to win the boys had to collect the largest number of vouchers they could from the magazine, bonus ones being offered for subscriptions. Despite collecting 759 vouchers and getting into the top division Simpson did not win the prize. 13

A warrant as Assistant Scoutmaster to the Troop was issued to W. B. Simpson in April 1911. According to a list of early warrant issues at Gilwell he then received a Scoutmas-ter’s Warrant on 11th Nov. 1913 and his address at that time is given as the same as the Minister of Highbury Rev Shrubsole. He joined up in the forces but was wounded at Gallipoli and sent home. His rank was Pioneer which meant he was one of those who dug trenches and other defence works. This could mean he had some mining experi-ence but little is known of his life. His warrant as ASM was cancelled in June 1919.

The 1st Cheltenham (Highbury) Troop with detachments from the 4th and 7th Troops, recently carried out a scheme of operations arranged by ASM Bren of the 4th. The 1st who acted as defenders proceeded to Battledown, an emi-nence on the outskirts of town, where they took up their positions, at a hun-dred yards radius from a tree at the top of the hill, which was the objective of the attacking party. The attacking party, halted half way up the hill where they waited the signal to commence operations to be given. The agreed signal was “Three G’s” but as the umpire omitted to specify “high G’s” the bugler sounded low ones and these were not heard by the attack commander which caused a little delay. All the defending pickets and sentries except one gave a good ac-count of themselves. The one exception was a small picket of tenderfeet which allowed an attacker to get past under the overcoat of a gentleman. How they didn't spot the four legs is a mystery! After three-quarters of an hour the “Rally “ was sounded and they all assembled at the objective point.17

Another early leader

A ‘Scheme of Operations’

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Some camps and events 1908 - 1913 Aug 1908 they camped on Cleeve Hill near the Washpool. The photograph of this camp is on the front cover. c The Scout of May 21st 1910 carries the report of a ‘scheme of operations’ (see below) In July 2nd 1910 there was a District Rally at Charlton Park with Highbury Troop having 39 Scouts present led by SM Joseland. Their display was to extinguish a blaze in a cot-tage.14 Aug 1911 they camped at Postlip with the 7th Cheltenham (Charlton Kings) troop by permission of Mrs Foster (see photo below left). There was a service at St Matthew’s Church on Feb 16th to remember Scott’s Expedition to the Antarctic. News of their deaths the previous year had only reached Britain a few days earlier. There were 11 Scout troops present15. The Chief Scout married Olive Soames on 30th October 1912. The Highbury Troop gave 4s 3d (£15 today) towards the Wedding Gift, a Standard Car.15 Sat. May 24th 1913 was Empire Day and the Cheltenham Scouts were entertained by Lady Baden-Powell at Glendouran House. There was a picnic and address on ”Empire” by the Commissioner, Col Sturges (see picture p3).

July 7th 1910 the Cheltenham Examiner reports that “there are 13 troops in Cheltenham and several others are coming on. The chief difficulty in the town was not to obtain Scouts but to secure Scoutmasters”16

The 1st and 7th Cheltenham Troops camping at Postlip. c

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Rev Stanley S. Shrub-sole, B.D. Minister of Highbury and Chaplain to the Troop. b

In July 1913 the Troop took part in the Boy Scout's Exhibition and Rally in Bir-mingham. This was the first Scout event with substantial participation form abroad. They received a certificate of commendation in the Patrol Cooking Competition. There were nearly 20,000 scouts at the event which consisted of an exhibition in Bingley Hall and a Rally in Perry Hall Park and lasted for 6 days. The Land Scouts camped here or were accommodated in local homes and the Sea Scouts were at Edgbaston Reservoir. Displays at the exhibition included pioneering, carpentry, tailoring, shoe making and all manner of badge work. The rally was held on the Saturday afternoon. On the Sunday there were denominational services in all the camps and a great central service led by the Chaplain the Rev E. Wimbush. In the afternoon the Cathedral was packed with Scouts at which the Bishop of Birmingham gave ‘a most inspiring address’ and the Rev S M Berry of Carr’s Lane Congregational Chapel read the lesson. That afternoon there was also a conference of Scoutmasters presided over by B-P. The topics discussed were:

1. What to do with senior scouts? 2. Troop Finance 3. How to get Scoutmasters?18

Highbury Records show that the Rev. Shrubsole was granted permission to use the hall on Wednesdays for games and a Wolf Cub Pack in March 1917. The May HQ Gazette records the granting of Cubmistress’s warrant to Freda Bloodworth between Mar 24th and Apr 23rd 1917. In July of that year the Troop won a Challenge Trophy and later that year they went camping at Twyning Park with the 4th Cheltenham Troop. In July 1919 Miss Bloodworth was thanked for her three years’ “war service“ with the Troop and given an inscribed gold pin. She had continued to run the Wolf Cubs while acting as ASM. The report for 1919 tells us that they never missed a Camp each August during the war and there were also weekend camps, all using tents bought second–hand in 1914.

The Imperial Exhibition and Rally

The War Years

New Minister at Highbury In 1913 Rev. Stanley S. Shrubsole, B.D. succeeded the Rev John Lloyd Davies, B.A. who had been Minister from 1906-1912. He started his working life with the Prudential Insurance Company as a Clerk before going to New College in 1909 where he finished as Best Student of the Final Year and with a B.D.. He then gained a Diploma in Psychol-ogy from the University of London. On arrival at Highbury he became Chaplain to the Troop receiving his warrant on Nov 11th 1913. In Apr 1914 he conducted a service for the Scouts of Cheltenham at the Winchcombe Street Church. Attended by 160 Scouts and their leaders it was the first time they had visited a Nonconformist Church. That year Mr. Joseland and Mr. Simpson left to serve in the War. He became acting SM and Oscar Bloodworth (aged about 20), ASM. There were 4 Patrols and 20 Scouts. That same year he married Margaret Cheveley, a bank cashier and suffragette and they eventually had three daughters, the youngest of whom, Alison, became Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge19. The Rev. Shrubsole left Highbury in 1920 moving to Sutton Congrega-tional Church, Surrey. Their Manual for 1923 reports the recent formation of a Wolf Cub Pack with the intention off starting a Scout Troop. He returned to preach at the new Highbury Church in August 1933 from Ipswich. He died on March 3rd 1959 at Machakos Training College, Kenya where his daughter was then Principal.

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Certificate awarded to Highbury Troop at the Imperial Exhibition

and Rally 1913.

“ ‘Shrubby’ was an ideal friend to young people-but it was typical of his relationship to them that, though he was their companion in every kind of fun and amusement, he never lost his dignity, nor the spiritual leadership which is a minister’s greatest gift to his young people.”20

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Oscar Bloodworth

In 1919 the Cubs and Scouts met on Wednesdays at 6:15 and 7:30 respectively. The Scouts used the Gymnasium on Thursdays and Fridays. There was Band Practice on Fri-days and once a month the P L ‘s Association met on Thursdays. There was a “Scout’s Own” in the Lecture Hall on Sundays at 3pm. Their Troop tie was given as Orange. Several names are given as leading at this time. Miss Freda Bloodworth, sister to Oscar and Ray-mond, was running the Wolf Cubs, Mr. Gamick and Mr. Hider were leading the Scouts as-sisted by Freda Bloodworth. At this time Mr. Shrubsole was in France with the YMCA and Mr. Joseland was not back in Cheltenham. In July 1919 the Scouts had given a Concert to raise funds to purchase equipment especially for Camp. They won the District Silver Chal-lenge Cup for the 3rd year in succession, a competition which included Ambulance Work, Signalling, Bugling, Patrol Drill and Inspection of the Troop. The Troop camped at Over-bury for a fortnight but the Pack did not camp and many Cubs were disappointed . When Rev. Shrubsole left Highbury in 1920 Oscar Bloodworth became Scoutmaster. The Troop won the District Silver Challenge Cup again and also the local Swimming Cup for which P. L. Iles was given much of the credit. They camped at Twyning in the early part of August and were very pleased to have a visit from the Rev Shrubsole. The Parade was now at 8pm and numbers were rather small at 18 but new recruits were shortly to be enlisted. A Concert was held for Troop Funds featuring ‘F. Craven Broad and a Piano‘ and Raymond Bloodworth, Illusionist. During the year Miss Freda Bloodworth had to resign as Cubmistress, in all likelihood because of the death of her mother, but Miss Youds and Miss Clarke took over.21

1921 was another successful year in District competitions and they added a Shield offered by Cheltenham Harriers for a Scout Team Race. They camped at Haw Bridge and the re-port expresses gratitude to all friends who subscribed to the Camp Funds. At Christmas a collection among the Scouts raised 16s (£25) for the Unemployment fund. Numbers in the troop were said to be kept low (17) as there is better work and a better Scout spirit than in a larger troop. The D.C’s report to the County Commissioner is quoted “This Troop does thoroughly good work and the Scout Spirit is wonderfully prevalent. The two Kings Scouts are excellent fellows and set a good example to the Troop and to Scouting in the district.” It is not possible to identify the two King’s Scouts at this time. The Pack had 14 Wolf Cubs but Miss Youd left in 1921 and Miss Clarke was leaving, however they were hopeful of new arrangements to ensure good progress. There was a special fund to provide Uniforms and Equipment for the Wolf Cubs and Girl Guide Association.23 The Church Manual reporting on 1922 indicates that the new arrangements for the Pack did not materialise and it had been disbanded. The Troop managed to do good Scouting despite the frequent absence of Oscar Bloodworth due to indisposition. Leslie Iles had be-come warranted ASM. They had camped at Twyning. Patrol Leader H.S. Garnick received the Medal of Merit, a high scout honour for good work in the Troop. The ‘Scout’s Own’ con-tinued to meet on Sunday afternoons and membership and average attendance had in-creased slightly. However the following year, F. Craven Broad, the District Commissioner writes that the Troop was not making the anticipated progress despite Mr Iles loyal efforts to “maintain the high prestige the Troop has held since its inception”. He went on to say that “the Scouts are mostly of very poor parents, and are of the type for which the move-ment was originally designed. It is impossible to realise the importance of such missionary work amongst lads of this calibre, and I hope, therefore, that further helpers will be forth-coming.” 24 The 1925 Manual records 15 Scouts but no Leaders. Intriguingly the Register of the Glos. Boy Scouts Council25 for 1926 lists Mr Ch. Jefferies as SM, he was the Church Secretary.

The Post War Years

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Oscar Bloodworth died on March 7th 1924 aged 30 leaving a widow Mabel (Betty). He had attended the Grammar School where he was noted for his chess and his sporting prowess particularly in athletics, being sports captain. He was second son of Mr A.G. Bloodworth, Organist and Choirmaster at the Church and worked in he family business in Albion Street . He was secretary of the Old Patesians Cricket and Football teams. He died of a malignant internal mal-ady.4 & 26

Summary of Camp Account 192122

Payment of officers and Boys £18 15s 6d

Donations £3 7s 6d(from Church members)

Visitors paid £2 10s 6d They sold a tent and hired or loaned tents out

Grosvenor Street in 2008. Formerly

Highbury School Rooms.

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In 1932 the Church in Winchcombe St. and the School Rooms in Grosvenor St were sold, the former was demolished and replaced by the Gaumont Cinema, later the Odeon which has now also closed. A new building was erected on Priory Walk incorporating a worship space, meeting rooms and school rooms The same year the Troop was re-formed by Mr. Ray Bloodworth, elder brother of Oscar and the Rev W. Evans Cloutman. Ray Bloodworth had clearly managed to persuade Headquarters to let them retain the title of 1st Cheltenham (Highbury) and they were registered with HQ on June 19th No. 15331. The only difference was that it was now an Open group and not a Sponsored one. Ray became the Group Scout Master, a fairly new role in Scouting and ran the Cubs. The Assistant Cub Mistress was Joyce Fletcher. Mr. Jim Jefferies, son of Charles the Church Secretary was the Scout Master assisted by Leslie Bayliss. The new log book lists the following Scouts, C. Coles, E. Guest, G. Cloutman (Minister’s son), B. Price, J. Cook, N. Anderson and a Pack of 6 Cubs. It says that they have the original Troop Flag. This log book records the loss of previous records and says the Troop closed in 1916 due to lack of officers, however, other evidence previously quoted disagrees with this. The officers for 1914 /1916 are listed as ARN Joseland SM; RW Bloodworth ASM; OJ Bloodworth ASM and Miss F Bloodworth as CSM.

Entertainments and Concert parties like campfires were a popular thing. Sometimes there would be guests doing most of the programme and at other times the Scouts and Cubs provided most of the entertainment. They were usually a fund–raiser for the Group.

The Cubs and Scouts also entered the Music Festival Competitions. In May 1934 the Cub Pack took second place with an honours mark. In 1936 the Scouts also secured second place and vowed to win the shield next year. The Cubs did not enter that year.

The Church moves and Scouts Re-start

Concerts and Festivals

Easter Monday 1933 they had a Day Camp on Cooper’s Hill which was a jolly time with was plenty of enthusiasm despite having no uniform. The Troop began to camp regularly at Cranham Woods. Their first was in the 2nd and 3rd weeks of August 1933 when 12 scouts, 6 Cubs and 2 Scouters went. Miss A. Collier assisted and in Feb 1934 joined the Group as ACM, and Miss H. Bloodworth helped with the cooking and looked after the Cubs as the CM could not come. They went swimming in the pool, made a mattress (from grass or hay) on the camp loom. Cub Harding liked stoking the fire and Cub G. Morrison rolled off his ground sheet in the night and had to be put back. Miss Fletcher left in November 1933 due to business calls but Mr E W Millard joined as ASM the same month. At Whitsun 1934 a PL’s camp was held in bad weather by ASM’s Millard and Bayliss. By June 1934 Mr Wright had joined the team as SM Mr Jeffries having moved away from the town with his work There continued Day camps and Sum-mer camps. Also that month the Scouts entered a Swimming competition at Alstone Baths. Expeditions and rambles on Saturday afternoons or Sunday mornings were un-dertaken.

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Jim Jefferies with Scouts on Cooper’s Hill

1933

“I undertake to use my bicycle if called upon in an emergency in the King’s Service.”

Roy Birt, Highbury Scout

Dec 10th 1934

Activities resume

Our Monkey Bridge Summer Camp 1935

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In March Mr Alphonso (sic) Tosio joined as an Ambulance Instructor.

Monday, May 6th was a special day to mark the King’s Jubilee. In the afternoon PL Coles represented the Troop at a “Scouts Own” in Gloucester Cathedral. Having helped to build it during the week the Troop attended the Jubilee Beacon in the evening on Leckhampton Hill. Together with the 12th Parish troop and 24th Leckhampton they formed a torchlight procession from Daisy Bank Rd zigzagging up the hill and round the beacon which was then lit by ACC Broad. As it burned down the GSM with permission started a sing song which spread around the gathered company of several hundred.

In his review of the two years since the Troop was re-formed GSM Bloodworth thought there was a ‘thoroughly “scouty” atmosphere’ and though there was room for improve-ment they were on the right track and get out as much as possible.

1 x Sq. Bell Tent 1 x No 3 Bell tent 1 x Heron Ridge 1 x Springtime Ridge 3 x Grebe Ridge 3 x Cuckoo Ridge 1 x Staffordshire Ridge 1 set of Latrine Screens & Poles 2 x Tables and Trestles 6 x Candle Lamps 2 x Storm Lamps 10 x Water Buckets

Jubilee year – 1935

Camp Equipment List - August 1936

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Windsor, Garden Fete and more camping –1936 April 19th 1936 saw three of Highbury’s Scouts in a contingent of 15 from the County at the Scout Rally in Windsor. They were Troop Leader Coles, King’s Scout and PL Creed and 2nd Rudge, 1st Class Scouts. Taken by GSM & Mrs Bloodworth, after a false start, which involved turning back to Charlton Kings because they had forgotten the camera they travelled via the new by-pass to Oxford and arrived in time to look around the castle before meeting up with the rest of the contingent. During the Parade they passed near the King and later heard B-P speak before setting off back, exploring towns along the river, taking tea, admiring the view from Streatley Hill and before returning home singing. In June a team took part in a swimming contest at Alstone baths and came 2nd-pipped by a couple of strokes. In July the Local Assoc. organised a Garden Fete at The Lypiatts to pay the County Assoc. share; Highbury’s role was to build and arrange the evening campfire, supply tea to over 200 Cubs and Scouts and put on a display called “ A Day in Camp” . The Camp log is the first mention of A W G Godfrey who was acting Rover Leader, Rover Mate and Quartermaster.

Seen our Wolf Cubs?

Aren’t they clean?

They have had a scrubbing.

That was (W)right!

Campfire Round to Frere Jacques. Written by the Wood Chief F. Craven Broad after seeing SM Wright take the Cubs for a dip in the river when he arrived for the second week of Summer Camp at Cranham 1934

Coles, Creed and Rudge

Windsor 1936

Scouts with Jubilee Beacon

5 x Pudding basins 5 x Frying Pans 5 x Meat Tins + flag, ropes, felling axe, hand axes, spare stoves whipping twine, tools and nails etc Forgotten! Clock Mirror

5 x Milk Bottles 10 x Dish Cloths 5 x Mops 10x Drying Cloths 6 x Wash Bowls 5 x Fire grids 3 x 1½ Gallon Boilers 2 x 4 Gallon Boilers 26 x Mattresses 26 x Groundsheets 9 x Old Ground Sheets 5 x Wash up Bowls

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GSM Bloodworth attended the Cranham Gilwell Course which took five weekends during August and September. Troop meetings were still held weekly but attendance was low because of holidays. A popular place to meet was a sand pit in the local quarry which the GSM had obtained permission to use where they had wide games and practised tracking. Badge Classes led by Leaders or senior Scouts were arranged for Electricians (C. Coles); Handyman (B. Price); Ambulance (A. Tosio); Starman (F Wright) 1st Class Map (R. Bloodworth). On August 29th 1936 Arthur W. G Godfrey B.Sc married Phyllis Bullock. The report in the Gloucestershire Echo27 says it took place at St Mary de Crypt Church and that he was a master (P.E.) of Cheltenham Grammar School, the son of Mr & Mrs. A C Godfrey of Wimbledon and his bride was the daughter of A C Bullock of Gloucester. The recep-tion was held at Brunner's Café and they honeymooned in Cornwall. Brunner’s Café in Cheltenham was where A. Tosio worked. “Dan” Godfrey became deputy head of the Technical High school in Gloucester Road and then in 1958 he became head of Canon Frome School, near Ledbury, This was a small Secondary Modern School of less than 300 pupils in a country house complete with stable block, lake and chapel. The God-frey’s had three children, two sons and a daughter; David and John were in the Scouts. He had been in the first Ralph Reader Gang Show in 1930.

Mr Wright became GSM, Godfrey was Rover Scout Leader, Tosio was Rover Mate. Broadway Village wanted to restart their Troop and asked for the best troop in Cheltenham to put on a display. Highbury were asked and agreed, deciding to show how Scouts utterly unequipped with ambulance gear would deal with an accident. Rehearsals went badly even the night before in Mrs Bloodworth’s garage. The evening in Broadway turned out a little better. On the 17th February Rovers Tosio and Coles restarted the Cub Pack meeting before Scouts from 5:30 pm to 7 pm Coronation Day saw the Troop selling programmes for the King George V Memorial Fund in an area from Boots café out to Woodmancote and Cleeve Hill, not a popular job. PL Creed was one of only 6 King’s Scouts from Gloucestershire to go to London and see the Coronation from the stand specially reserved for Scouts.

Courses and “Dan’s” Wedding

New Beginnings

All Change The Troop meeting on Sept 16th 1936 turned out to be the last at which GSM Blood-worth was present. SM Wright had returned from holiday and they went to the sand pit again. That night the GSM told Mr Wright of his intention to leave permanently for Lon-don and that there was a large unauthorised debt owed to the Troop of £23 (over £1,000 today). The following week the Local Association cancelled his warrant and that of the two Cub Mistresses. The Cub Pack was temporarily closed down. The Scouts were told of the situation and unanimously backed the SM agreeing to stick together and clear the debt. The rest of the year focussed on the decision to hold a rummage sale, distributing leaflets, collecting rummage which was stored in the Grammar School basement. Unfor-tunately the day of the sale 12th December was miserable weather with 3” of slush re-sulting in a poor turnout. £10 was raised for all their efforts. This period also seems to have been plagued by church events clashing with Troop nights often without warning.

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Alfonso Tosio-Fisler at

Cranham

A Scout (not Highbury) selling

Coronation programmes.

The BBC broadcast Scout News from all centres at 6.50 p.m. on Thursdays

The Gloucestershire Echo had a Scout news column on Saturdays

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May 15th –17th 1937 was the Eastnor Rally attend by B-P and around 20,000 scouts and Guides from the area to mark the 30th Anniversary of Scouting. Highbury shared transport with the 12th Cheltenham but found the arrangement not entirely satisfactory. The following attended led by GSM Wright; PL’s (“Bill”) Creed, (“Jack”) Readings, Roy Birt (“Shirty”); 2nd’s Rudge and Dimery (“Dick”) and Scouts Bloodworth (“Peter”), Old-ham, Killey, Taylor, Pontin, Smith D, Morrison (“George”) . Three others came part-time only-Rovers “Bert” Price and “Tom “ Barnfield and Scout A. Barnfield. There was a com-bined Camp fire after which they watched a Firework Display in the Castle. The Swift Patrol stayed up late and woke early. The main feature of the Camp was a “stunt” march down a steep hillside in the form of a triangle to engulf the original Brownsea camp with an increasing mass of scouts. They were visited at the event by JF Wright the GSM’s father and District Scout Master for Wood Green London. The Highbury Cubs were also present. “B-P spoke magnificently. Though over 80 years of age, his voice rang out clearly and we heard every word.”

On Friday, November 1st 1940 SM AWG Godfrey joined the RAF at Cardington. The following Monday the log records the Troop numbers to be 46 in 5 Patrols, Bulldogs, Squirrels, Woodpeckers, Owls, Otters and Eagle. Meetings were held earlier and fin-ished early due to the blackout. Peter Bloodworth was home on leave from the RAF and paid them a visit. Laurie Henderson recalls being in the Bulldog Patrol from 1941 to 1945 and latterly becoming PL. Undaunted by the war, though not unaffected the Troop continued with its varied pro-gramme of activities. They continued Camping on a regular basis. Skills were taught and programmes arranged to reinforce the teaching. These included a Wide Game around the area with clues in Morse; stalking the leaders, collecting five articles on the way. Basketball was a frequent and popular game. The programme was usually put together by a PL or a Patrol but the S.M. was always prepared. Singing and entertainments con-tinued to be popular. George Lee was a Cub and Scout from 1940 to 1948. The names he recalls from that time are Ben, his brother, Sid Clench, Terry Buffin, Mike Absalom, David Finch, Mike Ware, Tommy Morrison, Peter Lawrence and Walter Critchley. Besides “Bim” Wright, and “Dan” Godfrey he talks of Tony Crocker and Mr Lyon as leaders. In addition to Troop camps he remembers Patrol Camps at Prescott (Hill Climb).

Eastnor Rally

The War Starts

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Rover Crew In May 1936 three older members of the Troop formed a Rover Crew with 'Dan' Godfrey as Rover Mate. Two of the three, Charlie Coles and Bill Creed had gained their King's Scout Award in 1935 and 1936 respectively. The third was Tom Barnfield. Their Log makes fascinating reading. They went on Camps and Hikes, learnt splicing and knots, sang, and discussed questions from Scouting for Boys. They attended Rover Council meetings and took part in a Scout Fair at which they did a display, “A day in Camp”. They clearly had a den away from Highbury provided by the G.S.M.

In May 1939 the Troop won the Music Festival Camp Fire Scene Competition.

“SM Wright read aloud a letter from the Badge Secretary, E J Fear refusing to supply anymore badges to the Group until PL Creed had removed those from his beret! or made a signed statement that he would not wear them “improperly” again. This caused the greatest amusement” Nov 18th 1937

Eastnor Rally L to R: Creed, Bert Price, Pontin, Smith, Morrison, Readings (front), the GSM, Rudge, Killey, Dimery, Roy Birt and Taylor.

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In January 1941 Baden-Powell 'went home'. The Troop paraded at Highbury at 9-30 in his honour, then cycled to the Grammar School. They left their bikes and walked to St. Matthew's for the 10 o'clock service. Later that year the Gloucestershire Echo noted that the Troop was meeting earlier on Monday evenings to miss the blackout. Tea was served followed by scoutcraft. Boys from the Grammar School used to work on Farm Camps out at Notgrove to help with harvesting. Highbury Scout expertise was used to provide the catering for these Camps with the Scouts travelling out by train or bike each day. A list of former members of the Troop who were serving in the forces was posted on the wall. (No deaths connected with Highbury Church are recorded during this war) The Troop continued with various leaders. They won the District Swimming Cup in 1943 and 1944. In 1945 the Water Relay team won the District Relay Cup. Camps were held each Easter and Summer but under difficult conditions. Fred Wright’s daughter Elizabeth re-members going by train to Gotherington, on the old Honeybourne line from St James Station, with her younger brother Graham and her cousin on a day visit to the Camp there, probably 1943. In 1946 'Dan' Godfrey returned from the Services and with G.S.M. Wright began to put life back into the Troop.

Over the next thirty years Highbury was to have a Scout as part of the County World Jamboree contingent on many occasions. In 1947 Benjamin Lee went to the 6th World Scout Jamboree in France. He appears to have been the first from the Troop to go to a World Jamboree.

Proper Campfires had not been allowed throughout the war so there was much excite-ment when the 1st went to Camp at Monk's Ditch, Cranham at Easter 1946. The Log de-clares that the Campfire was the highlight being the first since the War. The site was decorated with lanterns. About 40 or 50 villagers attended and were treated to buns and cocoa. The Camp Warden was so impressed with their camping he awarded them the first of only six Camping Pennants he had to award in the year. This was also the first Camping Pennant of the new Camping Ground.

The War Years

Hail to the World

We're the boys of good old Cheltenham

We are birds of a feather Cheltenham town is our home! To all birds of a feather, Wheresoever you roam: Get our wavelength on the air We’re going to shout: Highbury Calling! Listen to our greetings ringing Out to birds of a feather Through the wide, wide, world.

Hail to the world Now unfurled is the message we send, Out on the air, Come and join in our fare everywhere. We will tell you who we are, We're the boys of good old Cheltenham, Sending a cheer you can hear throughout the world!

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Baden-Powell’s grave in Kenya

A Gateway at the 1957 Sutton Coldfield Jamboree but a

reminder of the 1947 Jamboree at Moisson,

France

“Dan” Godfrey was a great man who led by example, a splendid teacher who brought out the best in every boy. He taught me all the skills associated with Scouting and imbued me with a love of nature and of life in the open.

John Hammer, Highbury 1948-1955

So goes a line from a Campfire song popular with Highbury Scouts of the '40's and '50's. John Hammer has supplied all the words:

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Buckholt Woods at Cranham had been one of the camping places for many years. In 1947 the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan came to open the new County Scout Headquarters and Training Ground. The Highbury Troop Leaders and Scouts responded to a call to prepare the site. They attended the opening Camp, celebrations, dedication and march past. That summer camp was at Oxwich Bay. On August 1st they went down to the beach to play. Suddenly Karl Smith was found lying face down in the shallows. Efforts to revive him failed and he died. He was 12 years old. John Hammer recalls helping to construct the Scout Chapel at Cranham and the wall by the road with a “Gone Home“ tracking sign by the gate. Other activities included a camp in Newtown, Wales in 1948, the Lake District 1950 and Jersey in 1953. There was a hike to follow the Thames from its source on April 22nd and 23rd 1952. Sid Clench re-called the Newtown camp adding that they went with Stow on the Wold Troop as they also did to Torquay. Every Easter come rain or shine they camped at Cranham. ASM’s were George Morrison, Tony Lyon and Pip Lee. The Warden at Cranham in the 1950’s was H R Raine (Rainbow) who was still helped by Allen and Corrie(?) Whiteside the former Cranham Wardens.

F.S.M. Wright, affectionately known as 'Bim' was Chemistry Master at the Grammar School. He was from a Scouting family. His father Joseph Francis Wright ran a Scout Troop in North London from 1908. The family were members of Fox Lane Congrega-tional Church, Palmer's Green. The family house was opposite the Wood Green, South-gate and Friern Barnet Campsite which had many international visitors. Joseph Wright was awarded the Silver Wolf. This is in the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is awarded for service of the most exceptional nature. 'Gerry', which he preferred to “Bim” from the song ’Cherry, Cherry Bim’, was keen on sketching and he also had a telescope to observe the stars and planets. He was a mem-ber of Highbury Congregational Church where he served on the Diaconate and acted as Deacons Minutes Secretary. He was awarded the Medal of Merit and Bar on the 24th May 1950 for 20 years of outstanding service to Scouting. He retired after 25 yrs as Group Scoutmaster in 1962. In 1970 the Group made him their President.

Cranham and further afield

“Bim” or “Gerry” Wright

Group Log 1908 – 2008

First Queen’s Scouts and Bertha Three boys from the Troop, David Wills, Len Didcote and John Hammer were the first Queen's Scouts at Highbury. They travelled to London in June 1952, stayed a night on RRS Discovery before going to Mansion House. They were presented with their Queen's Scout Award by the Chief Scout and the Lord Mayor of London. Who was Bertha Brock? Bertha was probably once a Badger. Her skull is mounted on a wooden plinth. Between 1950 and 1952 she was presented to a Patrol for a particular skill well done. Patrols at this time were Owls, Woodpeckers and Kingfishers plus two senior patrols, Scott and Grenfell. In 1957 some of the Troop visited the World Jamboree in Sutton Park, Birmingham marking the Centenary of the birth of B-P and 50 years of Scouting. Richard Crooks re-members hosting Swedish Scouts at home and later going to stay with them in Sweden.. In 1958 'Dan' Godfrey left after 21 yrs service as Scoutmaster. That summer the Troop camped for 2 weeks at Canon Frome nr Ledbury where he was now headmaster. They got there by bike from Cheltenham. The site had a river, a lake and trees aplenty, so much pioneering was done, recalls Brian Taylor.

Whilst at Cranham Camp we often took plaster casts of various animal prints, such as fox, deer, moorhen and these were labeled and hung on the wall of the Scout HQ. I recall one exhibit was identified as “The ‘uman ‘and of Clod Clench”

Len Didcote

Mrs. Godfrey, ‘Dan’ Godfrey and ‘Bim’

Wright. Probably Dan’s farewell in 1958.

Photo by John Leaver

Karl Smith, Bulldog Patrol

August 1st 1947 Oxwich Bay

14

John Leaver succeeded “Dan” assisted by Jim Copeland who had been a Scout and PL with the Troop. He was a pharmacist and worked for Talvan Rees in his High St Phar-macy and was another popular leader . He became SM in 1955. In 1956 he was part of a team organising and running a District Camp at Whitsun for 170 Scouts. In 1958 he was awarded his Wood Badge. That year there was a party for parents. John was made District scout master for Senior scouts. His wife Marjorie became Cubmistress at Highbury . She gained he Wood badge in 1961. They had two children, a boy and a girl. In 1962 John left to study for the Priesthood in Llandaff and was ordained Priest in 1967. He was a Curate in Gloucester until 1968 then an honorary curate in a number of parishes whilst taking up his pharmacy again. His last parish was Highnam, Lassington, Rudford and Tibberton. Here he was well-liked and took part in the village Pantomime. His wife died in 1989 aged 64 and he died on the 1st October 1991 aged 60. They are buried together in Rudford. There is a candlestick in Highnam Church as a memorial to him given by the Pharmacists of the South West Region .

This badge was conducted over a weekend as you had to show you could survive over-night in the “wild” – a relative term as you will see. The main requirements were to build your own shelter and sleep in it, light a fire using no more than two matches, then pluck and draw a pigeon and cook it in (or over) the fire. Fortunately you did not have to catch or shoot down your bird-ours came from Mac-Fisheries in the High Street! It was the first and only pigeon I have ever ‘prepared’! The test was at Cranham and Robert Seymour and I did the badge at the same time. For us the “wild” was beside the stream across the road from County HQ – so not that wild at all! The first thing was to get the bivouac built so we had shelter for the night. The frame was straightforward enough but we had great trouble getting a waterproof covering on. We cobbled something together from grass and leaves, but it was clearly somewhat porous. Nevertheless, we slept under it but it rained in the night so we got a bit damp and duly failed the bivouac test. We went back a few weekends later for an-other go and got it right this time. The pigeon was plucked (sort of!) and drawn (ugh!) and we found ‘clay’ – more likely thick mud – in the stream, plastered our birds with the stuff and shoved them into the embers – we’d earlier passed the fire-lighting test! After a few hours we retrieved the birds from the fire and sufficient was declared cooked enough to eat so we duly passed this part too.

John Leaver

Backwoodsman Badge by Brian Taylor

Lots of Leaders listed The County Directory and Year Books held at Cranham tell us that in 1950 Wright and Godfrey were GSM and SM respectively assisted by G L E (Laurie) Holloway as ASM, Miss J Flowers as CM and Miss Critchley as ACM. In 1953 Sid Clench is ASM. From ‘51 to ‘57 there is no listing for Cubs but then in ‘58 Marjorie Leaver becomes CM and E. Williams becomes ASM. In 1960 J J McComish (Mac) is ASM, he always stood to eat his porridge, with salt and wore a kilt on formal occasions. Miss G. Jones is ACM. The Coulings become CM and ACM until 1965 when they move to 2nd Bishop’s Cleeve Pack. A. Griffiths became ASM in in 1961. By 1963 Fred Wright has retired and there is no GSM but P W Jenkins has taken over as SM with two women from St Mary’s College as ACM’s, the Misses Bearcock and Farrell joining the Cub team. 1965/66 there are no Scout Leaders listed and Elisabeth Forbes is the only Cub Leader in1966 though a Miss Scott joins the following year as do ASL’s Derek Appleing and D A Biggs.

Group Log 1908 – 2008

John Leaver

Backwoodsman Badge

Highbury was unique in Cheltenham we wore bottle green shirts, navy blue shorts, navy blue socks with two green hoops on the turnover and green beret. Our Group Scarf colour was old-gold. Of the Scouters, ‘Bim’ Wright also wore the blue/green uniform but with a hat rather than a beret. The other Scouters wore khaki, as did every other troop in the district, except the air and sea scouts.

Brian Taylor

15

Whitsun 1957 Cheltenham District held a Jubilee Camp, the Cheltoree in Cox’s Meadow and most Troops were represented. This was Brian Taylor’s first camp. It was also his introduction to the ritual of ‘kit inspection’. Providing the weather was fine, sleeping bags and blankets were all hung up to air. Everything else you weren’t actually wearing had to be washed, cleaned, folded or polished as appropriate, and laid out on your ground-sheet. Shoes, gleaming of course, were placed on an upturned corner of the ground-sheet so the soles and heels didn’t mark the top surface for the groundsheet! Summer camp that year was two weeks at North Hill, Minehead. Brian recalls ”our kit went a few days ahead by lorry and we assembled at some unfeasible hour in the morning at Lans-down station to get to Minehead by train. We arrived at about 7 o’clock in the morning, where the lorry was waiting. After the Canon Frome Camp in ‘58, they went to Great Tower in the lakes in ‘59. It was a scorching summer but the beck did not dry up, they swam in Windermere and had a day’s hike to Moss Eccles Tarn, a steep climb. In 1960 Brian did his 1st Class Hike but not without some behind the scenes intervention by his Mum who was worried that her literally ‘little boy’ would not manage his much lar-ger rucksack. The custom at Highbury was you always did a practice with a more experi-enced scout before doing the ‘real thing’ when in turn you would be partnered by a com-parative novice. His experienced Scout was Richard Crooks and John Leaver obviously said all the right things! They started from Coates, near Cirencester. Normal weekly parades were held at Highbury supplemented by wide games away from the hall and in the surrounding streets and up on Leckhampton Hill. The lane beside Highbury was used for night-signalling practice with an Aldis lamp and Morse key at ei-ther end of the lane and a ‘runner’ to check the accuracy of what was sent compared with what we thought we received!

When, in 1968 Bill Donohoe moved to Cheltenham having been posted to RAF Little Rissington (Central Flying School) and joined Highbury Church he had with three sons eager to continue their Scouting but the Highbury Troop was down to six boys and no regular leader. After letters to the Echo and a parents meeting Ron Hill, a Police Inspec-tor agreed to be SL and Bill GSL backed by a new Supporters Association of family members. Strong pressure to succeed came from the formidable presence of much loved Cub Mistress Elisabeth Forbes and her thriving Pack assisted by an energetic Bob Wilkinson.

Cheltoree, Hikes and Camps

Saved from the Bonfire

Group Log 1908 – 2008

District and County Events In 1962 Cheltenham District organised a tour of campsites in France, Austria, Switzer-land (Kandersteg - Swiss scout campsite), Germany and Belgium. About a dozen scouts from five or six groups took part and the tour was led by Laurie ‘Beaver’ Gage - from St Marks. To ‘harmonise’ the party, we all wore black neckerchiefs. This would have worked fine except that I, in my Highbury blue/green uniform, still stuck out like a sore thumb, giving rise to much comment along the way. There was a Gloucestershire rally in 1964 to meet the Chief Scout.

We had a great deal of fun, boisterous and maybe a bit dare-devil from time to time, but by and large we weren’t reckless or stupid, but I don’t think for one minute we were goodie-goodies either. The fairly light supervision meant we had to accept responsibility for what we did, behave sensibly and have respect for the other people around us.

Brian Taylor

Brian Taylor at the Centenary Parade on March 9th 2008 with the flag he rescued.

Walking into Minehead from John Leaver’s

collection

Around this time Brian moved to the Senior Troop at the 4th (Christchurch). But recalls a clearout at Highbury when a lot was put on a bonfire. They were about to throw an old flag and log book on when he protested and said he would take them rather than see them burnt. He did and kept them for 40 years until they were passed to the current GSL. The flag was from 1908 and the Log book has provided new information about the early 1930’s.

Reduced Circumstances

16

Highbury were the first Pack in the District to go on regular Pack Holidays and Camp. The Cubs, mainly 8 and 9 year olds went on Pack Holiday in the autumn at Cranham, Longhope, Beckford Priory or Hackney, London. Elisabeth did not allow any boy under 9 to camp because it gave them something to look forward to and by then the Leaders knew them well. At Beckford Priory, a college for novice priests they had a memorable Scout’s Own in a crypt chapel led by the Rev Eric Burton, Highbury’s current Minister, with the novices on guitars - a small step to Church unity. From Hackney they did the sites of London and took the 30+ boys swimming and snorkelling at Portland St Baths. At Longhope they filled the valley with campfire singing and at church on Sunday morn-ing sang “Give me oil in my Lamp” with impressive gusto. Cranham in ‘73 they had to keep the fire in the main hall going night and day because of electricity strikes Camping experience was first gained with Stratford District Camps. Often 200+ boys and themes such as Roundheads and Cavaliers or Cavemen. Later they would have a weeks camp following on from the Troop camp, twice at Timberscombe in Devon. Help was given by Prestbury Venture Unit and they always got a 1st Class report. The 1971 Camp at Towyn, North Wales was eventful and fore-shortened due to con-taminated water from the farm. A rescue operation was mounted on the Wednesday af-ter several Scouts and Leaders developed stomach upsets. Elisabeth and several par-ents set off at 5am with fresh water, medication and sterilising tablets and a coach. Eric Burton had been stung in the eye as well as having the upset tum like several others. They arrived back mid-afternoon having struck camp. Cader Idris had been climbed be-fore disaster struck. They went to Gilwell for a Cub Day and failed to lose any Cubs in the 3,000 crowd, de-spite trying hard with one or two! The flat tyre on the coach when they came to leave did not spoil a great day. Tony Veits was CSL at St Luke’s by then and helped lead the trip.

Pack breaks new ground

Group Log 1908 – 2008

United and Strong Highbury’s fortunes began to improve with the involvement of Bill and Ron but they became aware that the 3rd Cheltenham (Air Scout )Troop was struggling and following approaches by Mike Rainbow and discussions with Norman Elkins they decided to amalgamate The amalgamation agreement with the 3rd said the two Packs would con-tinue, one at Highbury and one at St. Luke's. There were 20 boys in each Pack with Elisabeth Forbes as Akela at Highbury and Judy Rendle running St. Luke's. The Troops would combine and meet at Highbury with boys able to chose whether to become Air Scouts on entry. The name of the 1st was retained but to preserve the memory of the 3rd the sky blue, Air Scout, neckerchief was adopted for the Group. Norman Elkins became the Group Scout Leader. Ron Hill ran the Troop. Mike Rainbow had come with the Air Scouts. There were 32 boys in the new Troop. In 1968 it had been decided to form a Supporters Association of parents and local people with the main aim of raising funds. Jumble Sales, Whist Drives, Raffles, 100/200 Club, Sponsored events, Garden Fetes, Webb Ivory and Waste Paper collecting were all used. The Whist Drives continued until about five years ago until Whist was no longer popular but the last team to run them still meet keeping up the friends they made as mother’s of scouts many years ago. Over the years many of these supporters have been presented with Thanks Badges in recognition of their work The Association was trans-formed in the late 1970's into a committee of the Executive under national restructuring.

I used to perform conjuring tricks at campfires and sing songs with my guitar. We once took part in a Cub and Scout Circus at Cheltenham Town Hall and I was the Ringmaster.

Andrew Burton

The Troop with Ron Hill c 1968

Bob Wilkinson leads a campfire at Pack Camp

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The 3rd Cheltenham Air Scout Troop was formed in 1941 sponsored by the Cheltenham Aero Club. This was the year the Air Scout Branch was formed by Imperial Headquar-ters. It was Royal Air Force Recognised Unit No. 37. To be an Air Scout Troop there must be qualified Air Instructors working with the Troop alongside the usual Scouters. To retain Air Scout recognition the Troop had to pass an annual inspection by the R.A.F. The Group met in the Civil Defence Building at the bottom of Monson Avenue until 1963 when the building was demolished for road widening. For a short while they met in Bennington Hall opposite the Black and White Coach Station before moving to St. John's Hall in Albion Street in 1965. The Group had known mixed times but its time at St. John's Hall was a period of marked decline. Then in 1967 St. John's Church and Hall was acquired and demolished again for road widening. The Group moved to the old St. Luke's Hall in Bath Road, which was in its turn bought for demolition in 1967. There be-ing no alternative accommodation the Group was almost at an end despite good num-bers. Michael Young of the 3rd went to the World Jamboree in Greece in 1963. Mike Rainbow had joined the Troop in 1957 and attended with them the World Jambo-ree at Sutton Park. They took part in the Air Scout Display. At one time there were two Cub Packs with the 3rd Group, one of which met in Hatherley. In 1958 the Cub Mistress, Patricia White, decided to register the Hatherley Cubs as a separate Group. This Group was called the 1st Hatherley Group and wore a black neckerchief with a light blue border.

The Friday Troop helped with Hackney Boys Adventure Club at Beckford and Monday Troop took part in a cycling event involving Map Reading and came 1st and 2nd. In July 1972 'Gladys' and David Goldsmith joined the Group. 'Gladys' was a 29 seater OB Bedford bus. Most of her cost was covered by the sale of Marmalade. Gladys has had two further incarnations. David was A.S.L. for the Monday Troop. David's scouting career has continued, he was VSL at Amberley then GSL at Nailsworth & Forest Green before taking up a paid Scout-ing post as Field Commissioner for South Wales from which he has just retired. Norman Elkins decided to finish as G.S.L. but to continue as S.L. with Monday Troop. Plans were afoot to begin Air Scouting again with Friday Troop. It was decided to build a Bunkhouse at Cranham for Cubs and Scouts. Each boy was asked to contribute to the cost. The PL's suggested a Beat the Bounds of Gloucester-shire Bike Ride to raise the money.

A Brief History of the 3rd Cheltenham (Air Scout )Group

Gladys and the Marmalade

Going from Strength to Strength

In 1971 David Mills aka “The Bishop” and John Allan joined to help with Scouts and it was possible to start a second Troop on a Friday at St. Luke's. Mike Rainbow led the Monday Troop until succeeded by Phil Paull. It was decided to look around for a building which could be used as an Activity Centre. Over the next few years several premises were rented by the Group. Having given up as G.S.L. Bill Donohoe continued with the Group as an Instructor for Sport. A team was set up which played in a Boys Brigade & Scout League. Football kit was bought for the Cubs. Mr James assisted with this. Chris Brewster is remembered as the goalie. They won the league in the 1975/76 season.

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Gladys

I remember travelling on “Gladys” the Group coach. The first one stank of rotting carpet.

David Phipps

I was always good with an axe!

I grew up wanting to be a lumberjack.

David Baylis

18

A garage used by the Troop having been demolished they rented from the Council 12, St James's Street. However, it was decided to set up a Building Fund to raise money for an Activity Centre in the distant future as an additional facility to the church halls. A site was never found and several years later the plan was abandoned. With the Troop and Packs running well it was decided to start a Venture Unit. Howard Bartlett became Venture Scout Leader in 1974. It was also agreed that a B-P Guild should be set up for over 18's to enable them to continue supporting the Group. This began in January 1975 and was the first Guild in the District. National Scout 'Operation Lifeboat' was held on 5th/6th October . The Troop organised a 24 hour sponsored row around Pittville Lake and raised £300. They raised the largest sum in the District and were asked to attend the presentation of the National Cheque to the RNLI at the Royal Festival Hall. David Mills went with Andrew Weaver. Jack and Freda Milsom became Group Chairman and Chair of the Supporters Assoc. respectively. Following a garden fete at the Donohoe’s when Andrew Burton did a magic show they expanded to a Fair in Cox’s Meadow including a Dog Show and Gymkhana.

There were many Camps at Trigon, in Dorset and mid-Wales plus weekends at a log cabin at Staunton in the Forest of Dean and Nympsfield. A Cotswold Hike of 40 miles overnight was undertaken. One strong memory of David Mills' time is the Hike he organised for Spring Bank Holiday 1978. Seven Scouts hiked up the River Thames and along the Severn Central Canal to Lechlade. There was also a Canal Hike from Brecon to Pontypool.

Scouts and Ventures were having success in football, swimming and cooking competi-tions. The Group also assisted at Blood Donor Sessions by helping to make the tea. Some of the younger Scouts did a Good Turn by weeding at the Strickland Homes.

The latest version of 'Gladys' was used by the Group and by other organisations. Main-taining the bus and coaxing it through its M.O.T. was Dave Sheen's task. She was last seen being towed away for scrap in the early 1990’s.

A new Venture

Weekends Away, Expeditions and Good Turns

One Hundred Boys

David Mills became G.S.L. after Norman Elkins and John Allan S.L. of the Friday Troop assisted by Alan Chainey. Bob Wilkinson who, with his wife had been helping with Cubs became Monday S.L. Bill Richardson succeeded Elisabeth Forbes as Monday Cub Leader. Ann Haseler became Venture Scout Leader and during her time in the post it was run as a joint unit with the Rangers. Dave Sheen was appointed Quartermaster, to follow Mr. Oakey in which job he was assisted by Mr. Dibden. The B-P Guild closed in 1976 in a further restructuring. As Dave Mills took over the Group there were a hundred Cubs, Scouts and Ventures. This all took tremendous organisation and needed much financial support. To publicise the Groups activities Mr. Beddow was appointed Public Relations Officer and a Group Newsletter was started entitled 'Focus'.

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Friday Pack, January 1972 as Judy Rendle leaves to continue her

nursing career in Birmingham.

Tony Veits 2nd left.

Operation Lifeboat Pete Sutcliffe seated keeping the records.

David Mills 2nd from R

I could write a book about camps, but nobody would believe it!

John Allan

19

In 1976 the Senior Air Scouts visited R.A.F. Lyneham where a tour of the base was fol-lowed by a hearty lunch. In the afternoon they were given a trip on a C- 130 Hercules transport aircraft, which proceeded to demonstrate over-shoots, flying low, and then a steep climb. Pity about lunch! In 1977 the Rev Eric Burton finished his ministry at Highbury but not before the Scout Group had acknowledged his support. On July 18th he was presented with a “Thanks Badge” and David Mills in the Church Newsletter says “ we remember with special grati-tude, how when the Group was going through a bad time at the start of (his) ministry in Cheltenham, his help contributed greatly to the prevention of its folding up.” In late 1978 Dave Mills relinquished the job of G.S.L. but continued as Scout Leader. Eventually in 1985 he retired and was presented with the Medal Of Merit by the County Commissioner, Bob Lyle. Initially in 1979 the Group were proud to have retained the R.A.F. recognition as one of only 33 such groups in the U.K. but not long after this it was lost as there was no quali-fied Air Instructor. An Activity Centre in Sherbourne Place replaced a small premises in St James's St used by the Venture Unit and as a paper store. Old newspaper was sold for cash and raised some £2,000 per year. Derek Hiorns and others refurbished the new place. Ann Haseler having been VSL became Scouter-in-Charge and then GSL. David King and Martyn Gowing became ASL’s. In April that year they, with two scouts Stuart King and Michael Sheen, attended the National Scout Boating Centre at Longridge on the Thames. Martyn and Michael gained the British Canoe Union 1 Star Award with Michael also earning his Elementary Canoeist badge. David and Stuart made progress towards obtaining the Royal Yacht Association Elementary Certificate. For the next two months 8 scouts attended taster sessions at South Cerney in Sailing and Canoeing. The Sailors were Stuart King, Russell Hayward and David Cummings and the Canoeists Michael Sheen, Michael Richardson, Rupert Lancaster, Gary Stone and Mark Dibden. Other courses followed and qualifications gained. Six Scouts entered the District Bicycle Safari in September and gained their Cyclist Badge. The route covered 15 miles with “events” at various stages. An outdoor training day at “The Crippetts” was held in Octo-ber activities including backwoods cooking and axe and saw training. David Phipps had joined as ASL. Martyn then led a Boatman Badge theory course at Sherbourne Place through the winter and nine scouts gained their Swimmer’s badge at Pittville Pool.

1980 was another busy year with a 'Round Cheltenham' Hike organised by the District Fellowship; Youth Hostelling on bikes for the Ventures; Scouterama; buying chairs for Cranham; painting the fence at Highbury Manse and being given a boat. Dave King was given the nickname “Bosun” at a snowy weekend at Buckstone. Summer camp was held at Machynlleth with 19 Scouts plus leaders. In 1981 Jonathan Rowe, Stuart King and David Cummings went with “Bosun” to a Tidal Course on Brownsea Island. The Panthers had a Patrol camp at Cranham. Members of the Troop formed part of the Cheltenham team in the County Swimming Gala with David Cummings getting two 1st’s. Summer camp was at Llangorse, Powys giving opportuni-ties for canoeing, sailing and pony trekking. The site was dressed in red, white and blue for the Royal Wedding. Instead of the usual party it was decide to hold a Christmas Din-ner which was cooked by Mrs King and Mrs Lancaster. All Saints Troop also joined them being temporarily without an HQ so having shared recent meetings at Highbury.

Land, Air and Water

The Eighties

Group Log 1908 – 2008

“Strange how supposedly intelligent Scouts have to be told to come in out of the rain”

Dave King May 28th 1980 Troop Log

Canoeing and pulling at Longridge 1980

The Troop at Buckstone 1980

20

1982 was the “Year of the Scout” to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Movement. There were 24 on the Monday Troop roll and Robin Cole joined as a junior leader from the 45th Cheltenham. Phil Heyes and Matthew Bennett staged a mini-gang show for their Enter-tainer’s badge at a regular Troop meeting. Gladys mk2 (green) was used to get 12 scouts to the start of their Offa’s Dyke day hike. In April PL John Rowe ran a weekend camp at Cranham for his Chief Scout’s Award. The younger scouts completing Scout standards work. The annual camp was in May to Youlbury and featured hammock and ballista making. The Church Parade on July 4th was organised by Dave Lee, Troop ASL to celebrate the Anniversary In 1983 the Group celebrated 50 years of continuous Scouting. There was a dinner at St. Luke's and a service at Highbury. A commemorative woggle was produced. Frank Brailsford attended the event. Stuart King went to the World Jamboree in Canada. Sum-mer Camp was again at Longridge during which they tried boardsailing (windsurfing), John Rowe and Andy Horsfield were the best. Later that year Gary Stone died in an accident coming to Scouts on his bike. It was an open evening for parents. Gary was knocked off his bike by a truck turning left into Old Bath Road. A tree was planted in his memory in Sandford Park and the insurance money was given by his parents to the Group and used to enable Scouts to attend a course at Gilwell and then First Aid courses locally for several years.

Anniversaries

What about the Cubs? Margaret Sheen joined the Cub team whilst Elisabeth Forbes was Akela having offered to help when her son joined. Her husband David got involved after being asked to drive the coach ‘just this once’ and then carried on teaching knots and camp skills and some bicycle maintenance. Eventually Margaret took over from Bill Richardson as CSL and Alan Taylor joined the team. They decided to try a week’s camp again and did this for 6 years with much help from mums and dads; they even had measles one year!

They did badge work in the evening meetings, made peppermint creams and coconut ice pancakes, went swimming and cooked out at the Crippetts. They entered a Bob a Job Week competition to wash the biggest object, they went to Fairford and washed a KC135Tanker aircraft. It was the largest thing ever washed for Job Week. District events such as football, 7 a side Cricket and Chess were also entered regularly. The Monday Cubs won the Knockout Cricket in 1986.

Father and Son and Family camps were held and proved popular. One Dad suggested they could go abroad so after some hesitation they did and went first to Holland in 1985, then Germany and Switzerland (Kandersteg). They travelled by coach (not Gladys!) and took most of their food with them.

David moved to help with the Scouts where he was joined by Brian Cooke, who had helped out as a parent with Rose since their son, Bruce had joined in 1982. Brian used his blacksmithing skills to make two water hotters and a barbecue. Alan Cadwgan also joined to help run the Troop before moving away to London.

In 1989 Margaret Sheen became G.S.L.. Kevin Dibden and Michael Sheen who ran the Monday Troop had Baseball Caps made. Simon Mills ran Friday Cubs and Ray Herridge became Friday S.L. in 1985 until they closed in 1988. Steve Howse and his sister then took over Monday Cubs. The other Pack was now on a Wednesday at St. Luke's and run by Jane Cameron but that closed in 1990.

Group Log 1908 – 2008

David Lee (peasant) and Alison King led a party of 8 Scouts Pony trekking. Tommy and Bridey bearing the aforesaid people slipped and slithered their way around the route. David hanging on for dear life, especially on the downhill slopes.

Gary Stone, 3rd October 1983

Aged 15 years

You should see the rest of it!

21

By 1991 Margaret had been made a District Cub Scout Leader and Teresa Middleton was Cub Scout Leader. Teresa was in need of help with the Pack when the Cleaves family moved into the Manse with a son who was already a Cub. Felicity Cleaves offered to run a game at the start of meetings. Not long after this she was asked to become A.C.S.L. and to accommodate her the Pack moved to meet on Wednesdays. Phil Paull offered to come back and help David Sheen out with the Troop again. When Teresa left Tony Corrie came along to help with the Pack. Graham Adams also became an A.C.S.L. and several students have given enthusiastic help. The Cubs have been on weekend camps every year. At first with the District Cubs so the leaders could get experience but latterly as a Pack camp. This has been mostly at Cran-ham but one year the District Cub Camp was at Youlbury, Oxon. Several times they have been on trips organised by Stroud & Tetbury District to Portsmouth, Legoland and Dudley Zoo and the Black Country Museum. Sport was popular with regular participation in the District Football Tournament and Swimming Gala and District Athletics badge eve-nings at Pittville School A good effort has also been made in the Chess and Rounders. The Group had a presence regularly at the District Fete & Fun Day in Montpellier Gar-dens. For three years in a row they won the Cubs 'It's a Knockout' competition then the Troop thought it was there turn and won the Scout competition. Whist Drives and Jumble Sales continued to raise funds.

The decision was made to start a Beaver Colony but leadership was a problem. After reading some articles in Scouting Magazine about thinking differently, Felicity proposed that we ran it once a month on a Saturday morning for two hours a session. Amanda agreed to help with this and it was started in September 2004 with a good number of boys and girls. By then if you opened a new section you had to include girls. Stephen Meyer, one of the parents became a regular helper and in Sept 2005 Shona agreed to become BSL and has since been joined by Sharon Wallington as ABSL. Since that time the Colony has met every three weeks at the parents request. There has been a Beaver Sleepover every year either at Highbury or Prestbury. They have had walkabouts on Crickley Hill, town trails, visits to the Parks, the Everyman Theatre, the Museum as well as guest speakers from the community or the church. They have just gained their Air Activities badge.

Into the Nineties

Beaver Scout Colony

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Building a new team

Since 1995 Amanda Sargeant has been first A.C.S.L and then CSL and Mark Adding-ton the Scout Leader. Amanda’s son was in the Pack and Mark arrived to work at GCHQ Felicity Cleaves became G.S.L. in 1997. Paul Barnard joined as A.S.L. in 1998 and was instrumental in setting up the Group web site. He also came to work at GCHQ. Another recruit from GCHQ was Shona Mackenzie who joined as another ACSL in 2002. Paul and Shona married at Highbury. Andy Sargeant had helped with a specific events for a while but has become a regular part of the Troop team. In 2003 joined Chris Heather as ASL from Leckhampton Troop having been a member of Hy-Tec, the Church Youth group. Sara Russell (now McCormack) joined as a Section Assistant with the troop in 2006 and Vicky Blyde as an ASCL. Richard Cleaves, the Minister has led Astronomy sessions, Geology walks, taught Chess, and the Beaver “My Faith“ Badge.

The Scout stores were replaced with a metal construction donated by a local firm. New stainless steel shelving on wheels was purchased and electric light and power added thanks to the hard work of Barbara Weldon the Group Chair and the Executive of the time.

Jack and Charlie came 2nd in a national story writing competition in 2004 for a story about

Cub Scout Oddie.

‘It’s a knockout’ at the Fete & Fun

Day

22

In 1997 Cranham celebrated 50 years as the County Campsite and H.Q. An Inter-District Patrol competition was held at which four boys Highbury Troop represented the District. Cheltenham District won the competition and the boys were presented with their prize in front of Lord Rowallan's son and former members of the Highbury Troop present didn't recognise them because they had the wrong colour neckerchief.! Members of the Troop have taken part each year in the Malvern Challenge, many County Badge Courses, District Patrol Camping Competitions, trips to the Peak District and with the County Contingent to the Haarlem Jamborette. Camping has frequently been judged of a high standard. Survival and backwoods skills are regularly taught using Andy Sargeants' skills. Mark has arranged bike rides and walking trips. Sara has expanded electronics activities. Wide games on Cleeve Hill and Crickley Hill are regular programme activities. Through Chris Heather’s links they have recently been on Summer camp with Leckhampton Troop and early in Mark’s time with Troops from Northampton Mark’s home.

Weekend camps have been held at Cowley, Blackwell Court near Bromsgrove, Youl-bury, Penn Wood and Woodhouse Park. There have been visits to the Fire station; the Hindu Community Centre and the Synagogue; pond dipping in Sandford Park, exploring the Pilley Line and tree recognition in Montpellier Gardens with the Park Rangers; town trails, local history trails, geology trails; litter–picking, carol singing and hikes near Dowd-eswell and Witcombe. Global issues have been explored through Fair Trade and Trade Justice. We have given practical help by collecting clothes and blankets for Kosovo in 1999, filling Aquaboxes and raising money. Circus skills, fitness evenings, cooking, emergency aid and board game evenings are all popular.

Scout Activities

Cub Activities

Group Log 1908 – 2008

A New Image It was after the first of these trips to the Haarlem Jamborette’s and our 90th Anniversary Celebration in 1998 that the idea of a change to the neckerchief and adding a Group badge was muted. The PL’s decided that we should incorporate the two colours of neck-erchief worn by the Group over the years, by adding an old gold border to the sky blue neckerchief. A Group badge incorporating the fairly new Church logo was introduced at the same time, to be worn on the point of the Necker, it bears the words “Founded 1908”. (see front cover)

In 1996 we went to the County Cub Camp at Down Ampney for the 80th birthday of Cub Scouting. Amanda did the shopping but never got to camp because of a bad dose of ‘flu. Never mind we had vast quantities of mushrooms!

Working for the Electronics Badge

Group Events In 2006 we had a Group trip to Conkers in the National Forest. A coach load of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts with parent helpers enjoyed a day, learning about the forest, shelter building, paper making and exploring the various trails. For the Scouting Centenary last year we held a 24 hour Family Camp at Youlbury. This was on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend when the Association was trying to get as many people as possible under canvas. Everyone had a great time and some parents pushed themselves to the limits on the crate stacking and leap of faith. The Scouts had built a replica trek cart which turned out to need some refinements. It was very wet on the Sunday and mops were deployed for a couple of days as the dripping canvas dried out in the hall. The good news was Ian Miller, father of a Beaver, joined the Cub team.

Planting a 2007 Scout Centenary Rose in the

Church Garden

23

On Sunday March 9th 2008 a plaque was unveiled on the Grosvenor Street premises where the Troop first met (for text see column left). The unveiling was carried out by Mrs Beryl Nutbourne, daughter of Leslie Paynter, one of the first Scouts. After the unveil-ing the Group walked in good order behind the 1908 flag carried by Matthew Burton back to the present Highbury Church for a Parade service. During the Parade the old flag was shown to the congregation by Brian Taylor, who had rescued it over 40 years before. On March 19th five trees were planted in the Chapel area at Cranham, they were a Holm Oak, a Sessile Oak, a Hornbeam, a Field Maple and a Wild Cherry. They had been donated as part of the Gloucestershire 1000 project. A plaque will be put in place near one of the trees on June 7th 2008 (for text see column right on next page). Three badges have been made from designs submitted in a group competition-see left. A casual T-shirt has also been available in sky blue with gold lettering (see below). The old flag was also carried at the District St George’s Day Parade held in Pittville Park.

Moisson, France 1947 - Benjamin Lee Bad-lschl, Austria 1951 - Sidney Clench Niagara Falls, Canada 1955- David Robson In 1957 several of the Scouts visited the Sutton Park, U.K. Centenary Jamboree. Asagari Heights, Japan 1971 - Bill Donohoe Lillehammer, Norway 1975- Graham Lodge and Peter Haseler Maine, U.S.A. 1979* - David Lee Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1983 - Stuart King Chelmsford, Essex UK 2007-Richard and Felicity Cleaves IST *This was an International Camp, one of several held that year because the planned World Jam-boree in Iran could not be held. Note: This list is based on information collected but may not be complete.

Celebrating One Hundred Years

Jamboree Representatives

Group Log 1908 – 2008

King’s and Queen’s Scouts Two prior to 1927 - names unknown Charles Coles Ernest 'Bill' Creed A. Lyon D. Hart J. Hart R. Dimery Anthony Crocker J. Williams Sidney Clench

David Wills Len Didcote David Robson John Hammer I. Hunter A Beckingsale Graham Lodge David Lee David Phipps Andrew Weaver Tim Fitz

Stuart King Roderick Hiorns Note: This is based on re-ceived and recorded informa-tion but may not be com-plete. Since the recent reorganisation of the movement and changes to the programme it is no longer possible for a member of Highbury Scout Group to earn a Queen’s Scout Award. Groups only cover the age range 6-14.

This building was used by Highbury Congregational

Church from

1827–1932.

In 1908 1st Cheltenham (Highbury) Scout

Group began here led by

Mr. A R N Joseland a member of the

Church

Centenary T-shirt

Beryl Nutbourne reads the plaque.

24

Bill Creed was a Scout and Rover with the Troop in the 1930's. In 1939 he joined the Royal Air Force and became a Spitfire Pilot. He flew many times over Italy and France. He was shot down three times. Reflecting on his experiences in enemy held territory he told Mr. Wright that the skills he had learned as a Scout had been a great help to him. He recalled wide games on Leckhampton Hill and all the woodcraft techniques he had used as a Scout and he used them to good effect. Andrew Burton had always been interested in entertaining and magic. Whilst a Scout he had many opportunities to practice his skills. He would perform magic tricks and sing along to his guitar at campfire. With Tim Darvill, he ran the Magic Potion Disco. One year the District held a Cub & Scout Circus in the Town Hall and he was the Ringmaster. With his family he now runs a Theatre Group providing live performances and work-shops for community and education groups . Tim Darvill is now Professor of Archaeology at Bournemouth University and with a col-league they have been the first to dig at Stonehenge for 50 years. David Phipps joined Highbury because it had an Air Scout Troop. He always wanted to get into Aeronautics and saw this as a way to learn about the planes he loved. He now works for British Airways in Filton and was for sometime involved in Scouting. Stuart King became keen on boats during his time at Highbury. Canoeing and sailing courses at South Cerney were the catalyst for the whole family to take up sailing as a regular pursuit. Stuart developed his hobby into a career. When he left school he went to work in the Caribbean for a couple of years. He then decided to return and study at col-lege. He is now a Naval Architect based at Southampton.

This is the theme for our main celebration to be held at the County Scouting Centre, Cranham on June 7th 2008. Over 230 people have booked to come; former members, leaders and supporters; current members, leaders and families as well as invited guests and “Kim“ and his cousin from Poschiavo. There will be entertainment, activities, memo-rabilia, a campfire and a BBQ to finish.

International Friendship

Reunite, Remember, Relive, Rejoice

Group Log 1908 – 2008

Receiving the Peacelight 2000

Picture: Gloucestershire Echo 27/12/00

Andrew Burton performing with his

wife as Satellite Arts

For several years we have welcomed the Peacelight , a flame lit from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to a service at Highbury in the week before Christmas. This is organised by the Scouts and Guides of Austria

Some stories of former Highbury Scouts

Alfonso Tosio, 'Bob' was Swiss. He had come to England to work as a pâtissier in Brun-ner's Café and Bakery in Clarence Street. He came to Highbury Church becoming a Lay Preacher, helping with the Sunday School and belonging to the ‘Good Companions’. Here he discovered Scouting and starting as an Ambulance Instructor, then helped with the Troop, the Rover Crew and restarted the Wolf Cubs, played an important role in the Group. He received his A.S.M's Warrant at a Local Association meeting in 1939. In 1940 he was planning a trip home assured by the Swiss Legation and his brother that it was all right to travel. Whilst at home in Poschiavo, Switzerland, France fell and there was no way back to England. That year he started a Scout Group in his home town. His Scout name was “Aquila” and he is honoured by the Group which has continued for 68 years. He returned to Cheltenham to visit in the 1950’s. Their history has a photo of “Aquila” at Cranham in his Highbury Scout Uniform (see page 9 of this history). Contact with the Associazione Poschiavina Esploratori (APE) was made in the late 1990’s through their then President Andrea Compagnoni–Walther, “Kim” ,who knew “Aquila”.

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1. The Dawn of the World Scout Movement 1908 by Colin Walker © Colin Walker Feb 2008 publ. by Write Books CPR Ltd, Ferrybridge

1a. Footsteps of the Founder, The Baden-Powell Quotations Book, Centenary Edition Compiled and edited by Mario Sica 1b. Playing the Game—A Baden-Powell Compendium edited by Mario Sica 2. Cheltenham Examiner January 15th 1908 - Cheltenham Local Studies Library 3. For further information see www.remembering.org.uk 4. The Patesian July and December 1909 - Cheltenham Local Studies Library 5. Winchcombe Scout Group Archive 6. Cheltenham Examiner Nov 25th 1909 - Cheltenham Local Studies Library 7. Cheltenham Annuaire 1907-Gloucestershire Archives 8. National Archives Catalogue Reference:WO/372/11 Image Reference:12271 9. Scrapbook of Gloucestershire Personalities D5845/2/2 Gloucestershire archives 10. Cheltenham Examiner June 18th 1902 - Cheltenham Local Studies Library 11. Gloucestershire Echo July 3rd 1978 - Cheltenham Local Studies Library 12. The Fifth Gloucester Gazette-Cheltenham Local Studies Collection 13. The Scout-August 15th 1908-Gilwell archives 14. Report and Photograph in Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic 15. HQ Gazette March and April 1913 –Gloucestershire Scout Archives—Cranham 16. Cheltenham Examiner 17. The Scout Magazine May 21st 1910 -Gilwell Archives – edited 18. The Scout July 1913 -Gilwell Archives 19. Obituary to Alison Shrubsole CBE M.A.—The Guardian March 25th 2002 20. Obituary of Rev Stanley S. Shrubsole in the Congregational Year Book 1960, Congregational Library, London 21. Church Manual 1920 -Highbury Church Archives 22. Church Manual 1921 - Highbury Church Archives 23. Church Manual 1922 -Highbury Church Archives 24. Church Manual 1923 - Highbury Church Archives 25. Gloucs. Boy Scouts Annual meeting minutes 1912 –1938. Gloucs. Archives D4925/2/1 26. Gloucestershire Echo March 1924 - Cheltenham Local Studies Library 27. Gloucestershire Echo August 31st 1936 - Cheltenham Local Studies Library Illustrations a. www.remembering.org.uk b. “Scrapbooks illustrative of Church life in Cheltenham, 1909 -1930” D3965/1 Gloucestershire Archives c. Property of Mrs. Beryl Nutbourne of Woodmancote – photo on p 4 publ. Sept 9th 1911 by the Chelt. Chronicle and

Gloucestershire Graphic Other illustrations are taken from donated or loaned collections or Log Books in the Group Archive N B Conversions of money to today's values are based on the RPI. Author’s Comments The story prior to 1933 has come largely from my own researches and is referenced above. After 1933 the information has come from Log Books and other records in the Group Archive; memories of Leaders, Scouts and their families col-lected for the 90th Anniversary Celebration held at Highbury; or memories shared since. Some information about dates of service for Leaders has come from County Archives held at Cranham. There is so much material it has not been pos-sible to include everything and I am certain to have made some mistakes of fact or emphasis and missed some people or events out. It is my hope that much of the Group Archive material might be accepted by the Gloucestershire Archive Service in due course where it can be used by wider group of people. Felicity Cleaves

References

Group Log 1908 – 2008

26

Saturdays every three weeks in term time from 10 until Noon

Girls and Boys aged 6-8

Beaver Scouts have visitors, trips out, sleepovers as well as craft, games, stories and songs.

Wednesdays in term time 6:15 to 7:45

Boys and Girls aged 8-10½

Cub Scouts enjoy games, craft, learning new skills, hikes and camping

The Adventure goes on

Explorer Scouts are aged between 14 and 18 years old. You will get the chance to work with other Explorer Scouts in your District, not just your Unit. The Young Leaders' Scheme is just one elements in the this section. The Young Leaders' Scheme helps Explorers to develop and grow as individuals and to make a valuable contribution to their community and give service to others.

The Scout Network is the Section for 18 to 25 year olds who wish to carry on their personal devel-opment through Scouting. There are many different activities and Awards available for Scout Net-work Members to participate in.

www.highburyscouts.org.uk

On my honour, I promise that I will do my best To do my duty to God and to the Queen, To help other people And to keep the Scout Law.

A Scout is to be trusted. A Scout is loyal. A Scout is friendly and considerate. A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouts. A Scout has courage in all difficulties. A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

‘Play the Game -don’t look on’

Could you volunteer to help in some way? There are many ways to help.

Mondays in term time 7 to 8:45

Boys and Girls aged 10½ -14

Highbury Scouts enjoy hiking, wide games, patrol competitions, learning new skills, badge courses and camping

Join the Adventure 17, Carlton Street Cheltenham Gloucestershire

GL52 6AG

Phone: 01242 522050

E-mail: gsl@highburyscouts.org.uk

Be prepared

1 s t C h e l t e n h a m ( H i g h b u r y ) S c o u t G r o u p