1st Christchurch (Town) Registration Number 3414
It is not possible to give an exact date when the Group started because no records have survived but from information handed down by past members, it is believed the early registration number was 57. The Group probably opened in 1908 or 1909 at the latest. Stories handed down tell us that soon after the publication of Baden-Powell's "Scouting for Boys" three young brothers, Bert, Sidney and Tom Loveless decided they wanted to be Scouts, so co-opting their sister Alice, who apparently became an Assistant Scoutmaster and in 1923 was awarded the Medal of Merit, they formed the 1st Christchurch Troop. An early memory passed down by Mr Whitlock, a Scout in 1911, was of the visit of Baden-Powell to Christchurch that year, when he vividly remembered playing the Mafeking March on the Town Hall piano.
An early photograph of Boy Scouts Troops I & II taken in Christchurch on 19th March 1911
The Troop's first headquarters was behind the old Post Office in the High Street (now the Portman Building Society) and this served them until the early 1920's when the then Scoutmaster, Mr Hurd, obtained an ex-army hut that was installed in a field behind the old Town Hall (where Saxon Square and the car park are now situated). Here the Group stayed until 1965 when the same hut was moved to a site behind the District Headquarters (previously the Christchurch Youth Club) opposite the "New Inn" in Fairmile. In 1969 the old hut was demolished and a new Headquarters was built on the same site. A pre-fabricated bungalow was re-erected adjoining the new building and a new toilet block was added. Later a caravan was donated and used as a Venture Scout Unit project room.
One special memory of the Town Troop is of them proudly wearing the old broad brimmed Scout hats for as long as possible, only discarding them for berets when they were forced to change by the introduction of the new look in Scouting, following the Chief Scout's Advance Party Report in 1967.
On the 1st December 1979 the Cornwell Scout Badge was awarded to Stewart Cameron, a Venture Scout who had grown up through the Group starting as a Cub Scout when he was 8 years old. Stewart was presented to the Chief Scout when he attended the Group's 75th birthday party, held at Pontins Holiday Camp in 1983. Sadly Stewart died soon afterwards. A trophy, The Stewart Cameron Cup, donated by his parents is awarded each year to a member of the Group who has made "The Best and Bravest Effort". The "John Furnell Shield" also named after a Scout who died suddenly while still in the Group, is presented annually to "The best all round Scout" and "The Tommy and Rikki Jeans Trophy" goes to the Cub six for "The best achievement".
Over the years the Town Group have had Rover Scouts, Senior Scouts then after 1967 Venture Scouts and, more recently, a Beaver Colony was formed in June 1986. Eight of the Town Scouts gave their lives in the two World Wars.
2nd Christchurch (Scout Link) Registration Number 46223
Scoutlink Clubs were set up in 1986 to provide a Scouting experience for people with severe learning disabilities. The members were only affiliated to the movement as they couldn't understand and make the promise and didn't work for badges or awards.
Christchurch Scoutlink was registered in April 1991 as the 34th Club (in the United Kingdom). They held their first meeting on April 16th 1991 with 6 members and 2 leaders, Anita Hooper and Margaret Morrison. By the end of the year they had 9 members and received a generous grant from Children in Need for some handchimes. In May 1992 the Club had a joint camp with Salisbury, their nearest Scoutlink Club.
In 1995 the "Committee of the Council" agreed to full membership - making of the promise - for people in Scoutlink Clubs. The development group then had to work out how this could be implemented.
On April 4th 1995 they held their 4th birthday party and invited the District to attend. It was the first time the District had been involved. A year later Anita Hooper received her Wood Badge, possibly the first for a Scoutlink Leader.
The Club took part in its first community project on November 24th 1996 when they planted bulbs at Ducking Stool Lane with Christchurch in Bloom and another first in April 1997 was their attendance at the St. George's Day Parade.
On 4th March 1998 their flag, bought with money kindly donated by Burton Cubs, was blessed by the Rev. Williams and Andrew Wood invested as the Club's first full member.
On April 1st 1998 they were registered by Headquarters as 2nd Christchurch (Scout Link) and on 26th April they paraded on St. George's Day for the first time.
3rd Christchurch (Jumpers) Registration Number 3416
A Cub Pack named Jumpers and Iford was registered with Headquarters in 1919. The Cubmaster was Bertha Paull of "Midwood" Oak Avenue, Christchurch, the same address as that given for the Pack's meeting place and there were 12 Cubs. The Pack's warrant was dated 6th February 1919. Bertha Paull's remarks on the registration form said "Jumpers district is right in the country - all the Cubs live near our headquarters. We are 40 minutes walk from Christchurch, 30 minutes walk from any town". Then in September 1923 a Troop named Jumpers and Iford was registered, its headquarters the same as the Cub Packs. The Scoutmaster was Francis Lloyd Brett of 10 Warwick Road, Boscombe and there were 9 Scouts.
In line with Headquarters policy, the Pack and Troop were re-registered in 1928 as Jumpers and Iford Group Number 3416. Group Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster was Francis Lloyd Brett, Cubmaster Miss D French of Jumpers House, there were 24 Scouts, 18 Wolf Cubs and 8 Rover Scouts. In 1935 the acting Group Scoutmaster H.R. Pope, officially changed the group's name to 3rd Christchurch (Jumpers) but they retained the number 3416.
The Assistant District Commissioner, Dr. Emlyn, officially opened their new headquarters, at the rear of 43 Fitzmaurice Road, in 1937.
At the start of the Second World War, the Scoutmaster, Bert Tilley, joined the Royal Navy and "Skipper" Squelch took over as the temporary Scoutmaster until the war was over. Sadly Bert Tilley paid the extreme price of war.
Jack Osborne became Scoutmaster in 1946 and the group moved to a new headquarters on its present site thanks to the generosity of a local gentleman. At that time the headquarters consisted of a 30ft long Nissen Hut to the front of which a lobby, kitchen and toilets had been added. The Troop now embarked on a very successful run for a few years, camping was almost an all-the-year round activity and many trophies were won, but the highlight was the highly successful plays and pantomimes, presented under the title of "Good Turns" written and produced by a staunch friend of the group, Mr W.T.S. Grimsey.
In 1953 Mickey Hedges took over as Scoutmaster until his work took him away from Christchurch in 1956 when Don Horne became the Scoutmaster.
In the summer of 1960 work was started on a brick building around the old Nissen Hut. In spite of numerous problems it was eventually completed and on June 23rd 1961 the new hall was formally opened by Mrs. Stanley Kermode.
Early in 1964 Don Horne resigned as Scoutmaster because his work was taking him away from home for long periods. The P.L.'s and Group Scoutmaster Pearce did their best to keep the Troop going for a few months until Stephen Head transferred from the St. George's Troop to become Scoutmaster of Jumpers from 1964 until 1966.
St. George's and Jumpers Groups combined for many fund raising events and camps and finally, on January 1st 1967 the 2 groups amalgamated and took the 3rd Christchurch title and the St. George's orange scarves. Ken Old became Group Scout Leader, John Reed Scout Leader and Jack Perry Cub Leader. There were 44 Scouts, 36 Cubs and 7 Venture Scouts. Further extensions to the Headquarters took place with the addition of two rooms to the back of the building and a little later a storeroom was added to the back again.
Since the amalgamation in 1967 both Cub and Scout sections have remained strong and the Group has enjoyed a very successful time. There has been a natural succession of leaders, Bud Hine, Sheila Davies and Janine Root with the Cub Pack; Danny Short, Brian Davies and Mark Barber with the Scout Troop and Bas Ray, Derek Blake and Richard Stevenson as Group Scout Leaders. All of these people, with the exception of Bas Ray who died in 1979, are still connected with the Group in some way or other.
A Beaver Colony was opened in November 1985 with Barbara and Peter Andrews as it's leaders with Sarah Hughes following them in 1998 and the Group was complete when a Venture Scout Unit was started in 1998 with Mark Flexman as Venture Scout Leader.
5th Christchurch (Highcliffe) Registration Number 3417
It is reported that the first Troop in Highcliffe was started by Major Farquarson in 1911 and known as Highcliffe (General Stuart-Wortleys Own) Troop but closed in 1922. However a postcard exists of a Scout Troop, said to be the Highcliffe Troop, in 1909. It was sent through the post and post-marked "Highcliffe 27th May 1910". It has been verified as being the Highcliffe Troop by the grand-daughter of one of the people in it, she is not sure when the photograph was taken but says 1909 would be "about right". So, when did the Troop start? If the photograph is of the Highcliffe Troop, as seems probable, it must have started in 1909.
Records show that the Troop was re-opened by E.M. Sharp in September 1924 with 20 Scouts. Their headquarters being Waterford House in Highcliffe, the same address as the Scoutmaster. The Troop in fact met in a field at the back of Mr Sharp's house in the summer and in the Church of England School in the winter. In 1928 the Group was re-registered as Group 3417, 1st Highcliffe.
Summer camps were held regularly from 1925 until 1936 and a Cub Pack was opened in 1931 with Mrs J.M. Bishop at Cubmaster. Mr Sharp continued as Group Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster and in 1940 also took over the running of the Cub Pack when others were called up for war service. He resigned in 1943 after nearly 20 years service with the group.
It is also reported that in 1939 the group was meeting in two rooms over the garage at "Mountjoy" in Montagu Road and that in 1946 they moved from The Vicarage stables to a headquarters at the rear of St. Marks Hall.
In 1947 the name of the group was officially changed to 5th Christchurch (Highcliffe) by the Group Scoutmaster at the time, Mr. A.E. Hentall. Lt. Col. Sewter became Group Scoutmaster in 1950 and after his death in 1953 the "Citizens of Highcliffe" presented a flag to the Troop in memory of "A Great Scout". The Troop was then taken over by Jack Spalding assisted by Les Wheeler and K. Maidment.
A second Cub pack was opened in 1956 with Miss Joy Ellis as the new Cubmaster and Miss Pat Stockford running the other pack and in 1957 Reg Green became Group Scoutmaster when Jack Spalding became Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts. By 1965 the Group had reverted to one Pack run by Gladys Rhymes assisted by Amy Sque but in 1970 they again had to meet over 2 nights because of the number of boys wanting to be Cubs. In 1973 a new flag was presented to the Cub Pack by Mrs Thomas in memory of her son Raymond, a Queen Scout in the Group, who had been killed in a motoring accident. The flag was dedicated in St Marks Church. The Pack said farewell to Gladys Rhymes and Amy Sque after very many years of sterling service to Cub Scouting and to the Guide Movement.
Tony Cumes successfully led the Cub Pack into the 1980's but he moved into the Scout section in 1984 and was replaced by Mike Morris. The Pack saw several changes of leadership then, Keith Letchford took over in 1987, Cathy Warner in 1990, Graham Budd in 1991, Cathy Warner again in 1994, Derek Jones in 1997 and Janet Abbot in 1998.
In 1968 the new headquarters was opened on Chewton Common and it was extended in 1976, a new entrance porch being added and a new store built.
Jack Spalding, a former Scoutmaster and Group Scoutmaster of the Group died in 1976 and trophies for Cubs and Scouts were presented by his wife in Jack's memory.
Ray Hoare became Scout Leader in 1970 and the Troop was soon flourishing because of his enthusiasm, numbers grew to over 60 Scouts in the Troop, split into 8 patrols. An archery club and a caving club were started and a full camping programme followed. Stephen Cratchley replaced Ray Hoare in 1977 but numbers started to fall after a while and in 1980 Graham Budd took over the Troop. In 1982 he instigated a "shake up" of the Troop with the result that only 12 boys remained and formed the basis of a better Troop. This worked well with the Troop going from strength to strength. Assisting Graham were Alan Jones, David Ward, Keither Gainor and later Tony Cumes forming a strong team. The Troop won the District Emlyn Trophy and the County Banner a number of times, camped at Kandersteg in Switzerland twice and had many boys taking part in the District Gang Show. Alan Jones became Scout Leader in 1986 followed by Robin Abbot in 1990.
In 1988 Derek Gainor, the Group Scout Leader, passed away after a long illness.
Venture Scouts met with the Troop from 1974 until Alan Jones took over the Unit in 1976. It closed in 1980. Graham Budd reformed the Unit in 1987 and ran it until 1992 when Kevin Jones took over. The Unit closed again in 1996 when Kevin moved away from Highcliffe. Over the years Venture Scouting has been very successful in Highcliffe, many boys have gained their Queen's Scout Badge and many others have attended World Jamborees in different countries.
A new section, the Beaver Colony, was formed in September 1985 with 15 boys under the leadership of Jackie Jones. This number soon reached 24, with a waiting list and has remained there ever since. At the end of 1994 Sue Geddes followed Jackie as Leader and in 1996 Angela Budd became Beaver Leader.
In 2002 Angela Budd stepped down as Beaver Leader to take on the role of Assistant Group Scout Leader paving the way for Helen Dow to take over as Beaver Leader in 2003.
6th Christchurch (Bransgore) Registration Number 34688
In the Headquarters Gazette for November 1910, under New Troops September 26th to October 26th 1910, was listed Bransgore (St. Mary's), Scoutmaster E Nicholson with 20 Scouts. Bransgore Scouts are mentioned in the Christchurch Times in 1911 and 1912. It is reported that there was a Bransgore Troop being run by the Rev. E. Molyneux from 1913 to 1918.
In 1925 Bransgore Scout Headquarters was registered as "Church Room" Bransgore and a Scoutmaster's Warrant was issued to Brig. Gen. G.E.F. Sanders, a reported colleague of Baden-Powell and later District Commissioner of Christchurch. In 1928 the Group was re-registered as 6th Christchurch (Bransgore) Number 3418 with 14 Scouts and continued to run until 1939 with a Cub Pack being added in 1935.
It is not clear what happened during the war or up until 1959 with the Bransgore Group. One report suggests that they combined with Burton to form the Avon Valley Group in 1938 or just after. While another report states that they combined with the Sopley Group. One thing is certain that Sopley were re-registered in 1946 and a list of their leaders appears in the Hampshire County Register up until the Group's closure in 1953. Reports suggest that Scouting re-started in Bransgore in 1951 and the County Register also lists their leaders, which contain some of the same names as the Sopley lists from 1952 up to 1954 when Bransgore was no longer listed.
In October 1959 a Headquarter's Registration lists 6th Christchurch (Bransgore) number 34688, Scoutmaster Phil Churchill, Assistant John Mcintyre (Mac), Cubmaster Audrey Hitchins, Assistant Ann Hoare, Group Headquarters "Littlemead" Bransgore. There were 12 Wolf Cubs and 18 Scouts. In the 1962 Hampshire County Register the Headquarters is "Trees" Cuckoo Hill, Bransgore, Group Scout Leader Phil Churchill, Cubmaster Ann Hoare and Scout Leader John Mcintyre. Later in 1967 the Headquarters is given as The Scout H.Q., Poors Common, Bransgore (this was a small concrete building beside the lane that led to Poors Common) and the Group Scout Leader was J.D. Williams.
Since the start of Scouting the small village of Bransgore has become a sprawl of housing estates and population has increased many times over. Bransgore started in 1910 with 20 boys but now has a membership of about 100. It has not always been easy to find a venue for the activities and over the years practically every hall in the area has been used together with the Village School and the very cold and isolated hut on the deserted track to Poors Common. In 1976 a wooden building was purchased and erected in Burnt House Lane on land belonging to Lord Manners. The Group are indebted to him for allowing them a long lease at a peppercorn rent. They quickly outgrew this building so set about serious fund raising and in 1992 built a superb brick headquarters on the same site, with part of the old building being kept and used as a Venture Den.
In 1971 Venture Scouts became part of the Group and Beavers were added in 1986. With a superb headquarters, dedicated leaders and committee giving tremendous support, the future of Scouting in Bransgore looks very secure.
8th Christchurch (Burton) Registration Number 24760
In the August and September 1923 editions of "The Scouter" it stated that a warrant as Scoutmaster had been issued to Rev P. Sexty and as Assistant Scoutmaster to E. Dennett, both with Burton Parish Troop. This indicates that the Troop was already open at that time but no record of their original registration can be found. The Rev P. Sexty was the Vicar of Burton for just a short time and a processional cross in the Church was donated by him and bears his name. In 1925 the warrants held in the Group were both cancelled suggesting that it had closed, but in August 1933 "The Scouter" states that warrants had been issued to Rev. R.H.W. Roberts (Vicar of Burton) as Group Scoutmaster and to E.H. Holroyd as Scoutmaster. The Group continued until 1937 when it is reported the Troop closed down because of a lack of leaders.
In May 1938 a meeting was called to see if Scouting could be re-started in the village - the District Commissioner Brig. Gen. Browne was present. It was decided to form a Troop, so a meeting was arranged for June 7th 1938 for any boys who would like to become Scouts. 17 boys came to the meeting and in September of that year all 17 passed their tenderfoot tests. Their uniform was to be blue shorts, khaki shirts, blue stockings with green rings and green scarves. The Group was registered in August 1938 as Number 19590 13th Christchurch (Avon Valley) with their Headquarters listed as Burton and R.W. Young as Scoutmaster with 16 Scouts. In December of that year Major Lake became the Scoutmaster with Mr. A. Hutchings as Assistant. It is reported that members of the armed forces may have been involved in keeping the Group running during the war. In September 1940 the Group acquired their first Scout hut for the sum of £5 plus £2 haulage, which was erected in Winkton Lodge the home of Mr Eggerton.
After the war, in September 1946, the Group was again registered at Headquarters as 8th Christchurch (Burton) Number 24760. The County Register lists Captain H.C. Gibson as Scoutmaster and G.H.P. Evans (who later became the District Commissioner) as Cubmaster. It is reported that meetings were held in the Coach House Garage in Martins Hill Lane, which belonged to Captain Gibson and then in 1953 Burton took over the Sopley Group's Scout hut and moved it to the recreation ground in Martins Hill Lane. This was used until 1970 when it was replaced by the present building.
In 1976 a Venture Unit was started with Peter Lack as leader and 9 Venture Scouts. Unfortunately this Unit only lasted for about 6 years. 1986 saw the formation of a Beaver Colony with Sue Dare as it's leader.
10th Christchurch (Mudeford) Sea Scouts Registration Number 24761
It is reported that the Troop was formed 18 months after the experimental camp on Brownsea Island in August 1907. Known as 1st Mudeford, the Troop consisted of 4 patrols - Wolf, Stag, Peewit and Horse made up of boys from the Stanpit, Mudeford and Purewell areas. The Scoutmaster was Mr Louis Henry Hiscock, coachman to the Shrubb family, who at that time lived at Inveravon and it was in the Coach House, now known as The Paddock, that the Troop held its meetings. Mr. L.H. Hiscock, the Scoutmaster was also the Honorary Secretary to the Christchurch Association, the first person on record to hold this position.
The Christchurch Times for March 1911 mentioned the Mudeford Troop in a report and the Headquarters Gazette of November 1911 announces the award of the Medal of Merit to Scout A. Cox of Mudeford Troop. The Christchurch Times gives more details of this award, reporting that it was for saving a man from drowning. The Troop was represented at the Windsor Rally of 1911 and when Baden-Powell visited Southampton in 1912 lifesavers and Kings Scouts from the Troop were presented to him.
The Group, it seems from stories handed down, almost ceased to function during the First World War but did close during the Second World War as confirmed by the Form E sent to Headquarters from Christchurch District - Group 17596 10th Christchurch (All Saints Mudeford) Closed, lack of Scouters and dated 10th November 1938. It was again registered in September 1946, number 24761 10th Christchurch (All Saints Mudeford) by the Group Scoutmaster Rev K.P. FitzGerald with 12 Scouts and 4 Sea Scouts. Apparently the group became a Sea Scout Group in 1948. In 1975 the title of the Group was officially changed to 10th Christchurch (Mudeford) Sea Scout Group.
Since reforming in 1946 Mudeford has always been a strong group and well supported. In 1973 the group decided it needed a new headquarters, with this as its aim, a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Gerry Long, plans were drawn up in 1974 and a massive fund raising drive was launched. On December 4th 1976 the task was complete when T.S. ORESTES was opened by Capt. Ommenny, Queens Harbour Master at Portsmouth.
The Troop won the Solent Sea Scout Regatta for the first time in 1978. The Group achieved Royal Navy recognition in 1981 and the Troop won the National Swimming Championship for Admiralty Recognised Scout Groups at H.M.S. Raleigh Plymouth in 1982. The Scout Leader at the time of these successes was David Stevens who later became the Assistant District Commissioner Leader Training.
Mudeford Cubs have also gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Lawrie Chick who stepped aside in May 1998 after 27 years as Cub Leader.
A Beaver Colony was formed in June 1987 and the Group introduced girls into the Troop for the first time in January 1999.
20th Christchurch (Somerford) Registration Number 31446
On 15th July 1954 this Group was registered. The Cubmaster was Mr Basil Wood with 24 Wolf Cubs and the Scoutmaster was Mr Leonard Preston with 21 Scouts. The Group met in St. Marys Church Hall, Amethyst Road until the Scout Hut in Edward Road was opened in 1957. From the start this Group was situated on a new and fast growing housing estate. The demand was such that it was necessary to form a second Cub Pack in 1959, the two packs were named Raksha and Kaa's. Subsequently this resulted in an overflow to the Troop and so a second Troop was formed in 1960, the Troops were named Rowallan and Maclean.
The Group became well known for their summer camps in Holland and exchanges with Dutch Groups lead by leaders Bob and Rick Rawles and after 1969 by Scout Leader George Haynes who later became Group Scout Leader.
The first Beaver Colony in Christchurch was formed by the Somerford Group in 1985 led by Linda and Andy Haynes.
In 1988 George Haynes died as the result of an accident and his wife Dot took over as Group Scout Leader, having previously been the Cub Leader, a position now taken by their daughter Sue Old. Dennis Miller took over as Group Scout Leader in 2001 following Dot Haynes' retirement.
The Group scored another first when they admitted girls into the Pack and Troop in 1991, seven years before any other Group in the District.
A party was held in the Portfield Drill Hall in 1994 to celebrate the Group's 40th anniversary, Scouts from past and present attending.
Somerford Group is justifiably proud of their splendid record of service to others. Since 1969 the Group have always entertained the senior citizens of Somerford with a Christmas tea party, where each one receives a present and a card. At the party the Scouts usually perform a pantomime, the Cubs a Nativity play and the Beavers a little sketch. As well as looking after the older folks, the Group does a good turn every year for some children's charity, having bought a motorised go-kart for a disabled boy to enable him to become independently mobile and also a clock with large numbers for the Portfield Autistic School. The Group has also supported children in Romania, Afghanistan and Bosnia having at one time knitted 175 children's jumpers and they have now adopted an orphanage in Albania. Nearer to home they collect annually for Children in Need in Saxon Square.
Christchurch District Scout Fellowship
Following an inaugural meeting in 1978 it was agreed to form a Fellowship within the District, some 15 members joined and a committee under the chairmanship of Bill Cratchley was formed. There would be two categories of membership:
1 Full membership - open to uniformed members and those who wished to make the Scout Promise.
2 Associate membership.
In the early 1980's Bill Cratchley retired as Chairman and his place was taken by Ken Hart, who had previously been a member of the old B.P. Guild and was also heavily involved with the Scout Holiday Homes Trust. So it was not long before the Fellowship became involved with meeting the bookings, cleaning and close season maintenance of the caravans and chalets that the Holiday Homes had at Naish Farm.
Before the Fellowship became involved with the Holiday Homes Trust, their duties consisted of just a few District events but once they became established, calls for assistance began to grow in number and a programme of events was formulated for the year.
The Christchurch Gang Show
The first show was presented in the Priory Church Hall in 1960, it was more like a concert than a proper Gang Show and was produced by Freda Worsley, Terry Cropper and June Payne. The next two Gang Shows took place in 1963 and 1964 and were produced by Terry Cropper in the old Town Hall which stood where Saxon Square stands today. In those days the show took place in February and quite a number of the cast changed in the Town Scout Hut which stood between the Town Hall and the Mill Stream. On a few occasions they had to run through snow storms, over packed frozen snow wearing just their flimsy costumes. John Reed replaced Terry as Producer late in 1964, whilst rehearsing for the 1965 show and remained in that position until 1985.
In November 1966 Ralph Reader came to Christchurch to present the Gang with the Gang Show Award which had been awarded to them on an evening of great tension earlier in the year, on the last night of the 1966 show. That evening in Pontins Ballroom with Ralph and The Mayor, Councillor Eric Spreadbury, was a very proud moment for the entire Gang and a great advertisement for Scouting in Christchurch.
The last show in the old Town Hall was in 1967, then after a year's break the show moved to Twynham School in 1969. With the additional space and better facilities at Twynham, the intimate atmosphere that developed over the years between the audiences and a very dedicated Gang, the show went from strength to strength with the hard working members of both cast and back stage deriving a great sense of achievement in addition to having fun.
In 1985 the Gang celebrated their Silver Jubilee with a reunion of past and present members at Pontins, a very successful show and a trip to our twin town of Aalen in Germany where they presented a specially edited version of the Jubilee Show.
After the 1985 show, John Reed handed over to Dave Ward who produced three shows, all at Twynham, before he passed the reins to Steve Potter in 1990. The show continued at Twynham until 1995 by which time it had become difficult to recruit sufficient members from the Scout Movement to form a Gang. The Show was not produced for two years and then an invitation was issued to the girls of the Scout and Guide movements in Christchurch to join the Gang for the 1998 show. The involvement of the girls meant that the Gang was back in business and for the 1998 show the venue was changed to the Regent Centre.
Christchurch Scout and Guide Band
As a result of prompting and encouragement given by Councillor Eric Spreadbury, the Scout Band was established in 1976. In the early years they entered the Youth Band Competitions and were placed 11th out of 48 bands and in only their second year their Drum Major, Mark Milton, was awarded third place.
Over the years the Band has taken part in many carnivals and fetes and also led the local St. George's Day Parades. Unfortunately, because of a lack of new recruits and the loss of several older members, the Band had to close for a period of 18 months. They were then reformed, with Guides and Brownies included for the first time and after a short while had built a good band once again.
Recently the band had the honour of performing at Horseguards Parade and marching down The Mall in the Youth Bands Parade for the Queen's Birthday. Last year they joined the East Dorset Youth Band (The Quarterjacks) to perform at Chichester in the Marie Curie Cancer Appeal followed by Wimborne Christmas Parade and the Christchurch Snow Queen procession.