History of
114th Trentham Scout Group
(we believe this information is accurate, but, if you
find and error please contact us)
1915 to 1949
Although there are stories
of Scouting taking place in Trentham as early as 1915, the group was not
formed and registered until 14th August 1940.
From the outbreak of World
War II, Trentham Gardens had housed the Clearing Banks and it was from these
ranks Miss Carter, Miss Williams and Miss Veysey, started the Wolf Cub Pack
(now Cub Scouts).
Clearing Bank at Trentham Gardens Trentham
Gardens
Clock Tower
Meeting in either the vestry or first aid centre, which was housed
under the clock tower in the courtyard of Trentham Gardens.
Their interest moved Roger
Butler to start a Scout Troop early in 1941. However, having just started
the Scout Troop he received his calling-up papers and promptly disappeared
into the Royal Navy.
This left the Scout Troop
with ten to twelve members with the eldest being sixteen and the youngest
being twelve. Trentham having never had anything interesting for young
people, decided to carry on with the Scout Troop. The Scout Troop gradually
grew to around the twenty four mark.
They performed much as any
other Scout Troop would have at that time. Some were A.R.P. (Air Raid
Patrols) message runners, others assisted at the First Aid Post. The usual
collection of jam jars, on which 1/2d (old money) per jar was made at
regular intervals, providing a steady income and proving what a lot of jam
was eaten in Trentham.
It was at the end of 1941
that the Scout Troop managed to get use of the Parish Room which served as a
Headquarters for many years. This was due to the help and interest of the
Vicar at that time Rev. E. A. Grimes.
Papers and books were also
collected at regular intervals for salvage and at one stage, having
completely filled the room to a depth of 4 feet, the Salvage Authority
decided that they had too much to deal with, and that they were unable to
move it. After a few Scout Troop meetings on, in and under the paper, it was
eventually moved.
With the arrival of
Marshall Amor (the legendary C.M.A.) in Trentham the Scout Troop began to
settle down. His help and guidance soon established the Scout Troop on a
sound footing. So much so that throughout the war years, and for a period
afterwards, the Troop ran itself without a Scoutmaster, (Scout Leader)
always finding a young man with the ability to keep things moving.
Post war years did not
bring much help and again the Scout Troop was forced to run itself, though
fortunately at this time A. Kellam arrived on the scene. Working for
Wedgwoods, after much of his life—time abroad, he proved to be a staunch and
sound supporter
Early members were:— D.
Lysett, John Hussey, Eric Baggley, R. Allerton, John and Jim Grantham, J.
Townsend. John and Peter Bailey.
Front Row: No ID, Marshall Amor, Cub Brian
Ward, two King Scouts, Cub Desney Paul
2nd Row: Cub Lionel Whitehead, Cub Ken Buckley, Scout Eric Baggley, Scout
John Walker, Cub Peter Whitehurst
Top row believed to be one of the Scout Masters John Parton.
1950 to 1965
Unfortunately the Group’s
history is not known between these dates.
1965 to 1975
In 1965 Peter Hembrow was
invited to become Group Scoutmaster, immediately being drafted on to a Wood
Badge preliminary course at Kibblestone Scout Camp (which was run by C.M.A.)
without being in uniform at the time.
At that time the Group had
2 warranted Leaders — Wilt Burt (Stone Mason), (later to become Assistant
District Commissioner — Leader Training for Stoke Central District) as the
Scoutmaster (Skip) and Eileen Boulton as the Cubmaster (Akela).
A Group committee was
formed with the Rev. Frank Ramsden, the Vicar of Trentham, as chairman (a
post which he held for 12 years) and former Scouts such as Peter Whitehurst
as members. A Supporters Association followed chaired by the Curate at the
time, Geoffrey Smith. Although the Group was never a sponsored church group,
the church in Trentham has always been of great strength and support. In
those days the Wolf Cub Pack met in the Parish Hall and the Scout Troop in a
room off the courtyard of Trentham Gardens.
Other Leaders quickly
followed Peter’s Hembrow’s appointment. David Roberts and Sybil Hembrow as
Assistant Cubmasters, David Leese as Assistant Scoutmaster and Rob Jorden as
Senior Scoutmaster (Ventures) and in September 1965 Jim Plant formed the
Rover Crew. In the same month Peter Brough took on the position as
gearmaster and 2 more probationary Assistant Cubmasters, Hellen Boulton and
John Pools, joined the Group. It is also to note that at the District
Weekend camp held at Kibblestone Scout Camp that month the Group had more
members in camp than any other Group in the District.
In January 1966, Peter
Hembrow was promoted to District Commissioner for Stoke Central District and
Rex Pease succeeded Peter, but only lasted until May 1966 as Group
Scoutmaster
Jim Burton, a member of the
Group committee took over leadership of the Group on an acting basis after
Rex Pease departure. Robert Bell, having just moved into the area, was
invited to become the Group Scout Leader and happily accepted. A position he
held for 14 years until he left the area.
1975 to 1994
The stability at the head
of the Group brought considerable success and expansion. The Group grew to 4
Cub Packs, 2 Scout Troops, and 1 Venture Unit. In 1975 the Group moved into
its first Headquarters in Churchill Avenue. The building was erected on the
site of the old branch railway line to Trentham Gardens Station. The
Headquarters was called ‘The Ron Boulton Scout House” in memory of Ron
Boulton (of Fenn’s Ltd.) who, with Robert Bell, was the driving force behind
the planning and fund raising necessary to bring the Groups dream to
fruition.
On the retirement of Rev.
Frank Ramsden, David Edwards, a parent, took over the role as chairman, a
position he filled for 13 years.
The Search for Scouters was
never ending, as people arrived in Trentham they where asked to help in one
way or the other. John Boulton was Leader of Red Troop then this passed to
Keith Ramsey then onto Alastair F. Sutton.
Jack Howes succeeded Robert
Bell as Group Scout Leader in 1980 with Sheila Bennett replacing Jack Howes
in 1985. Then in 1989 Keith Ramsey took over the post. At the time had
responsibility for some 167 members in 1 Beaver Scout Colony, 4 Cub Scout
Packs, 2 Scout Troops, and 1 Venture Unit.
Since 1972 the Group has
sent representatives to the World Jamborees (which are held every 4 years)
in countries such as Japan, Canada and Australia. In 1977 the Group hosted
Scouts and Guides from Sweden at the First International Friendship Camp to
be held at Kibblestone Scout Camp. Then in 1988 hosted a parted of Scouts
and Guides from Notodden in Norway at the Fourth International Friendship
Camp. In 1989 the Scout Troop was invited to go over to Norway and join in
with the National Camp of Norway at Skaugum just outside Oslo, followed by
home hospitality afterwards, This was repeated again in 1992 when we hosted
the Notodden Group at the 5th International Friendship Camp and
in 1993 went over to the National Camp of Norway which was held at Eidskog
this time. Which was followed by home hospitality back in Notodden.
Between 1983 and 1987, the
Group put on three Gang Shows in which all the members of the Group
participated in, which where organised and presented at Trentham High
School. These shows knitted the Group together, giving good publicity for
the Groups involvement both in the locality and throughout North
Staffordshire.
A Equipment Store was added
to the Scout House in 1991. The project was spear headed by Paul Marks then
Cub Leader of Gold Pack. In 1993 the old roof on the Scout House was worn
out and had to be replaced.
1994 to 2004
To follow
2004 to Present
Between 2004 and 2006 the
Group were successful in receiving a number of grants to purchase new
equipment & tents, build
a new toilet and shower block, create wheelchair access, repair the roof
and upgrade the emergency exits and lighting. The opening of the new
facilities was combined with the Centenary celebrations of 2007 which
included a Group Camp and a community open day attended by the Lord Mayor,
local Scouting dignitaries and past members. The leadership team at this
time included Keith Ramsey (GSL), Kevin Hodgekinson, Andy Martin, Nick
Haynes, (Scouts), Scott Ramsey, Phil Marks, Simon Marsh,Annette Logan,
(Cubs) Mark Steele, Karen Wooliscroft, Laura Martin, Barbera Cannings
(Beavers)
Between 2006 and 2010 the
group grew very quickly partly due to a national renewed interest in
Scouting but also due to an increase in popularity of our group, all three
sections were full and the leadership team also increased with assistance
from new leaders Greg Julian, John Ryan-Viggars, Steve Honeyball, Steve
Dono, Lisa Stec
