1st Kingston Hill: the history (From Surrey Comet)

1st Kingston Hill: the history

5:14pm Wednesday 11th April 2007 in

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The initial part of this history is based on extracts from "Early History" written in the early 1920s by Captain Walter George White, the Group's first Scoutmaster.

He was also a Master of St Paul's and then Bonner Hill School and later became Secretary of Kingston and Surrey County Boy Scouts Association.

CHAPTER 1 - BEGINNINGS The year was 1908 and the time was the dark dull days of November, when for the first time in my life I saw a Scout and found out what Scouting meant. It all happened during a walk I was taking in Richmond Park early one Saturday afternoon. Just after entering Kingston Gate I saw four or five boys dressed up in what I thought was a funny rig-out, three had Scout hats, one or two had shoulder knots and all had broom-sticks, with well filled haversacks - made and stocked by mother - promised an expedition of some sort or other into the land of make believe. The foregoing was their complete uniform, they had no Scout shirt, belts, shorts or scarves. However what they lacked in uniform they made up for in keenness and enthusiasm, which after all are the main things.

To my surprise, as I walked past them I was greeted with a smart salute and then I observed that all the boys were attending the school at which I was a master. We became friends at once and they all began to explain why then were in "uniform" and what they were doing. "Haven't you heard of General Baden-Powell, the hero of Mafeking?" said Patrol Leader H Branford, to which I confessed I had. "Well he's written a book called Scouting for Boys" he went on. "Look here's the book" he continued, producing a very grubby well-thumbed copy from his haversack. He then went on "We are supposed to have a Scoutmaster. Will you be ours? I'll lend you the book and you will know all about it".

This was rather short notice, still I didn't want to dampen their enthusiasm, so I took the book and promised to make further enquiries therein. This is how most Troops were brought into being in the early day of the movement. The boys took the initiative, started a Patrol, then found a Scoutmaster. During that afternoon I discovered that the "Wolves", this was the name of the Patrol, were going to Wimbledon Common so I decided to go along with them. After leaving Richmond Park through Ladderstile Gate, we went along a roadway till we came to a footpath. We followed this, eventually crossing Beverly Brook, and were soon on the lower wooded slopes of the Common. "We must find a camp," said the Patrol Leader, so we searched and searched until we had penetrated what seemed a matted jungle of shrubs, trees, bracken and undergrowth. I was being initiated into the art of Scouting, so I did as I was told and obeyed the orders of the Patrol Leader without question.

I then found that the "camp" was a little clearing under some thick shrubs and overhanging trees. We were now backwoodsmen, far, far away from everyone and the book said that Scouts must learn to build a shelter, so in contravention of all the Wimbledon Common Bye-laws - of which we were quite ignorant - we made a find shelter of branches, which we thatched and lined with bracken.

During the next few weeks I read and re-read "Scouting for Boys" and it's ideas made a great appeal to my fancy. I therefore decided to take the plunge, become a Scoutmaster and form a Troop. We had no money, no headquarters, no uniforms - nothing except "Scouting for Boys" and a half dozen romantic boys each under the age of twelve. Were we downhearted? - not a bit! All our meetings were held in Richmond Park or on Ham Common, where all important decisions were made. We usually went Scouting the whole of every Saturday and on many evenings of the week as well, although it was wintertime.

We decided to admit as members only those boys who attended St Paul's School and at the end of January 19009, after only nine weeks existence, our numbers had increased to twelve, formed into two Patrols "Wolves" and Peewits". By then we had been saving up and with the help of Christmas presents we gradually bought our uniforms and were a bit more presentable.

In our wanderings we had, on occasions, seen other Scouts about and found they belonged to the 1st Kingston Group under a Mr Gerald O'Rourke and to the 1st Surrey Troop under a Mr Gay. The thing to do in those days was to be "first" something or other, so we called ourselves the "First Kingston Hill". Now having two Patrols (complete with home-made flags and scarves of Patrol colours) we decided we had better obtain official recognition. I accordingly went to the Boy Scouts Headquarters in Victoria Street and asked the then Secretary, Mr Archibald Kyle, to register the First Kingston Hill as from 1st February 1908 whilst asking for badges (for which we had been working at our meetings). I found that Proficiency Badges were only issued to Scoutmasters who held a Warrant from the Chief Scout. Having given the various qualifications which I thought fitted me for being a Scoutmaster, I was given the first warrant to be issued in this District, dated 9th March 1908, so that our Troop can duly claim to have been the first officially recognised in this area.

As more Troops were started, I received a letter from Mr Kyle suggesting a meeting be called locally of any Scoutmaster running Troops and of any gentlemen who might be interested, with a view to starting a local association. This first meeting was held in the YMCA in Eden Street on 11th May 1909. As the only Scoutmaster present holding a warrant, I was recognised as the senior officer and elected District Secretary (an honorary job which Capt. While was to hold for close on 40 years). Having now a properly registered Troop and a Warranted Scoutmaster, we decided to hold a grand "swearing in ceremony". On a Saturday afternoon in February 1909 we met as usual by Thatched House Lodge in Richmond Park - our usual rendezvous - and marched to Ham Common. Both the Patrols - Wolves in yellow and black scarves and Peewits in green and while scarves - turned out in full force under their respective Patrol Leaders. E Pearson and R Stockton. Our favourite spot in Ham Common was on the right after leaving Richmond Park through Ham Gate, where there were several secret and secluded spots. We formed a horseshoe, with myself in the gap, and one by one each of the twelve boys came forward and promised to do his duty to God and to the King, to help other people at all times and to obey the Scout Law. Last of all I made the same promise in front of the Scouts. The tenderfoot badge each boy received was somewhat different from what it is now. It was larger for one thing and the Fleur-de-lis did not have the two five-pointed stars. Badges were not patented and anyone could sell them. Later the movement came under royal Charter and badges were duly registered and could only be obtained from Scout Headquarters. After this first investiture we played two of our favourite games: "Smugglers over the Border" and "Flag Capturing".

EMPIRE DAY 1909 and the FIRST CAMP After our first investiture the Troop became better known, and may recruits joined. On a Saturday a week of so before Easter, we paraded at Thatched House Lodge and marched through Richmond Park to Mortlake to see the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and had a most enjoyable day.

The first Empire Day in the Troop's history was quite a red letter one. We celebrated it by having two parades on the same day, the first one in St Paul's School playground in the morning, when the Mayor of Kingston presented us our first Troop flag, and the second in the evening with other Scout Troops outside the Town Hall (the Old Town Hall in the Market Place, as the Guildhall had not been built then). After an inspiring address by the Mayor we marched round the principal streets of the town.

We now come to the Troops first camp! Scouting was still in its infancy and many parents were rather nervous about allowing their sons to camp out in the open. At this time all the members of the Troop were under the age of 14 and of course no one had ever camped before. Furthermore we had neither equipment, nor cash! The first thing was to find a camping ground. We visited a farm beside the River Wey at Byfleet and found it to be just the kind of place we were looking for. We decided to go the first week in August for eight days, and the First Kingston Troop arranged a camp with us. The cost of the camp per head was 10 or 12 shillings and this included return fare to Weybridge, hire of tents and groundsheets and the hire of a van to take our luggage there and back! The farmer turned out a right good sort and very much a pal. He lent us a large fishing punt which held about ten boys and we had a good time exploring the river. He also allowed us to go into a small pinewood, climb trees and get as much wood as we liked, so each night we had a glorious campfire of pine logs. The farmer and his son came to the campfire and gave us a song, usually one with umpteen verses. Besides many Scouting games on Wiseley Common, we also had an afternoon sports - when parents came from Kingston - and a cricket match against the local lads, who won easily.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE RALLY After returning from our first camp we began preparing for the first great Rally of Scouts to be held in Crystal Palace on Saturday 4th September 1909. Some 10,000 Scouts from London and the Home Counties attended this first Rally and it was there that Lt. General R S S Baden-Powell (as he was then) whilst inspecting the Scouts came across a small hand of girls wearing Scouts hats and scarves. They announced "Please Sir, we are the Wolf Patrol of the Girl Scouts and we want to do Scouting like the boys" This public appearance hastened the organisation of the Girl Guides under B-P's sister Agnes. The uniform of all Scoutmasters was very military and not a single one wore shorts, I believe. Most of them had swordbelts, many carried swords and quite a few had pistols. We were a bloodthirsty looking lot! The Chief himself was in the uniform of a Lieutenant General of the British Army, but the great majority of officers had no uniform at all and there was not a great deal of uniformity about the boys either.

One of the chief events of the day was a drill competition and another thing which greatly interested us - although there was nothing very Scouty about it - was an attack on a block house in which red-coated soldiers and mounted frontiersmen assisted by a few Scouts took part. We had a good deal of spare time and the boys wandered about the Palace grounds, while I went to the Scout Officers conference to hear the Chief speak.

Kingston was particularly honoured at this first rally in Crystal Palace. Six boys of the District had gained six badges of merit (now called proficiency badges) each. The included Patrol Leaders R Stockton, M Ambrose and L A Knight of 1st Kingston Hill. These six were presented to the Chief Scout who shook hands with them and then handed each one a set of "Shoulder Cords" - the first ever gained in Kingston.

Unfortunately the afternoon of the Rally turned out wet and the "March Past" had to take place in the great Hall of Crystal Palace instead of in the grounds. We didn't mind this a bit - but it was funny to see members of the Legion of Frontiersmen directing arrangements in the Hall on horseback! The great day came to an end at last with a great display of fireworks and we all got back to Kingston safely. Three boys were lost I believe, but a Scoutmaster remained behind and brought them home safely in the small hours of the next morning.

After the Crystal Palace Rally we began to think about our winter programme. Up to then we had always been meeting in the open air, either Richmond Park or on Ham Common, for as yet we had not Headquarters. Fortunately our want became known to the Vicar of St Paul's Infant School and he immediately, on behalf of the managers, granted us the use of St Paul's Infant School on Thursday evenings from 6.15 pm to 8.15 pm for the modest sum of one shilling each week. The vicar became Chaplain of the Troop and invited us to attend Church Parade Service at St Paul's and we were asked to go to a special service held for the East Surrey Regiment. On the first occasion on 3rd October 1909 we "fell in" in single file, strictly Patrol formation as in "Scouting for boys", and some 150 of us marched off to church. Afterwards the officer commanding the East Surrey Regiment invited us to march back to Kingston Barracks with the soldiers, and we felt proud to be paid this compliment and fell in behind their band. It was rather a comical procession, for in front were the soldiers in "fours" while we tailed behind in single file.

Sometimes of an autumn evening on of the games we played was Night Scouting. By this time we had two or three buglers in the Troop, one of who was sent into the park and told to stand where we liked then, at intervals of three to five minutes, he sounded a "G" on his bugle. Each time he did this he had to face a different direction. Our job was to find him. Only those who have played this game will appreciate how difficult it is to go towards a sound made by a bugle in the dark. The "G" was heard and we would be certain we had the right direction and go straight for it. After the three or five minutes another "G" was heard which seemed further away than ever (due to the bugler facing a different direction) and we would go off on another track. After about half an hour we usually ran him to earth. To round off the evening, if it was not too late, we would usually gather round in a circle, amidst the bracken and leaves, and I would tell a ghost story. It usually went down rather well, but I am not sure it was a wise thing to do this in a dark place like Richmond Park. However, it is a long time ago now and too late to repent. (The history written by Captain W G White ends here) At this time the Troop wore large "Mountie" type hats. These were totally unsuitable for water activities and, as the troop had been donated an old motor launch, they took to wearing more suitable stocking hate. These were blue with large red bobbles on them and the boys often pulled each other's hats off. More often than not the red bobbles, known as cherries, came off in their hands and this became known as cherry picking. Hence the 1st Kingston Hill became the Cherry Pickers. When Group scarves were introduced, it was only natural for them to pick cherry red.

In 1910 there were six patrols in the Troop. One of the Scouts, T Ditton, was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal and the Silver Cross for Gallantry for rescuing a drowning boy from Ice-covered water in 1911. The Troop held its first Sports Day in 1913 and, in April of that year, Mr White organised one of the first ever exhibitions of Scoutcraft in the country. This was held in the old ice rink in Penrhyn Road, Kingston and was visited by the Chief Scout himself!

CHAPTER 2 - 1914 WAR The Troop was at camp at Middleton when, on 4th August 1914, the boys heard shooting. On investigating they found soldiers practising on the beach and were told that war had broken out. All camps were cancelled due to the unavailability of food. Mr White joined the Royal Artillery, in which he was made Captain White. His place as Scoutmaster was taken by another master at St Paul'', Mr Hutchinson, and Scout meetings were held at the school. Mr Hutchinson shared a room with a Mr Hall, a pianist, and it was he who formed the 1st KH band which, as it was the only one in the district, had to play at all parades and functions.

During the war the boys did their service to the country by helping to guard vulnerable places, such as railway bridges, against sabotage. They signalled warnings for Zeppelin air raids with maroons and sounded the All Clear by cycling around Kingston blowing their bugles. In order to be on hand, the Scouts rented an office opposite the railway station, close to the old police station. Many senior and old members of the Group served with the forces, seven making the supreme sacrifice "Gone Home".

The Troop was presented with its first Kings Colours during the war, it being presented by the Mayor of Kingston, Sir Charles Burge. In 1918 Captain White was awarded the Medal of Merit and the next year members of the Norbiton Bowling Club presented the Troop with a silver bugle in recognition of their war services.

The Rover Crew was first formed in 1919, with a Wolf Cub Pack being founded on 12th December the following year. Subscriptions at this time were only one penny per week and stayed at that level until 1935. After a slight disagreement the headquarters of the Group were transferred to St Luke's School.

In October 1920 the first meeting of the 1st KH Troop Boys Scouts Committee was held. They were to help run the Troop and to raise money to finance the Troop's activities. They immediately opened a fund to purchase their own headquarters. At the first AGM the Headquarters fund stood at £7.7s.6p.

The Rovers won the Barker Cup the following year. This was an annual challenge trophy against the other crews in the district. In 1922 the Troop won the Scout Association Sports for the first time. There were a total of 107 Scouts and 43 Cubs in the Group making it 150 in total.

The Gilt Cross was awarded to one of the Scouts for giving a blood transfusion to try to save his sister's life, this being much more complicated than it is now.

In 1923 the Scouts won the Typke Proficiency Cup and also the Burton Signalling Shield.

The freehold for 1 acre 14 perches of ground on the park Farm Estate was purchased in 1923 with a view to erecting a permanent headquarters. The land was at the end of a track with a gate into Park Royal. (Park Road went no further than Bockhampton Road then.) £500 had to be found in order to buy the land and build a hut on it. Most of the money was raised by selling low interest bonds to friends and parents. Also many jumble sales, sales and dances were held, a concert party was formed to put on several shows a year and many whist drives and socials were staged. The Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, was asked to be the architect for the building, but he had to decline the offer due to pressures of work. The first sod was cut on 12th April 1924 by the District Commissioner.

On 5th November 1924 the Headquarters was officially opened by the County Commissioner, Lt Gen Sir Edward Elles GCIE KCB. He was supported by the Mayor, Mayoress and members of the Council. Captain W G White was presented with the much-coveted Silver Wolf by Lord Baden-Powell on 25th April 1925.

The Scouts won the Burton Signalling Trophy again in 1925 and the Association Sports in 1926 and 1927. Also in 1927 the Rover Crew carved a Memorial Chair from a limb of one of the Elm trees that had fallen in the field. It was dedicated on 15th November 1927 by the Group Chaplain, Rev A Wellesley-Orr MA.

Sunday 1st September 1929 was the 21st anniversary of the founding of the Troop. A new Group Colour, which was a gift from the old Scouts of 1st KH, was dedicated at St Paul's.

Gas was first installed in the hut in 1929.

In 1920 the Scouts won the Typke Cup and came second in the Association's exhibition of Scoutcraft.

Running water was installed by the Rover Crew in 1932 and in the following year they planted 1000 Quickthorn bushes in an attempt to make the Headquarters a nicer place to look at. That winter the Cubs began to meet in a hall in Eden Street, as their parents were nervous of them having to walk all the way to Park Road and up the track to the hut.

At the Group's 25th anniversary celebration a new King's Colours was dedicated and they also had a display of all the trophies won in that 25 years, along with all the work achieved since 1st KH had been founded. Other celebrations included a campfire, parents social and an anniversary dinner for all old and present member of the Group. The Mayor and Mayoress were also invited.

The year of 1932/33 was considered to have been a bad one from both the Scouting and the financial point of view. Membership of the Cub Pack fell to seven and fears were expressed that until the Headquarters of the pack was moved to their own district - Kingston Hill - there could be very little chance of an increase in strength. The 1st Coombe Pack had a strength of 25 and had expressed a wish to become attached to 1st KH. In 1934 this wish was granted when the two Cub Packs combined under the leadership of Miss Clifton of Coombe. The combined Pack met at 1st KH hut.

The Group held its first Garden Fete in the year of 1934. Other functions and socials seemed to have suffered from the introduction of the wireless and all efforts to get parents interested in the Group seemed in vain. It was decided to hold a Concert with the participation of all members of the Group or to engage a few well-known professionals to ensure a good attendance at the event.

The following year Kingston Corporation refused permission for the Rover Crew to keep their rifle pit in the field and so this had to be filled. The Scout subscription went up for the first time since 1935 to tuppence (two old pence) per week.

The Group installed electric lighting in the Headquarters in 1935, the wiring being done by the Rover Crew. They also made many alterations to the building, using money that should have gone to pay back the remaining bondholders. A new officer's room was built from a portion of the main hall and the old room was converted into a kitchen.

In November 1936 the Cub Pack had only two boys. The Headquarters was in a bad state of repair, the chimney having fallen in and several slates were missing from the roof. Also this month a lot of money was needed as the cart track to the hut was to be turned into a first class road (40 ft) at a cost to landowners of 30 shillings per foot frontage. A letter was sent to the Corporation complaining about the excessive costs of this road and stating the good work done by the Group in the neighbourhood and asking the Mayor to help all he could. The Corporation replied by saying they wanted to take 170 ft of frontage, 20 ft deep from us to build the road. In fact they only took a 6 ft strip, paying the Group £200 and promptly presenting them with a bill for £210 for building the road.

Another portion of land was sold in 1938, this time to the New Ideal Homesteaders Company for the sum of £50. Also this year the last of the bonds taken out for purchasing the Headquarters in 1924 were paid back.

This period of time was also bad for Scouting as well as finances. In 1937 there were only 9 active Scouts and 13 Cubs. In order to raise this a circular was sent round houses in the district, setting out the activities of the Group and calling for recruits. This seemed to pay off, also bringing in more adult help. Group organisation was rounded off the formation of the "League of Friends" supporters of the club. This was to bring parents and friends and Scouters in close collaboration and to raise money for the Group.

CHAPTER 3 - 1939 2nd WORLD WAR In 1939 the Second World War broke out and gave the Scouts their chance to help the country. The Scouts and old Scouts branches were engaged on ARP work, with the Scouts acting as messengers. They also helped in the Boy Scout Service Bureau, giving aid to the armed forces whenever possible.

To help the food shortage, the boys were given allotments in the field. These were also let out to parents at a cost of 2/6d per year with a charge of 1/- for the hire of a key to the field.

Scout meetings had to be changed from a Wednesday night to the Sunday morning due to the blackout and in case of air raids. The Troop had to be run by a Court of Honour made up of six boys because the Scoutmaster was evacuated.

Up until 1940 the Headquarters and ground belonging to the 1st KH had been administered by Trustees, who were either friends or parents in the Group. In view of the war this Trusteeship was handed to the Scouts Association Trust Corporation so that if the 1st KH ever closed down the HQ would still be Scout property and could be over by the nearest Scout Group in need of headquarters.

Apart from the war, many other things were happening within the Group. In 1912 a gang of thugs broke into the hut and smashed all the electric fires installed in 1937. The main sewer was connected up to the Headquarters this year. £300 was donated by the Kingston Junior Youth Organisations Committee. Also this year our beloved Chief and Founder Baden-Powell passed on to higher service. Scouts from 1st KH attended a memorial service at the parish church in January.

Meanwhile the war was still raging, taking its toll on Scouting. Although a lot of the crew and many officers had been called up, meetings and a few camps were still being held. The Headquarters was used by the RAF as a wardens post. This friendship with wardens repaid when they allowed Scout meetings to be held in the air raid shelters in Park Road. Only by this means could 1st KH boast "We never missed a single programmed meeting - war or no war!"

However in 1943 social functions had to be postponed due to damage inflicted in the hut in an air raid. It was three years until all the damage was repaired. Scouting was good this year when the Troop won all three district trophies. These were the Burton, the Typke and the camping competition. This was the first time in the history of the trophies that any one Troop had won all three in the same season, although 1stKH had won two out three for the past six years.

POST WAR 1945 saw the end of the war, which had however left its mark. There were now no active crew members. In contrast to this the Cub Pack had grown so large that it had to be split into two Packs, each with 30 boys, to improve efficiency and for convenience. Captain White was presented with a cheque as a way of thinking him for all he had done in the district.

Due to the number of social functions now being help at the Headquarters, need had arisen for a Ladies lavatory and so this was installed in 1947. Also this year the parents committee was re-started. The following year the hall was let out to Surrey County Council on school days as a temporary classroom while additional rooms were being built at Latchmere School. Due to the lack of adequate heating the SCC installed the wedge gas heaters still in use today.

In memory of Mr D J Hall who died this year a memorial plaque was to be set in the central pillar of the verandah. This was for Mr Hall's long service to the Group.

The Old Tim Dance Club started in 1950, a year which also saw the re-birth of the Rover Crew with just six members.

The Garden of Remembrance was started next to the Verandah and the tablet of Portland Stone in memory of the last Mr Hall was erected in the central pillar. This plaque was uncovered on 29th April 1951.

Also in 1951 the Group made a donation to the Scout Association on behalf of a fund set up after 30 of the Mortlake Scouts lost their lives at sea. The Guild of Old Scouts was also set up this year. The Rover Crew did not last very long, with none of them active at this time. This situation caused a lack of officers in the Group and in January 1953 no more boys were to be taken into the Packs until more officers were found.

The hut was also in a poor state of repair. The wiring was thought to be unsafe and tests were done to check on this. In May the hut was first used by Kingston Corporation as a polling station for the sum of £2.2s a day.

As this year was Coronation year, the hut was let out for various children's parties and celebrations. The two Packs took part in the staging of Kingston District Tableau for the Coronation. In December the Surrey County Council finally gave up using the Headquarters as a schoolroom.

In October 1953 the Senior Scout Section was formed. This section contained members between the Scout and Rover age groups. They spent weekends working on the hut and in their first year they put in a new window and lintel in the north end at the entrance of the Headquarters. The wedge heaters in the hut were bought from the SCC at a cost of £30 for six (the normal cost for new was £15.9s.6p. each).

In March 1954 the Cubs helped to deliver leaflets for the Mayor'' appeal for the Forgotten People. A memorial tablet was unveiled at Polyapes on 21st June, dedicated to the Kingston Scouts who fell in the last war.

The officer shortage came to a head in 1954 when the two Cub Packs had to merge, as there was only on Akela running both Packs. In contrast to the, the Rover Crew was active again with 10 members. In March 1956 the Parents Association presented a New Queens Colour to the Cub Pack.

About this time plans were being made for an extension to the hut, as room was needed to store equipment. The Council wanted to raise the rateable value of the Headquarters from £17 to £105, but an appeal was successful in getting it lowered. An estimate for the proposed extension was given as £260 for a 30 x 35 ft building.

The fete in 1957 raised the grand sum of £71, thought to be slightly below normal. This was not very good as the hut was in a bad way. The roof and floor both needed repairing. The roof was fixed for £54 but the floor had to be re-laid. A new Sepele Mahogany floor was put in at a cost £158. The cost was covered by the selling of bonds at £5 each (£85 altogether) to be paid back in under 5 years. The year of 1957-58 had been a phenomenal one financially, with £285 being spent on repairs and alterations. The fete this year made £130, which was very good considering the weather.

At the end of 1958 Captain W G White, the Group's founder and first Scoutmaster, died. The Group now had its own song "A Farmers Boy" in memory of Captain White.

CHAPTER 4 - WINNINGS By April 1959 all bonds taken out were paid back. The Group became found members of the B P Memorial fund. Also this year the Group was offered £10,000 by an oil company for the land on which the Headquarters was standing, with the hut to be re-erected elsewhere. It was agreed to turn this offer down, as the value of the Headquarters could not be measured in pounds, shillings and pence.

This was a very good year for Scouting, with The Barker Cup being won by the Rover Crew for the fourth year in succession. The Scouts won the district Venture competition and came second in the Surrey Venture Competition. The Group's secretary, Mrs Brand, was given a thanks badge for all her help over many years. The new extension was getting underway, with planning permission have been granted in November 1959 and the foundation being laid by the Senior Scout in March of the following year. Kingston Corporation agreed to provide a loan for the extension. This was £600 to be repaid at six-monthly intervals.

CHAPTER 5 - LAND AT RISK The South Eastern Electricity Board offered to buy some of the Group's land to build a sub-station, but this offer was turned down by the Group. At the end of 1960 the extension was finished at a cost of £442.10s. Planning permission was granted to build a car park in front of the extension. A sinking fund was opened to keep money to pay off the loan in case of financial difficulty.

\In December Canon Wellesly-Orr retired. He had been Group chaplain for many years and the post had never been rescinded as far as was known.

The following year the run-in to the car park was laid and the floor of the extension was completed. On 28th April 1961 the Group was presented with the Bayer-Winthrop Trophy for the best all-round achievement of youth groups in 1958.

A letter was received from B P House in January 1962 asking when it would be convenient to present the Group with a plaque denoting that 1st KH is a Founder Group in Scouting.

In May Thanks badges were given to Mr Mullins and Mr LA Day for their outstanding service to the Group.

December saw Kingston Corporation considering making the Group's land available for housing, with the hut being re-sited on reclaimed land at the end of Park Road.

The Group's news magazine was re-started in 1963. It was to be called The Cherry Pickers instead of Group Gleaners as the old one was.

On the 9th February 1963 Mr Leonard Knight died. He began as a Scout with 1st KH in 1903 and spent many years as Hon. Treasurer and Chairman of the Kingston Boy Scouts Association. He had been a member of the Group for over half a century.

The Corporation decided that they no longer wanted the land for housing. The Chief Scout visited Kingston in July 1963, landing at Epsom Downs by helicopter in Operation Touchdown.

A new Group colour was bought in February 1964 in memory of the late Mr Knight. This was only he third ever Group Colour. March saw the purchasing of a yellow 14 seater Group van at a cost of £135. The Group Colour was presented and dedicated at a service at St Paul's on 4th October. The weekly Keep Fit class began in 1965. Mr J Buckmaster was officially made Group Scout Leader this year. He had held the post of Scouter in Charge for the past six years as there was no Group Scout Leader.

The first Group Swimming Gala was held in 1965. On the 17th October 1966 a second Cub Pack was started due to the large numbers of boys under the leadership of Mrs V Coleman whose husband Stan ran the other Pack, the Normans.

The release of the Advance Party Report came in 1966, aimed at updating and improving Scouting. New badges were introduced, along with a new Scout Law and Promise. The Senior Scouts were to be known as Venture Scouts.

The following year the Group sent a representative to the World Jamboree in America. He was Clive Barnes chosen by ballot from several suitable applicants.

A new 12 seater Bedford van was bought for £400 as the old one was no longer driveable. In order to look after this, a garage was erected next to the extension.

The final payment on the loan for the stores extension was paid to Kingston Corporation thus clearing all debts.

In November 1967 the subscriptions were raised (again!!) A fire in one of the Scout dens (lofts) caused an estimated £298 worth of damage.

Mr Barnes took his Scout Promise in January 1968 in order to help at Scout Meetings. The van purchased the previous year was sold and a 12 seater Commer van was bought instead.

This year was the Group's 60th anniversary and it was celebrated in many ways. There was a Group trip to Buckmore Park and a Group show was held for all members past and present. In the actual birthday week, Friday 30th September until Sunday 6th October, the following took place:- Friday - a reunion dinner was held at the Royal Oak Hotel, New Malden with many old and present members attending; Saturday - a Group Sports Day was held: Sunday - a trip to the Isle of Wight took place. The week was filled with open nights for parents and friends to see all of the Group's activities. On Saturday a campfire was attended by 150 people. A Church Parade was held on Sunday with the week being closed by a tree planting ceremony in the Memorial Garden, with a cherry tree being planted in the field.

This was the first 60 years.

CHAPTER 6 - WE PROCEED THROUGH ANOTHER 28 YEARS 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Mr A Stringer became Akala of the Norman Cub pack 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Mr A Stringer became GSL 1988 1989 Gerry Shepherd's years of leadership the Scouts won Environmental awards, and were presented to HRH Princess Alexandra at the signing of the Royal Charter for the Environment. 1990 1991 Paul Wickens ASL 1992 Mr Shepherd ADC Scouts and retired from the Group In 1993 Paul Wickens became ASL. In October 1994 he died aged 26 from a congenital disease. There was no Group Chairman elected. The Hon. Treasurer, Mr Alderwick produced a balance sheet but no audited accounts. The Newsletter re-started but failed to have input after one year.

In 1994 Russell Smithers became Scout Leader. Mr A Stringer was unable to find a Group Chairman and his wife, Mrs D Stringer, acted as Secretary. The AGM was requested to accept the balance sheet, as no audited accounts were available. This year saw the launch of a new National Beavers program. The Scouts won the District Marshall Trophy.

In 1995 the district census shows 1st KH to be the largest number of members, but with only six leaders. The Cubs won the District Turnout trophy at the St George's Day parade. Mr D Meacher was the Cub Leader. Saxon Pack, with Jim Fletcher as Leader, won the District Sports Day - the first time in 30 years!

The same year Saxons won the Cubs Swimming Gala - the first time in 15 years.

The Scouts won the District Marshall trophy and came first in the District night hike.

The "Wendy House" land hire charge came to an end, leaving the Group without the £1,600 per annum income.

Mr A Stringer retired as GSL. He had been with 1st KH for 15 years. Mr C Guyatt took up the baton at Mr Stringer's request. As a tenderfoot he was innocent to the in fighting of the demoralised leaders and the Treasurer, Mr G Alderwick, "managed" the Group, with Mr D Clough as Chairman. Mr Stringer sadly died one year later in (October 1996 ??? check).

CHAPTER 7 GOING FORWARD TOGETHER At the AGM in June 1996 (held late as no one was ready) the Group was in a sorry state and, the for the first time in the Group's history, The Assistant District Commissioner, Mr G Shepherd, was appointed to manage the affairs of the Group and was elected as GSL/Manager by the District Commission Mr C Feltham. As an old Scoutmaster of 1st KH Mr Shepherd was dismayed at the disarray of the Group and immediately requested Mr H Diver to be Chairman. Mr H Diver was an Old Scout and past Rover Crew members of the 1st KH and Mr Shepherd felt it right to keep 1st KH Group managed by ex-members, even if it was by District Appointment! 1996 was the 87th year since 1st KH was registered and, as one of the founding Scout Groups, it was determined to find new life. Bringing the Group together and taking it forward was a mammoth task with morale so low. The hut was in a very poor state of repair and finances were the same.

The sparse but enthusiastic team set to work on the repairs and restoration of the building. Mr Shepherd and his wife, Suzan, agreed to lend the Group a non-interest loan of £1000, which eventually showed fruition. The windows were all renewed with double-glazed units, the interior rewired to meet safety standards and the outside was scraped of the graffiti and old paint. The interior of the hall was sanded down and repainted. The woodworm throughout the building was treated and the Crew room and Cubs room were completely gutted and refurbished. The Scout room was also stripped of old woodwork and replaced and the balustrades at both ends of the hall were replaced with similar moulded spinials, which restored the hall to a pleasant safe place.

In the field the team worked hard during the spring and summer of 1997, felling dead elms and reclaiming overgrown areas at the far end of the field. Sadly one neighbour made very difficult times for the team, accusing them of vandalising the field and burning fires. The team replanted 150 trees around the perimeter of the field and repaired the fences, as well as cultivating a floral border at the front part of the field.

The surrounding community relayed their enthusiasm for the small party working so hard, by way of letters of praise and offers to set up a Parents Association. This was formed in the summer of 1997.

1998 1999 Jim Fletcher now GSL. Carol Benham now Akela Cubs. Dave Meacher now Beaver Leader. The chairman Bert Downing died.