Every year the Guides in Radlett mark Thinking Day with an event. This year to mark our centenaries it was a special event with the Scouts being invited to join in. The event was held at Vision Hall, Christ Church on Sunday 24th February from 1:30-4:30pm. The event had activities for all based on International Guiding and Scouting and will concluded with a celebration of 100 years of Girlguiding and Scouting in Radlett. Parents, carers, friends and ex Girlguiding and Scouting members were welcome to join us for the celebration service held in Christ Church from 3:45pm. There was a small cafe in the foyer of the church from 3pm for those who joined us.
The Service order is below with some of the parts of the service labelled out in more detail below. Thanks particularly for to the Guides who put the service together.
Welcome
Let's Celebrate
Entry of Unit Flags
Song: One More Step
The First Scouts
A 100 Years of Guiding
Uniform Procession
Song: When I Needed a Neighbour
The Promise
Time for reflection
Prayer
We are part of a Worldwide Movement
Song; He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
Colour Parties Fall In
National Anthem (verses 1 and 3)
Exit of the Unit Flags
Close
Welcome
We are here today to celebrate the fact that Guiding and Scouting in Radlett has been running successfully for 100 years and the fact that the 22nd February is our Founders ( Robert Baden Powell’s birthday). It was also the birthday of his wife lady Olave Baden Powell. Thinking Day, is when we celebrate and reflect on the Guiding and Scouting family to which we all belong.
Guiding and Scouting are movements with their members at the centre and Radlett is lucky that people volunteer to run meetings. It is the volunteers that keep the movements thriving and continuing to grow and develop with the times. This afternoon we will hear briefly about Guiding and Scouting in the village in the past, today and in the future.
The First Scouts
Scouting and Guiding were started in a world very different from today. Children were not given many opportunities to play, many had to go to work to support families or to learn how to help at home. Men were the main earners for the family and women were expected to stay at home and keep the house tidy and look after the children. There were very few cars and Radlett was growing at a fast rate along the relatively new railway line.
The Scout movement started from an idea of Robert Baden Powell more than 110 years ago. He was A soldier, national hero, and prolific writer, Scouting is based on the ideas laid out in his best-selling book Scouting for Boys about training young soldiers how to Scout around and Guide their troops.
His aim was to bring together boys from different social backgrounds – a radical idea for the time - to bond and learn through outdoor activities such as camping, observation, woodcraft and lifesaving – with an added dose of chivalry and patriotism.
Baden Powell wanted all boys to have the opportunity to have fun and explore and enjoy the great outdoors as he did as a child, learning the crafts and skills that were to prove so useful to him in later life.
He held a successful camp on Brownsea Island where boys learnt useful life skills and had fun. Scouting began and soon became very popular. To celebrate this success Baden Powell held a Rally in Crystal Palace. More than 1100 boys turned up which was a big surprise however a bigger surprise was many girls turned up demanding to join. Because of the enthusiasm of these girls Baden Powell’s sister, Agnes agreed to help him set up a similar organisation for girls.
The organisations were called Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in recognition of the brave soldier Scouts and Guides Baden Powell had trained during his time in Africa.
The movement grew very quickly and by 1920 Baden Powell held his first International Jamboree and continues to grow and develop.
A 100 Years of Guiding
Guiding began as we just heard with girls who took the lead and demanded something for themselves. 110 years ago a group of girls visited a Boy Scout Rally at Crystal Palace in London. They asked Lord Baden-Powell to create something for girls. They were the early champions of a girl-led organisation which has become our global Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement with 10 million members in 150 countries.
We dedicate today to those girls. We want to celebrate the first leaders, and all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts since, who found space to practise leadership in the Movement.
In this our centenary year we want give special thanks to the first leaders who took on the challenge of starting Guiding in Radlett.
The first Radlett Guide Unit was registered on 10th October 1919 when Betty Twinch and May Howard with the help of a couple of medical students, Winn Everett and Billie Sanderson started the 1st Radlett Guide Company. Winn Everett was the daughter of Percy Everett; a good friend and supporter of Baden Powell and the Scout movement; and she lived at Shopwick, Elstree. Winn continued to be heavily involved in guiding in the local area throughout her life.
Guiding in Radlett flourished and by 1926 there were 12 units from Rangers to Guides and Brownies in and around Radlett and they now had in their own headquarters on Watling Street; which lasted until 1991 when it was sold to provide funding for our current headquarters, Woodland Lodge in Scrubbits Park Road, which opened in 1992.
The first guides wore a navy dress, or over blouse and skirt, with a necker folded into a necktie and called their leaders Captain and Lieutenant.
These Radlett guides rose to challenges in times of National crisis and during both world wars they helped out doing first aid, setting up canteens, looking after children and collected newspapers. They also sent magazines to the troops and lent their camping gear as a canteen where people who were bombed out could come and get a meal. They were also a good support to the children who were evacuated from London to the area.
They went on many camps and expeditions celebrated Thinking Day, St Georges Day and helped out at harvest time. However, by the end of the war there was a severe shortage of leaders so some groups closed. By 1946 Radlett along with the rest of the country was returning to normal and groups reopened and went from strength to strength. By the early 50s the guides were camping and hiking and earning badges. By now the tunic dress had disappeared and they wore Navy serge skirts with a pocketed blue shirt and a tie.
Throughout the 100 years we have struggled to recruit leaders and groups and closed and reopened several times. At one time we had to join up with Borehamwood to ensure Guiding continued in the village.
1965 saw the modernisation of the uniform when the pocketed shirt was replaced by a smart blue blouse and the large tie was replaced by a small crossover style tie.
The outdoors continued to play a major part in Guiding and the companies camped around the county and as far afield as Corfe castle and Foxlease. In Hampshire. There was a new programme which brought the challenges within Guiding up to date
In October 1969 there was a large Golden Jubilee celebration on Christchurch field where members of the Guide and Scout movement paraded with their flags.
By the late 70s, the district continued to lack adult leaders so Guides nearly closed completely and Brownies went down to 1 pack.
By the eighties the Guide company was healthy and Brownies were flourishing and were requiring places for Guides. With only one unit left the girls had to go to Borehamwood. The Guide leader and a Brownie leader decided it was time for a change and sought permission for us to separate from Borehamwood and set up our own district again. Nationally Guiding celebrated it 75th anniversary and Radlett Guides were at the forefront of ceremonies around the County.
The district began to flourish and by the end of the eighties we had girls attending sailing and canoe camps, Brownies going away on holidays. We had a Queens Guide again.
By the Nineties new guiders came onto the scene, many of whom are with us today. Guide uniform was completely revamped. Girls could now wear sweat shirts and trousers. Permission was given for us to build new headquarters and units took part in camps and completions walks and litter picks. They raised money and presented a cheque at the Borehamwood studios for Children in Need and our first Rainbow group opened in 1991.
During the Nighties and into the new Millennium guiding in Radlett has continued to grow and modernise. The leaders have embraced changes in uniform and programme, given the girls the opportunity to have fun and grow in confidence as well as developing life long friendships.
Lady Olave Baden-Powell, said
“Remember it’s not what you have but what you give that brings you happiness. That is why as members of this great movement, it is important for each of you to try your hardest to become skilled with your hands, alert and ready with your mind and great of heart, so that by these means you bring happiness to others and so gain it for yourself”
Without the courage of those first girls and their leaders, strength and determination guiding would not have begun all those years ago. I’m sure in those early days no one would have envisaged the impact and the difference guiding has made and continues to make.
Our organisations continue to move forward and offer activities and opportunities for all members.
So lets cheer and thank you to all our leaders past and present for their dedication and commitment to give this to our members.
First Radlett Scouts
We have heard before how Scouting came into place. We today are celebrating all the leaders and members of the Scouting movement, whilst focusing on those in Radlett over the last 100 years.
1st Radlett Scouts formation came about from the beginning of Scouting. We just heard about Winn Everett’s involvement in Radlett Girl Guiding, and it was her father Sir Percy Everett who formed 1st Elstree Scout Group, the oldest group in the country, with its first meeting on the 13th March 1908. It is believed that a group of boys from Radlett including Jack Nash and Charles Cuddiford heard about the troop in Elstree and formed a patrol, walking each week from Radlett to Elstree to take part. This shows the different times as who could imagine themselves doing that today every week to be part of Scouting. The registration of the troop was on the 16th May 1919, where the first Scoutmaster was the very same Jack Nash, who formed the troop on his return from active service in World War One. There is some belief Scouting may have been in Radlett prior to 1919 but no records confirming this have been found.
Scouting in Radlett has grown and also suffered some falls. On 29th November 1919 the First Radlett Troop performed “Minobi” at the Parish Hall, which consisted of 19 items of entertainment including a talk by Percy Everett on “The Scout Movement” which would have increased the awareness of Scouting in Radlett. Over the years other Scout Groups have formed with 2nd Radlett and 3rd Radlett, no longer running, and 4th Radlett which was formed in 1983 by Simon Pyzer, still going strong.
Our first Cub pack then known as Wolf Cubs was formed on 13th July 1926. The Beaver Colony opened on 23rd February 1989, 30 years ago yesterday, by our current Group Scout Leader, Jackie Glover.
The formation of the Scouts led to the need for a base so in July 1920 Nash and Charles Cuddiford found an old Army hut which they transported to Radlett as the first headquarters. This was moved and re-opened on 23rd September 1944 by Sir Percy Everett, to cater for Air and Sea Scouts, next to what was Burrell and Co. Coal Yard. The headquarters stood there until 10th December 1965, where stormy weather caused the wall of the coal yard to collapse and knock the hut off its foundations. So Kent Lodge, our current headquarters, was built and opened on 10th June 1967, named after our past Chairman, Commander Kent.
The first scouts wore a flannel shirt, shorts, stockings with garters made of green braid, a coloured handkerchief tied loosely around the neck and a wide-awake hat. They were affiliated to a patrol with bunch of coloured ribbons on the left shoulder and carried a staff as high as their shoulder.
These Radlett Scouts have served the community in many ways like helping with the opening of the War Memorial in Radlett and collecting newspaper during the war. In 1944 patrol leader Derek Cole helped save the life of a boy in a disused gravel pit in Shenleybury and was presented with the Gilt Cross for bravery by Sir Percy Everett.
They went on many camps and expeditions including to Southend, Wardour Castle in Wiltshire and the Sea Scouts went along the Thames. They also performed in Gang Shows, with us having record of 1937/38 one.
In 1946 Senior Scout section was introduced for 15-18 year olds, they wore the same uniform as Scouts but with maroon garter and shoulder tabs.
By the early 50s the Scouts were camping and hiking and some going to the Jamboree in Sutton Coldfield in 1957 and going to camp in Dorset. By now the clothing similar for the Scouts with the hat being replaced with a beret in 1952. The Wolf cubs wore a green jumper, blue shorts and a green cap with yellow piping.
Throughout the 100 years we have struggled to recruit leaders and our sections have closed and reopened several times.
By the 60s the Scouts were camping in places such as Gorhambury and going on a district expedition to Holland in 1967. In 1966 the Chief Scout's Advance Party was formed to review all aspects of Scouting including some changes to uniform and a common membership badge. At this time Wolf Cubs became Cub Scouts but did not change their uniform much only changing the Wolf Cub badge on the cap to a fleur-de-lys badge. The Scout uniform changed to a standardised green shirt, mushroom coloured trousers and lemon-squeezer hat rather than beret.
At this time the Senior Scout section and Rover Scouts were replaced with Venture Scouts who wore a beige long sleeved shirt, mushroom long trousers and a dark brown tie with the green beret.
In October 1969 there was a large Golden Jubilee Fete on Christchurch Field for both the Scouts and Guides. 1st Radlett managed to track down Jack Nash and invited him to the event. Again in 1994 we jointly celebrated the 75th Anniversary with a Fete on Christchurch Field with an Edwardian theme, to which many older members attended.
The eighties saw the formation of Beaver Scouts for 6- 8 year olds. They wore a grey long sleeved sweatshirt with a turquoise scarf and maroon woggle. Also in the eighties 1st Radlett Scouts started entering the Hertfordshire Scouts Green Beret Competition where teams of Scouts complete Orienteering, Assault Course, Challenge Incidents and a Night exercise, coming 1st in the county in 1988, 1989, 1991, 1998 and 1999,
The Nineties saw changes with girls being allowed to join all sections, they had been able to join Venture Scouts from 1976. Uniform changes were the dropping of all headwear from the uniform. The outdoors continued to play a major part in Scouting and our sections have camped around the county and as far afield as Moscow and attended a Jamborette in Holland in 1999.
In the new Millenium we had changes to the programme and uniform. In 2001 Venture Scouts were replaced with Explorer Scouts changing the age ranges and Explorer units were no longer attached to a group as they had in the past. The Beaver uniform changed to turquoise sweatshirt with group scarf, the Cub uniform to a green sweatshirt, Scouts to a teal green shirt with blue activity trousers and Explorers to a beige shirt and Leaders a stone coloured shirt.
1st Radlett Scouts were competing again at the Green Beret competition, coming in the top 10 most years and coming 1st in 2008 and 2015
In this our centenary year we want give special thanks to the first leaders who took on the challenge of starting Scouting in Radlett. This Founder's Day Bear Grylls Chief Scout has sent this message Baden-Powell once said: ‘The most worth-while thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.’ so thank you to all our volunteers.
The Promise
Today’s Girlguiding / Scouting principles: Girlguiding welcomes girls and women from all faiths, cultures and races. A shared commitment to a common standard is expressed in the Promise, which underpins every element of the programme. By making the Promise, girls and Leaders express their commitment to the values of guiding, which encompass active citizenship and spiritual development.
Through fun, friendship, challenge and adventure we empower girls to find their voice, inspiring them to discover the best in themselves and to make a positive difference in their community.
Time for Reflection
FRIENDSHIP CANDLES: Before prayers a short time of reflection.
A Guide: I light this candle in friendship for all the people who are older or younger, taller or shorter, richer or poorer than I
A Scout: I light this candle in friendship of all the people who worship differently than I
A Brownie: I light this candle of friendship of all the people of a different nationality or ethnicity than I.
A Cub: I light this candle in friendship of all the people who are a different colour than I
A Rainbow: I light this candle in friendship of all the people who come from other countries than I
A Beaver: I light this candle in friendship of all the people who don’t run, walk, see, hear, or learn the same as I
A leader: I light this candle for us, as each one of us is unique and special.
We are part of a Worldwide Movement
Although Baden Powell started Scouting and Guiding in this country his dream was that it should be an international movement. Today Scouting and Guiding is in most countries around the world where it is helping children to grow and develop character and become confident. He will be proud of the acorn he planted and of the girls and boys from Radlett that have learnt and practice many life skills and helped promote world friendship on many international camps as far afield as Iceland, Switzerland, Scotland, USA, Japan, Uganda, Austria, India, Mexico, and Sweden.