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50th Medway Towns Scout Group

Come & Join The Adventure

Medway Towns District Scouts, Kent

Can you imagine a world without Scouting?

Without everyday adventures, the world would certainly be a less interesting place, and if it wasn't for the talent and originality of one man, the Scout Movement might never have existed at all.

This man was Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941), a soldier, artist, actor and free-thinker. Best known for his spirited defence of the small South African township of Mafeking during the Boer War, he was propelled to further fame as the Founder of Scouting.

Inspired during the siege by the initiative shown by boys under pressure, Baden-Powell (BP) realised that young people had huge potential that was often left untapped.

Already thinking of developing a training programme for young people in Britain, he was encouraged by friends to rewrite his handbook for soldiers (Aids to Scouting) for this younger audience.

 

The Brownsea camp

In 1907 Baden-Powell held a camp on Brownsea Island in Poole, Dorset, to try out his ideas and brought together 20 boys from a variety of backgrounds. The success of the camp spurred him on to finish what would become a classic book of the 20th century.

Scouting for Boys was published in 1908 in six fortnightly parts at 4d a copy. What had been intended as a training aid for existing organisations became the handbook of a new Movement, which secured the royal seal of approval the following year when King Edward VII agreed to the introduction of the King’s Scout Award.

In its first census in 1910, Scouting had almost 108,000 participants; over 100,000 were young people.

 

Scouting for all ages

It was a global phenomenon. As numbers grew, it soon became clear that young people of all ages and in every country wanted to get involved in Scouting. Wolf Cubs came along for younger Scouts in 1916, followed four years later by Rover Scouts for an older age range.

1920 was also the year of the first World Scout Jamboree. At London's Olympia, Scouts from across the world gathered to celebrate international unity and the growth of their great Movement.

 

Branching out

Lord Baden-Powell died in 1941 but his legacy continued. Scouting became a byword for adventure, usefulness and global friendship.

As the Movement spread across the world, Scouting continued to evolve in the United Kingdom. Following heroic work during the Second World War when Scouts acted as coast guards, couriers and stretcher bearers, members continued to show they were truly able to live their motto ‘Be prepared.’

 

Forward thinking

Scouting has never stood still. New branches such as Air and Sea Scouts became increasingly popular, gaining recognition from the RAF and the Royal Navy. Scouts were on hand to help out at major events such as the Queen's coronation, helping the crowds who camped out overnight to get a glimpse of the spectacle.

The Movement continued to grow and move with the times. Rover Scouts and Senior Scouts became Venture Scouts and the badge system was updated to reflect the wider range of activities a Scout could do. Girls were invited to join the Venture Scout section; this was introduced to other sections in the early 1990s.

In the true spirit of an inclusive organisation, younger children got to experience Scouting for the first time with the official incorporation of the Beaver Scouts in 1986. Three years later, official headgear was abolished for all sections.

 

Scouting for the 21st Century

At the dawn of the 21st Century, the Association again underwent reform with the launch of a new logo, uniform and training programme and the introduction of Explorer Scouts and the Scout Network by 2002.

In 2007, the Movement celebrated its centenary and the 21st World Scout Jamboree was held in the UK. Scouting hit the headlines in 2009 when TV adventurer Bear Grylls was announced as the new Chief Scout.

 

A History of 50th Medway Towns (Hoo) Scout Group

The Group was formed by Mr B J Ford on the 6th September 1937 as the 47th Medway with 12 Scouts, the Group originally met somewhere on Bells Lane in the village of Hoo St Werburgh.

The Group re-opened after the Second World War on the 12th February 1946 and moved to the Imperial Hall (location of current Scout HQ). The Scout Troop had expanded to 30 boys and a Wolf Cub Pack had also opened with 24 boys. After changes to the Districts the Group changed it's name to the 47th Medway (Hoo) in June 1946.

On the 1st June 1985 the 47th Medway (Hoo) amalgamated with the 15th Medway (High Halstow) to become the 50th Medway (Hoo Peninsular). The new Group consisted of a Venture Scout Troop and Scout Troop based at the Scout HQ in Hoo and a Cub Pack in both Hoo and High Halstow.

In 1986 the Group opened it's first Beaver Colony for 6 to 8 year olds and two years later another re-organisation of the local Districts found the Group become the 50th Strood Scout Group.

In February 1991 the old wooden Scout HQ was knocked down and a new building kindly donated by Reed Homes was erected in it's place and offically opened on the 16th March. Also in 1991 the Cub Pack at High Halstow closed down, leaving the Group solely based in Hoo.

By 1994 the Group had reached it's largest membership, with two Beaver Colonies, two Cub Cub Packs and a Scout Troop. In 1996 the Group decided to admit girls for the first time in all it's sections.

Sadly with the advent of computer games and other activities the Group's membership started to decline. One Beaver Colony closed in 1998 and one of the Cub Packs closed in 2001, since then the Group has run one unit in each section. Although for the last two years the 50th has been the largest growing Group in the District.

In 2008 the Districts of Strood and Medway amalgamated back together to form the Medway Towns District Scouts and the Group become the 50th Medway Towns (Hoo). Also in 2008 the Group opened it Explorer Unit, which in become known as Who's Hoo ESU in 2014.

Due to growing demand in April 2022 the Group reopened Ash Beaver Colony and Falcon Cub Packs, to take it's membership back up to the levels of the mid 1990's.

2022 will also see the Group will celebrate it's 85th anniversary.

 

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50th Medway Towns Scout Group
The Scout HQ , The Pit, Stoke Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9BE

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