1st Wallington – first century!

The 1st Wallington, the oldest Scout Group in the London Borough of Sutton, was 100 years old on 24th March 2008 and used its centenary celebrations to show why Scouting was and remains so popular with young people.

History

Inspired by news of Baden-Powell’s first Scout camp in August 1907, and the publication of Scouting for Boys starting January 1908, one of the groups of boys that organised themselves into Scout patrols was the ‘1st Wallington and Carshalton Troop of Baden-Powell’s Boy Scouts’ whose first meeting was held on Tuesday, 24th March 1908.

In those early days it is said that Scout meetings were held under street lampposts, but ever since the early purchase of a meeting hut in Rotherfield Road, Carshalton, the Group has been fortunate enough to have its own premises. It moved to the present site in Ruskin Road, Carshalton, in 1921, when an ex-YMCA building was purchased and re-erected. The current Headquarters building was completed in 1965 and extensively refurbished after a fire in 1999.

As Scouting evolved over the years to keep pace with changes in society, the Group continued to be in the forefront – our Cub Pack was formed in 1916, within two years of the first experimental Wolf Cub Pack in 1914. Senior Scout and Rover Scout sections were also formed early on.

In the old Wallington & Carshalton District we were the first Group to implement changes to the Scouting programme. A Venture Unit was formed in 1967 – replacing Rover Scouts and Senior Scouts – and a Beaver Colony in 1983. In 1990 the group admitted girls as well as boys to all sections, and in 2000 the Venture Unit based at our HQ in Ruskin Road was re-formed into a District-based Explorer Unit. We were also the first Group to be awarded the County Commissioner's Standard, showing that we run the Group in a safe and efficient manner (Spring 2002).

The 1st Wallington Scout Band was formed in 2001; it is now the 1st Wallington (Sutton District) Scout Band, members from other groups in the District being welcome to join. The band has performed at many local Scouting and community events, twice in the London New Year’s Day Parade, and on the Centenary Open Day.

Celebrations

The actual anniversary was marked by a congratulatory e-mail from Group Scout Leader Jeff Gregory, but the real effort was put into the Centenary Open Day on 29th March at the Group’s Headquarters in Ruskin Road, Carshalton.

The building was festooned with bunting and balloons, both inside and out. Centre stage indoors was a tent on a platform of pioneering poles. This proved very popular with the younger Group members, who enjoyed climbing up the rope ladder and hiding in the tent. All around the sides of the hall were displays of the present-day activities of the sections: Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers, as well as displays of historical material illustrating the Group’s past.

The Group has produced a book, A Celebration of 100 Years of the First Wallington Scout Group, that tells its story through archive material and through the voices of current members. It describes the growth of the Group from its earliest meetings under a lamppost in Boundary Road to today’s thriving organisation. Proof copies of the book were on show during the day, and further information is available on booksales@1stwallington.org.uk.

The morning saw a steady stream of past members who spent some time looking at the archives. These also interested Lady Patience Baden-Powell, wife of the founder’s grandson, who came in the afternoon. GLSW Scout Network members Robert King and Lucy McLauchlan made their presentation & were awarded their Explorer Belt by Ian Newbery, County Commissioner, Greater London South West.

Unfortunately it decided to rain just in time for the first outdoor event, the 1st Wallington (Sutton District) Scout Band’s annual band inspection by David Gould, County Band Advisor. The rain continued while Group Scout Leader Jeff Gregory read out a congratulatory message from the Chief Scout, Peter Duncan, and then while the Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton, Councillor Dr Brendon Hudson, unveiled a Sutton Heritage plaque on the outside of the building. A Queen’s Scout, Dr Hudson congratulated the Group on its first hundred years and spoke warmly of the Scouting movement and its role, both in the past and still today, in helping young people develop as active citizens, involved in their community. Their enthusiasm not dampened by the rain, the band played again before the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Lady Baden-Powell and local Scouting dignitaries moved indoors to take a glass of wine, sign the Visitors’ Book and tour the exhibitions of Scouting, old and new.

One Scout had the honour of being invested on this special day, four Scouts were presented with the Chief Scout’s Gold Award and two Cubs the Chief Scout’s Silver Award by GLSW county Commissioner Ian Newbery. Jeff Gregory, GSL, then made a special presentation to Scout James Tapsell, who had designed the Group’s Centenary Badge.

After the Open Day, the Hall was cleared for a succession of parties for the different age groups, first the Beavers, then the Cubs and Scouts and lastly the Explorers, leaders and other volunteers. Refreshments were provided throughout the day and evening by Rosemary Parker and her hard-working team of helpers. At the end of the evening, Group Scout Leader Jeff Gregory thanked everyone who had put so much effort into running the Centenary Open Day and who also work tirelessly, week in week out, to keep the Group at the forefront of Scouting in Sutton. Everyone was exhausted, but exhilarated by the success of the day.

The following weekend, 4th to 8th April, the celebrations continued with a Centenary Camp at the Walton Firs Scout Campsite near Cobham, Surrey.

Sixty-six Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Leaders enjoyed a very active weekend under variable weather. Despite heavy rain, the Saturday was a busy day with youngsters enjoying many of the on-site activities on offer. In the evening everyone participated in a hike that somehow managed to go through some very wet and muddy fields. On Sunday morning we were greeted by some three inches of snow, so after breakfast everyone was outside building snowmen, sledging and generally making the most of the snow. As all site activities were cancelled for the day, we visited the Brooklands Motor Museum and spent the afternoon exploring the many cars, motorcycles and planes on display. Monday morning was spent swimming at the Spectrum Centre in Guildford and in the afternoon we had Camp Olympics that culminated in a giant waterslide. Tuesday, the last day of camp, was bright and very cold but we managed to strike camp in good time so that when parents arrived all the youngsters were ready to leave.

Enjoying each others’ company at the Centenary Camp was a great way for members of all sections to round off the celebrations of 100 years of Scouting at 1st Wallington.

Be Prepared for our next hundred years!

For more detailed information on the Group’s history and its current activities, contact:
Jeff Gregory, Group Scout Leader,
Telephone: 01929 427119
E-mail: jeff.e.gregory@btinternet.com