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ages
6 - 8
ages
8 - 10½
ages
10½ - 14
ages
14 - 18
ages
18 - 25
ages
25 + |
Many thanks to Ann Denton for putting together this piece on the history
of Scouting in Kidderminster:
Everyone knows that in 1907 Sir Robert Baden Powell
founded “The Scouts” when he held a camp for 20 Boys on Brownsea Island.
In Kidderminster the first actual recorded meeting of Scouts was on the
16th December 1908 – there were 3 boys and 1 Scout Master, they met in
Church Street and called themselves the “Cuckoo Patrol”.
The Shuttle reported in July 1909 that a meeting was held in the town hall
of gentlemen interested in the Boy Scout Movement in Kidderminster & a
strong committee was formed.
In March 1910 a “Great Display” was put on in the New Meeting Hall, the
theme was “How Scouts Help Others”.
The first church parade took place in April 1910 the parade marched from
Proud Cross to St John’s Church where the Reverend W. Yerburgh, Chaplain
to St John’s Troop, preached the sermon.
In January 1911 another meeting was held, chaired by the Mayor -
Councillor J. Johnson, among the people attending were the Hon. Mary
Pakington, Mr Cecil Brinton, Lord Hampton, H.M. Thursfield & Rev. L.B.
Sladen. Mr G.K. Mallory reported that there were now 15 Troops and over
400 boys in the District.
On May 6th 1911 the Chief Scout, General Sir Robert Baden Powell, visited
the town to inspect the Scouts in Brinton’s Park, the main streets were
decorated in his honour and almost the entire population turned out to
welcome him. The Mayor and his Corporation, fully robed, walked from the
Town Hall to the Park to give an official welcome, the Regimental Band of
the Territorials played and 6,000 people were there to welcome him.
War was declared on August 4th 1914 and many Scout Masters went to serve
with the Forces. Under the direction of the District Commissioner, Mr R.H.
Krause, it was agreed to place all Scouts under the Civil Authorities to
aid the war efforts. Sadly many of the Scout Masters did not return, this
was a very difficult time for Scouting in Kidderminster & it took a long
time for Scouting to recover from the war.
In 1927 Captain A.R. Bache was District Commissioner for the Wyre Forest
area and it was reported that there was only 1 Troop in Kidderminster, KD1
St Mary’s, however the following Troops had also started – KD5 Hartlebury,
KD16 Stourport, 2nd Stourport & 1st Bewdley Baptists, the total membership
was 172.
By January 1929 another 4 Troops had started – these were KD7 Cookley, 1st
Wilden, 2nd Bewdley & KD10 and the total membership had increased to 270.
1939 saw preparations being made for war and Scouts locally being asked to
help with ARP duties.
In November 1945 Major Harcourt-Webb agreed to the use of Rhydd Covert as
a training ground for Leaders in the District.
By 1948 Scouting had begun to flourish again following the war. During
this year, to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Scouting, Mrs Nevill
Broome gave a gift of a plot of land in Castle Rd to the Scouts. Due to
complications of the plot being adjacent to the River Stour, this was
later changed, by arrangement with the Borough Council, for the eventual
site in New Rd.
In 1952 sadly John Stretton, a local surgeon, who had been the District
Commissioner for 12 years collapsed and died, he was replaced by Charles
Hails a dentist who had a practice in Church Street.
Coronation year saw the Scouts involved in the lighting of beacons at
Hartlebury, Stagborough and Brinton’s Park as part of the “National Chain
of Beacons”.
In December 1955 there was a “red letter day” for local Scouts & Guides
when Cllr. Tatton Brinton ceremoniously laid the foundation stone to the
John Stretton Memorial Hall on the plot of land in New Rd, the building
was officially opened in October 1956. The cost of the building was £6,924
of which £5,760 had been subscribed.
Early in 1959 the first of a series of Gang Shows was presented at the
Playhouse Theatre on Comberton Hill. The shows continued on a regular
basis until 1968 and shortly after the Playhouse closed to make room for
the ring road.
Around this time Charles Hails died & Jim Brighton took his place as
District Commissioner. In 1969 another great friend of Kidderminster
Scouts, Major Harcourt-Webb, died. His executors, knowing his wishes,
allowed the Scouts the continued use of Rhydd Covert as a camping site.
The Pledged Plod, a sponsored walk, which was the brainchild of Brian
Wood, began in 1970, it has run annually ever since and during this time
has raised thousands of pounds for local Scouting & Guiding.
The highlight of 1973 was a visit to Rhydd Covert by the Chief Scout, Sir
William Gladstone.
1976 was another important year for local Scouts as the executors of the
will of the late Major Harcourt-Webb decided to give Rhydd Covert Campsite
to Kidderminster District.
Scouting has continued to flourish in the area, with 12 Scout Groups
throughout Kidderminster & District.
More recently, in 2004 after a fire destroyed the Scout Building at Rhydd
Covert the Kidderminster Shuttle launched “Operation Covert”, an appeal to
raise £80,000 towards building a new “Activity Centre” at the campsite. At
around the same time the John Stretton Hall in New Rd was sold and £60,000
of the proceeds were also put towards the cost of building the new centre.
Local MP - Dr Richard Taylor opened the new facility in summer 2006.
Top
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KD1 Sea Scouts
KD4 Wolverley
KD6 Franche
KD7 Comberton
KD8 St. John's
KD9 Spennels
KD10 Cookley
KD11 Harkaway
KD12 Blakedown
KD14 Birchen Coppice
KD15 Habberley
KD21 Air Scouts
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