Scout Centenary 2012
The article below was published in the Village Tribune in February 2012.
Happy Birthday, Helpston Scouts!
This is it; we’ve reached the big one! Helpston Scouts are 100 years old! And we intend to celebrate it in great style. We are planning to hike, play games, sing around the campfire, eat outdoor suppers, and give thanks for what we share, all as a birthday present to ourselves. And we are all going to spend a weekend at Gilwell Park, the spiritual home of scouting in the UK, and take part in as many mad and exciting activities as we can cram in. After all, that is what Scouts have been doing for the last 100 or so years, isn’t it? That’s what Scouts are famous for.
So how did it all start for Helpston Scouts? Here is a potted history.
On 31st July 1912 a group of boys and their adult leaders were first registered as “1st Helpston & Etton Scout Troop” as part of the “West Soke Local Association”. The troop’s first home was at Manor House, Helpston, now known as Helpston House on West Street. We assume they met in an outbuilding. Later the name “Etton” was deleted from the troop name and we moved to a Cabin at Franks Farm, then later to College Farm. Around the same time the West Soke Association was amalgamated with others to form the Soke of Peterborough Scout District and Helpston troop was renumbered as the 7th Peterborough Scout Troop. And so it remains to this day.
During the following years the Troop suffered varying fortunes, with periods around 1916, 1934 and in the late 50’s and early 60’s when the troop was in abeyance, but by 1966 the group, now including Wolf Cubs, was in full swing and meeting in the Village Hall.
Then in 1974, a major step forward was made when we signed a lease agreement with Huntingdonshire County Council and moved into our own headquarters in the Old Methodist Chapel on West Street. Cold and draughty it might have been, but it was home. Two unheated buildings and outside toilets was not what you might call comfortable, but at least we were in charge of our own future, and the Group has never looked back. Also in 1974 the Scout Group joined together with our friends in the Guides and Brownies to form a new charitable organisation, the Helpston Scout and Guide Association, with the task of financing and developing our new premises and supporting the activities of all the sections. This was another masterstroke in our story. The Association has given us more than we could ever have dreamed back then.
In 1977 the Soke District was split into 3 new Districts, and we became part of “Fitzwilliam”, a name of local importance. Then in 1999 Fitzwilliam and Hereward Districts joined together to form our current district with the historic name of “Medehamstede”.
In that time our Group has grown considerably. Of course we started with just a Scout troop, (Wolf Cubs were not invented until 1916). But along the way we have added a wolf Cub pack, which in the 60’s morphed into Cub Scouts. You can still see the old Wolf Cub flag hanging from the ceiling of St. Botolph’s church. We had a Venture Scout unit until the Scout Association altered the organisation of our senior sections and made them a District unit. In the last two years we have completed our scouting family by starting a Beaver Scout Colony. Our association with the Brownies, Guides and Rainbows has only added to our sense of completeness.
Along the way we have tried to help our friends. In the 90’s we gave a lot of help and advice to a new Group starting in Barnack, but it eventually failed through lack of local support. We also helped a group of people in Castor who wanted to start a Beaver colony but did not have the infrastructure to “go it alone” so we took them under our wing until they felt able to start their own Group.
We were also proud to be part of the celebration in 2007 to mark the centenary of the start of Scouts worldwide, and the award of the freedom of the city of Peterborough. We now wear a uniform badge proclaiming that honour, and a copy of the citation proudly hangs in our Centre, which was completely refurbished in time for the event.
So there you are, everything you need to know about our history, so now what about the future? We feel we are well equipped to launch ourselves into the next 100 years, with a beautiful home, dedicated leaders and helpers, and enthusiastic children all rearing to go.
So go we will! Would you like to come with us? If so, give Martin a ring on 01733 xxxxxx.
He would love to hear from you.
Now, where did I put that telegram from the Queen?!!
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My Father, Norman Wright (1919 – 1973) would have known this troop as he was the District Commissioner for the Boy Scouts in the area. My Mother Gladys Wright, was the District Commissioner for the Girl Guides in the area until we emigrated to Canada in 1981. My wife and I and our two daughters lived at Forrest Bungalow, 7 Heath Road, Helpston until we emigrated in early 1981. We loved the village.
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