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Scouting in North West England

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Scouting in North West England is about Scouting in the official region of North West England. It is largely represented by the Scout Association of the United Kingdom and some Groups of traditional Scouting including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.

The Scout Association in North West England is administered through 8 Scout Counties.

Lancaster SSAGO, covering Lancaster University and University of Cumbria (formally St Martin's College ); Students of Liverpool Association of Guides and Scouts, covering University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University (JMU), Liverpool Hope University and Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA); Manchester SSAGO, covering Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester), the University of Salford and University of Bolton; and University of Central Lancashire SSAGO, all affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO), are situated in North West England.[1][2][3]

History

Several Groups in the region were founded in 1908. These include the 1st Marple Group.

The Scout Association Counties

Cumbria Scout County

File:Uk-scouts-county-badge-cumbria.jpg
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Cumbria

Cumbria is a Scout County concurrent with the political county of Cumbria, and provides Scouting opportunities for young people and adults in the area around the English Lake District, including the town of Barrow-in-Furness, and the city of Carlisle.[4]

The County is currently divided into nine Scout Districts:

  • Barrow In Furness District[5]
  • Duddon and High Furness District
  • Eden District[6]
  • Kentdale District[7]
  • Millom District
  • Reivers District[8]
  • Solway/Derwent District
  • Western Lakes District
  • Workington District

District badges as worn on the uniform of Scouting members.

The Rawnsley Shield

The Rawnsley Shield is an annual competition for Scouts in the Reivers District in Cumbria Scout County. Starting in the 1920s its roots go back to Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley who donated the shield to Scouting. The format of the competition changes every year and has been: a camp, where you were marked on activities; a walk to Talkin Tarn from Gelt Wood and activities at Talkin Tarn; or, recently, a pioneering contest. The current winners of the Rawnsley Shield is the 25th Carlisle.

Cheshire Scout County

File:Uk-scouts-county-badge-cheshire.png
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Cheshire

Cheshire is a Scout County concurrent with the political county of Cheshire.[9]

The County is currently divided into eleven Scout Districts:

  • Alderley District
  • Chester and District[10]
  • Ellesmere Port and Neston District
  • Knutsford and District
  • Macclesfield And Congleton District
  • Mid Cheshire District
  • North West Cheshire District
  • South West Cheshire District[11]
  • Warrington East District[12]
  • Warrington West District[13]
  • Widnes and District[14]

District badges as worn on the uniform of Scouting members.

Alderley District Scout Band

Alderley District Scout Band, formed in 1963, is a traditional marching and display band in based in Wilmslow, Cheshire. It is in the Alderley Scout District of the Cheshire Scout County. which was originally formed in 1963 with one bugle and drum. The band takes part in competitions under the TYMBA Traditional Youth Marching Bands Association (TYMBA) and the British Youth Band Association (BYBA) rules, winning over 500 trophies including many Supreme Champions.[15]

In 1984 and 1994 the band was invited to play at Windsor Castle in front of respectively Her Majesty the Queen and the Duchess of Kent. They have also appeared in the Royal Tournament, on Television, in the London Parade, the Lord’s Mayor of Manchester’s Parade and toured the Netherlands in 1992 and Belgium in 1995.

By 2000, the band has declined to under 10 members, only 3 of whom were under 25, and they could no longer compete. New members were recruited and from October 2003 it began competing again in competitions within TYMBA, and at local parades and fetes . In 2007, the Centenary year of Scouting, the band joined with the 1st Syston Scout and Guide Band to perform at the National Scout St George's Day Parade at Windsor Castle in front of the Queen.[15]

Cheshire Water Activities

Cheshire Water Activities is an independent organisation which supports Scouting in Cheshire. The Activities team provide training of leaders, and supervision of young people, in various water activities including kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, power boating, and offshore sailing.[16]

East Lancashire Scout County

East Lancashire Scout County covers the industrial towns of East Lancashire.[17]

The County contains 7 Scout Districts:

Greater Manchester East Scout County

Map of England highlighting the location of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester East Scout County is one of three Scout Counties based in Greater Manchester. The area is divided into 11 districts,covering the city of Manchester itself, Stockport, Tameside, and Glossop. Glossop is situated within the county boundaries of Derbyshire, but has been included in the area due to its close geographical position near the Greater Manchester conurbation.[25]

The County contains 11 Scout Districts:

  • North Manchester and Medvale
  • Manchester South
  • Cheadle
  • Stockport
  • Goyt
  • Ladybrook Valley
  • Glossop
  • North Tameside
  • Denton
  • Hyde
  • Tame Valley

Greater Manchester North Scout County

File:Uk-scouts-county-badge-greater-manchester-north.png
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Greater Manchester North

Greater Manchester North is one of three Scout Counties which cover the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, and provides a Scouting programme to the towns of Bolton, Bury, Farnworth, Heywood, Middleton, Prestwich and Rochdale, amongst others. The County Headquarters are in Middleton.[26]

The County is currently divided into fifteen Scout Districts:

  • Bolton East
  • Bolton North
  • Bolton South
  • Bolton West
  • Bury
  • Chadderton
  • Crompton and Royton
  • Farnworth and District
  • Heywood
  • Middleton[27]
  • Oldham[28]
  • Prestwich and Whitefield
  • Radcliffe
  • Ramsbottom
  • Rochdale includes the neighbouring town of Milnrow. The District provides Scouting for about 600 members in 14 Scout Groups.[29]

Greater Manchester West Scout County

File:Uk-scouts-county-badge-greater-manchester-west.png
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Greater Manchester West

Greater Manchester West is one of three Scout Counties which cover the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, and provides a Scouting programme to the metropolitan boroughs of Leigh, Salford, Trafford and Wigan.[30]

Within the Scout County there are three Scout Groups listed among the 'first troops' founded in 1908:[31]

  • 1st Worsley (originally: 6th Eccles)
  • 1st Flixton (L'Avenir)
  • 1st Stretford (1st Longford)

The County is currently divided into ten Scout Districts:

  • Altrincham and District
  • Atherton and Tyldesley
  • Ellesmere
  • Leigh and District
  • Sale and District
  • Salford
  • Stretford
  • Swinton and Pendlebury
  • Urmston and District
  • Wigan and District

Merseyside Scout County

Merseyside Scout County is a Scout County covering five Metropolitan Boroughs of Knowsley, St. Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the City of Liverpool.[32]

The County is divided into fifteen Scout Districts:

West Lancashire Scout County

West Lancashire Scout County is a Scout County covering half of Lancashire, the other half being covered by East Lancashire Scout County with the two roughly separated by the M6.

The boundaries of Lancashire were changed in 1974 as part of local government. Shortly after, the Scout Counties in Lancashire changed to reflect these border changes. West Lancashire Scout County was created from parts of the original North West and South West Lancashire Scout Counties. According to their 2006 census the Scout County had 9347 members within 154 Scout Groups.[41]

The Scout County is sub-divided into the following eight districts:

The Scout County hosts Be Prepared: The Story of Scouting, the first purpose-built Scout museum in the UK.[50][45]

Mountaineering

The Scout County regularly runs a varied number of trips including training weekends in Scotland around the Cairngorms[51] and smaller ski trips to the Alps as well as Scotland.

Greenland

The Scout County is well known for their mountaineering adventure element of their program. Over the last few years two trips to Greenland[52] have resulted in some assents of unclimbed peaks[53]. The first trip, in 2004[54] featured a link up to Waddecar via a Sat phone during the campsite's birthday celebrations with the Chief Scout[55], the second during 2007[56] to Ren Land featured a far larger number of participants and a sea kayak element. The trips were approved by the Young Explorers Trust[57] and the British Mountaineering Council.[58] As well as the mountaineering and adventure side, scientific elements were also completed[59]

International

Away from mountaineering the county also has run in the past trips to Uganda[60] which aimed to complete a multi-purpose building to be used for health promotions, clinics for immunisation of the local population. The county has participant in International Jamboree, EuroJam and international trips to Austria, Belgium[61] and Canada[62] during recent years. They have also attended the Menin Gate memorials during November[63].

Campsites

Tawd Vale Scout Campsite

Consisting of 80 acres of lush woodlands in the heart of the West Lancashire countryside, Tawd Vale has long been a favourite site for generations of campers. Volunteer parties for many years have developed the area into one of the foremost sites in Britain. The River Tawd from which the site derives its name wanders through the centre of the camp and adds to the natural beauty of the surrounding area, a place of fun and adventure. Besides the wooded areas, adequate spaces have been left for campers and games, a large field is ideal for Cub activities. Tawd can accommodate Patrol, Troop or District camps, training and International events and day visits for Beavers. Tawd offers a great deal, even B.P. thought so! [64]

Ennerdale Scout Centre

Ennerdale Scout Centre is owned and maintained by the Cumbria Scout Association County, and is located on the River Eden near to Ennerdale Water. The site only covers around 6 acres, but offers a range of camping pitches, as well as some indoor accommodation for up to around 60 people.[65] This site was previously owned by the former West Cumberland Scout County. For over 50 years, the Oxford University Scout and Guide Group has had a close association with the camp site, with students camping for a week before and after the summer camping season in the University Easter vacation and the university Summer vacation in September.[66]

Great Tower Activity Centre

Great Tower Activity Centre is located on the eastern shore of Windermere in the Lake District National Park. While it is located in the Cumbria Scout Association County, the site is maintained by West Lancashire Scout Association County. The site covers an area of 250 acres.[67]

Ratlingate International Camping Centre

Ratlingate International Camping Centre is located 4 miles south of the city of Carlisle, and is owned and maintained by Reivers Scout Association District. The site consists of 4 acres of camping field, with a further 20 acres in mixed woodland pitches. It originally had a wooden hut, which burnt down and so was replaced with a building at the top of the campsite which has kitchens, toilets and dormitorys. Nearly all Reivers camps take place at Ratlingate, including the recent Centenary Camp where over 250 people attended. Its woods can hold many activities from backwoods cooking to pioneering, and is regularly used for orienteering competitions.[68]

Greater Manchester North Scout Association Camp sites

Dog Hill Scout and Community Camp Site in Shaw, Oldham and Bibby's Farm Scout Camp and Activity Centre in Bolton are part of Greater Manchester North Scout County.[69][70]

Ashworth Valley Camp Site

Ashworth Valley, which lies between Bury and Rochdale, was purchased in 1944 by Rochdale and Heywood Scout Association Districts. It was previously part of the estate of the Earl of Egerton. The comedian/songwriter Mike Harding included a mention of "Ashy Valley" in his song about a Cub Scout going to camp.[71]

Greater Manchester West Scout Association Camp sites

The County runs three campsites:

Waddecar Scout Camp

Waddecar Scout Camp is located in the Forest of Bowland, in the parish of Goosnargh, north of Preston in Lancashire.[72] The site has a large number of woodland pitches, as well as fields, allowing almost 1,000 Scouts to camp simultaneously. There are also a number of building offering indoor accommodation.

Waddecar has several buildings that can be hired out by Scout Groups and other youth organisations. These include Helme Lodge and Jubilee Base.[73] Waddecar also has several large areas for pitching tents including the Training Field and the recently acquired Bill's Meadow. The site also offers a number of activities, including Abseiling, Climbing, an Obstacle Course, Archery, Cycle Hire, and an Air Rifle Shooting Range.[74]

Moor Crag Water Activity Centre

Moor Crag Activity Centre is based on the eastern shore of Lake Windermere, near to Great Tower Activity Centre. It provides a base for a wide variety of waterborne activities. Accommodation is available in a residential block at the centre, the Waterside Wood Chalet. Alternatively camping is generally arranged at Great Tower.

The activity centre has 68m of water frontage along the shore of Lake Windermere, which includes 2 jetties and a boat house / wet dock, which is used to house the control room and safety craft. Canoes, Kayaks and Sailing boats are owned by the centre, and are available for hire.[75]

West Lancashire Scout Association District Campsites

As well as the larger County activity centres listed above, smaller centres are owned and run by Scout Districts. Mowbreck Campsite is run by Blackpool District.[76] Fylde District has an Activity Barn at its District HQ.[77] Lonsdale District has two activity centres:[78] the T.W. Helme Memorial Activity Centre at Littledale[79] and the SilverHelme Activity Centre.[80]

Gang Shows

The Barrow Gang Show is a relatively new Gang Show, starting in 1995.[81]

The Blackpool Gang Show was first staged in 1961. It has appeared at the Opera House, Pavilion Theatre and, from 2005, the Grand Theatre. It was visited by the Gang Show founder Ralph Reader at the Opera House. It has a cast of over 100 members from all sections of the Scout Association and Girlguiding UK along with leaders from both Associations.

The Crewe Gang Show originated in 1938, although the South West Cheshire Scout District had been running an evening of entertainment for attendees of their Annual General Meeting for many years beforehand. In 1949, it was performed at the New Theatre, Crewe. This venue has continued to 2008, which will mark the 70th Anniversary.[82]

The Gang Show was awarded the privilege of using the coveted Red Necker in 1964. Ralph Reader, the man behind the original Gang Show held in 1931, visited the Crewe Gang Show in 1980, and wrote in a letter:

With no hesitation, I say again, it was one of the finest Gang Shows I have ever seen

The 2006 show included 23 Cub Scouts and 62 Scouts and Leaders as the cast, and many others as production crew.

1st Marple Scout Group, with Marple Guides, are involved in the Marple Gang Show in the Carver Threatre. This show has been running continuously for over 40 years, and is nationally recognised via the Red Knecker scheme.

The Warrington Gang Show started in 1951. Last year it celebrated its 50th production along with celebrating the centenary of scouting. Up until 1992 Warrington Gang Show was performed at Crosfields Centenary Theatre in Warrington, unfortunately in 1991 this theatre was closed and demolished leaving a major problem with Warrington not having any other theatre venue. Luckily Warrington's Parr Hall, originally a concert hall, was slightly modified with funding from Wizard Lottery (Warrington's old lottery scheme) to allow small theatre performances to be put on here. This venue has been Warrington Gang Show's home since.

See also

Template:Scoutingportal

References

  1. ^ SSAGO England
  2. ^ Lancaster SSAGO
  3. ^ Students of Liverpool Association of Guides and Scouts
  4. ^ Cumbria County Scouts Website
  5. ^ Barrow In Furness
  6. ^ Eden District
  7. ^ Kentdale District
  8. ^ Reivers
  9. ^ Cheshire Scout County
  10. ^ Chester and District
  11. ^ South West Cheshire District
  12. ^ Warrington East District
  13. ^ Warrington West District
  14. ^ Widnes and District
  15. ^ a b Alderley District Scout Band
  16. ^ Cheshire Water Activities
  17. ^ East Lancashire Scout County
  18. ^ Blackburn District
  19. ^ Burnley District
  20. ^ Clitheroe District
  21. ^ Darwen District
  22. ^ Hyndburn District
  23. ^ Rossendale District
  24. ^ Pendle District
  25. ^ Greater Manchester East ScoutCounty
  26. ^ Greater Manchester North Scout County
  27. ^ Middleton Scout District
  28. ^ Oldham Scout District
  29. ^ Rochdale Scout District
  30. ^ Greater Manchester West Scout County
  31. ^ "The First Troops" (pdf). The Scout Association. August 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
  32. ^ Merseyside Scout County
  33. ^ Bebington District Explorer Scouts
  34. ^ Birkenhead District Scouts
  35. ^ Bootle and District Scouts
  36. ^ Formby District Scouts
  37. ^ Knowsley District Scouts
  38. ^ Picton District Scouts
  39. ^ Southport District Scouts
  40. ^ West Wirral District Scouts
  41. ^ West Lancashire Scout County
  42. ^ Blackpool Scout District web site
  43. ^ Chorley Scout District web site
  44. ^ Fylde Scout District web site
  45. ^ a b Lonsdale Scout District
  46. ^ Ormskirk Scout District web site
  47. ^ Preston Scout District web site
  48. ^ South Ribble Scout District web site
  49. ^ Wyre Scout District web site
  50. ^ Story of Scouting Museum at Waddecar
  51. ^ BBC - Snow bother for the Scouts!
  52. ^ Greenland 2007
  53. ^ Mount Everest Foundation
  54. ^ BBC: Scouts on a polar bear hunt!
  55. ^ Scouts Press Release 2004
  56. ^ BMC supported expeditions
  57. ^ Young Explorers Trust
  58. ^ British Mountaineering Council
  59. ^ Scout magazine archive
  60. ^ Scout Leader's finest hour
  61. ^ Ardennes Adventure
  62. ^ Red Rose Abroad Camp
  63. ^ Menin Gate 2004
  64. ^ Merseysidescouts.com
  65. ^ Ennerdale Scout Centre
  66. ^ Oxford University Scout and Guide Group history
  67. ^ Great Tower Activity Centre
  68. ^ Ratlingate International Camping Centre
  69. ^ Dog Hill Scout and Community Camp Site
  70. ^ Bibby's Farm Scout Camp and Activity Centre
  71. ^ "Nostalgia - Happy Days" (html). The Middleton Guardian. 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  72. ^ West Lancashire Scouts
  73. ^ "Waddecar Scout Camp - Accommodation Details". Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  74. ^ Waddecar Scout Camp and Activity Centre
  75. ^ Moor Crag Activity Centre
  76. ^ Mowbreck Campsite
  77. ^ Fylde District Activity Barn
  78. ^ Lonsdale's Two Activity Centres
  79. ^ T.W. Helme Memorial Activity Centre
  80. ^ SilverHelme Activity Centre
  81. ^ Barrow Gang Show
  82. ^ Crewe Gang Show

External links

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