Shefstanthing

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An important moment marking the beginning of Woodcraft Folk in Sheffield in the early 1930s. Quickly form Basil Rawson's group, there were several, including 'The Willow Tree Thing' and 'The Trailbreakers', which Wendy Maye was a part of throughout her life:

'And so I've grown up in Woodcraft. I've had a massive family, all my life because I just was brought by all the older kids in Woodcraft Folk...My cousin, Anita who's older than me. She went round knocking on doors and around the street recruiting kids for this first. Woodcraft group, just gathering kids. You couldn't do that now, I know, but just gathering kids together to come to the meetings, in the groups and the campsand it grew from there.' 

It also marks the start of a lifelong friendship between Leslie Paul and Basil Rawson.  In his 1980 memoirs Leslie Paul publishes a poem about Basil entitled, 'The Enchanter' on the first page (see below).

How it became one of our 100 Objects

Donated by Gill, it was not until it was read more closely we noticed the early report on the Sheffield Fellowship. The presence in Sheffield grew quickly, and as Wendy Mayes notes, 'You were either in the Woodcraft Folk or the Scouts. That's all there was. And if you were a girl...' 

References

• Photo thanks Wendy Mayes, The Willow Tree Thing [Facebook page]

• WF/069/42/001 Woodcraft Heritage Archive

Where can I find it?