- Scouting in North West England
-
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.
University of Central Lancashire SSAGO; Lancaster SSAGO,[1] covering Lancaster University and University of Cumbria (formally St Martin's College ); Students of Liverpool Association of Guides and Scouts,[2] covering University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University (JMU), Liverpool Hope University and Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA); and Manchester SSAGO,[3] covering the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford and University of Bolton; all affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO),[4] are situated in North West England.
History
Several Groups in the region were founded in 1908. These include the 1st Marple Group.
The Scout Association Counties
Cumbria Scout County
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.[5]
The County is currently divided into nine Scout Districts:
- Barrow In Furness District[6]
- Duddon and High Furness District
- Eden District[7]
- Kentdale District[8]
- Millom District
- Reivers District[9]
- 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
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in CheshireCheshire is a Scout County concurrent with the political county of Cheshire, excluding Altrincham and Sale (Greater Manchester West) and Stockport (Greater Manchester East).[10]
The County is currently divided into eleven Scout Districts:
- Alderley District
- Chester and District[11]
- Ellesmere Port and Neston District
- Knutsford and District
- Macclesfield And Congleton District
- Mid Cheshire District
- North West Cheshire District*
- South West Cheshire District[12]
- Warrington East District[13]
- Warrington West District[14]
- Widnes and District*[15]
- In 2012, "North West Cheshire" and "Widnes and District" will merge to form "Mersey Weaver District"
District badges as worn on the uniform of Scouting members.
Alderley District Scout Band
Alderley District Scout Band, formed in 1963 with one bugle and drum, is a traditional marching and display band in based in Wilmslow, Cheshire. It is in the Alderley Scout District of the Cheshire Scout County. 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.[16]
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.[16] In November 2008 the band were crowned National Champions at the TYMBA National Finals, 10 years since they had last won the top award.
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.[17]
East Lancashire Scout County
East Lancashire Scout County covers the industrial towns of East Lancashire.[18]
The County contains 7 Scout Districts:
Greater Manchester East Scout County
Map of England highlighting the location of Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester East Scout County is one of three Scout Counties based in Greater Manchester. The area is divided into 10 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.[26]
The County contains 10 Scout Districts:
- North Manchester and Medvale
- Manchester South
- Cheadle
- Stockport
- Goyt
- Ladybrook Valley
- Glossop
- North Tameside
- Tameside South Scout District (Denton & Hyde)
- Tame Valley
Greater Manchester North Scout County
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Greater Manchester NorthGreater 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.[27]
The County is currently divided into fifteen Scout Districts:
- Bolton East
- Bolton North
- Bolton South
- Bolton West
- Bury
- Chadderton
- Crompton and Royton[28]
- Farnworth and District
- Heywood
- Middleton[29]
- Oldham[30]
- Prestwich and Whitefield
- Radcliffe
- Ramsbottom
- Rochdale includes the neighbouring town of Milnrow. The District provides Scouting for about 600 members in 14 Scout Groups.[31]
Greater Manchester West Scout County
County badge as worn on the uniform of Scouting members in Greater Manchester WestGreater 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.[32]
Within the Scout County there are three Scout Groups listed among the 'first troops' founded in 1908:[33]
- 1st Worsley (originally: 6th Eccles)
- 1st Flixton (L'Avenir)
- 1st Stretford (Longford)
The County is currently divided into nine Scout Districts[citation needed]:
- Altrincham and District
- Ellesmere
- Lilford District Lilford District Scouts
- Sale and District
- Salford
- Stretford
- Swinton and Pendlebury
- Urmston and District
- Wigan and District
Atherton and Tyldesley and Leigh and District were merged on 1 October 2009 to form Lilford 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.[34]
The County is divided into fifteen Scout Districts:
- Allerton
- Bebington[35]
- Birkenhead[36]
- Bootle and District[37]
- Crosby
- Fairfield and District
- Formby[38]
- Knowsley[39]
- Picton[40]
- Sefton East
- Southport[41]
- St Helens and District
- Wallasey
- Walton On The Hill
- West Wirral[42]
On 1 April 2010 several of the above districts will cease to exist and become new larger districts, including Altside, Liverpool North, Liverpool South Liverpool East and Liverpool Central. This is part of the review that was carried out in the County in 2009.
Within Merseyside county, the Crosby district is also the home of the Crosby Scout and Guide Marina Club, who offer dinghy and kayak sailing to local youngsters, based at the newly rebuilt Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre opened in October 2009.
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.[43]
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.[47][52]
Mountaineering
The Scout County regularly runs a varied number of trips including training weekends in Scotland around the Cairngorms[53] 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[54] have resulted in some assents of unclimbed peaks.[55] The first trip, in 2004[56] featured a link up to Waddecar via a Sat phone during the campsite's birthday celebrations with the Chief Scout,[57] the second during 2007[58] to Ren Land featured a far larger number of participants and a sea kayak element. The trips were approved by the Young Explorers Trust[59] and the British Mountaineering Council.[60] As well as the mountaineering and adventure side, scientific elements were also completed[61]
International
Away from mountaineering the county also has run in the past trips to Uganda[62] 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[63] and Canada[64] during recent years. They have also attended the Menin Gate memorials during November.[65]
Campsites
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.[66]
Bispham Hall Scout Camp
Bispham Hall is a 60-acre (240,000 m2) Activity Centre situated almost midway between Manchester and Liverpool, near to the village of Billinge.
Bowley Scout Camp and Activity Centre
Bowley Scout Camp and Activity Centre, established in 1968, is managed by the East Lancashire Scout County of the Scout Association. The site, of 47 acres (190,000 m2) of former agricultural pasture, provides both camping sites and indoor accommodation . It has open views to Pendle Hill and the distant peaks within the Lake District National Park and North Yorkshire National Park. Activities on site include climbing walls, archery, rifle shooting, and grass sledges. A new eco-building is being constructed on site, being one of the first commercial/residential centres to be built out of straw bales.[67]
Dunham Park Scout Camp
Dunham Park is a 15-acre (61,000 m2) mixed woodland camp site located at Dunham Massey, near the town of Altrincham, some 8 miles (13 km) south of the centre of Manchester.
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 (24,000 m2), but offers a range of camping pitches, as well as some indoor accommodation for up to around 60 people.[68] 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.[69]
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, as from 1st April 2011, Great Tower Scout Activity Centre joined the National Activity Centres programme and is owned and managed by The Scout Association. The site covers an area of 250 acres (1.0 km2).[70]
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 near Chorley but administered by the Scout districts in Bolton are available to scouts, guides and other youth organisations in Greater Manchester North Scout County or elsewhere.[71][72] There is also Giants Seat camp site run by Radcliffe District.[citation needed]
Linnet Clough Scout Camp
Linnet Clough Scout Camp is situated on the Derbyshire and Cheshire boarder near the towns of Marple and Stockport
Developed from a working dairy farm, Linnet Clough is an all year round Scout activity centre and camp site with facilities for a multitude of outdoor activities.[73]
there are 17 ¼ acres of camping fields surrounded on three sides by woods and plantations of trees to provide shelter and windbreaks on the fields. There are three main fields. There is normally a field warden resident in the camping area. There is a large "Storm Hut" which can be used in adverse weather conditions.
Middlewood Scout Camp
Middlewood Scout Camp is situated near the town of Worsley, near the Bridgewater Canal.
Middlewood has a large number of varied size camping pitches, ranging from large sites suitable for district or group events down to small sites suited to patrol camping. The campsite features a modern toilet block with a hot water supply and showers.[74]
Two buildings, Cunliffe Lodge and the Cub Hut are also available. Cunliffe Lodge, the larger building, features a fully equipped kitchen, a main activities/dining hall, three bunkrooms (sleeping 15, 6 and 4), male and female bathrooms and central heating. The Cub Hut features a small kitchen and dining room, a lounge with tables and chairs, two bunkrooms sleeping six and four and a leaders room.[75]
One of Middlewood's main features is the large boating lake, co-leased with Broughton Angling Club. Scouts can use the lake for canoeing, kayaking, rafting and fishing. The site also has a rifle range and a large selection of pioneering poles. The Camp Team run open campfires with songs and campfire stunts on Saturday evenings during camping season.[76]
Moor Crag Water Activity Centre
Moor Crag Activity Centre is based on the eastern shore of 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 68 m of water frontage along the shore of 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.[77]
Ratlingate International Camping Centre
Ratlingate International Camping Centre is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the city of Carlisle, and is owned and maintained by Reivers Scout Association District. The site consists of 4 acres (16,000 m2) of camping field, with a further 20 acres (81,000 m2) 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.[78]
Tawd Vale Scout Campsite
Tawd Vale Scout Campsite is a campsite of the Merseyside Scout County.[34] Named after the River Tawd, which flows through the camp, it consists of 80 acres (320,000 m2) in West Lancashire.[79] The site is currently run by the County's ACC Tawd Vale, along with the assistance of a number of volunteers. The site has undergone improvements in 2009.
Waddecar Scout Camp
Waddecar Scout Camp is located in the Forest of Bowland, in the parish of Goosnargh, north of Preston in Lancashire.[80] 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.[81] 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.[82]
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.[83] Fylde District has an Activity Barn at its District HQ.[84] Lonsdale District has two activity centres:[85] the T.W. Helme Memorial Activity Centre at Littledale[86] and the SilverHelme Activity Centre.[87]
Gang Shows
The Barrow Gang Show is a relatively new Gang Show, starting in 1995.[88]
Birkenhead Gang Show, started in 1961, brought the show to London for its 50th Anniversary.[89]
The Blackpool Gang Show was first staged in 1961. It has appeared at the Opera House, Grand Theatre & Pavilion Theatre, then from 2005, the Globe 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.[90]
Chester Gang Show started in 1954.[91]
Congleton Gang Show started in 1972 and runs ever two years.[92]
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.[93] 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.
Knutsford Gang Show started in 1986.[94]
1st Marple Scout Group, with Marple Guides, are involved in the Marple Gang Show in the Carver Theatre. This show has been running continuously for over 40 years, and is nationally recognised via the Red Knecker scheme.[95][96]
The Mid-Cheshire Gang Show, covering the towns of Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich in Cheshire is one of the newest Gang shows, starting in 2007. In March 2011, after the third bi-annual production, it was awarded the coveted Red Knecker.[citation needed]
St. Helens Gang Show held its first show at the Theatre Royal, St. Helens in 1964, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2004 and continues in the same location. It now has over 100 members of the Scout and Guide movement in the cast. [97]
The Warrington Gang Show started in 1951. In 2008, it celebrated its 50th production along with the centenary of scouting. Up until 1992 Warrington Gang Show was performed at Crosfields Centenary Theatre in Warrington, but moved to Warrington's Parr Hall in 1991 when Crosfields was closed and demolished. This venue has been Warrington Gang Show's home since.[98]
West Wirral Gang Show started in 1990.[99]
See also
References
- ^ Lancaster SSAGO
- ^ Students of Liverpool Association of Guides and Scouts
- ^ Manchester SSAGO
- ^ SSAGO England
- ^ Cumbria County Scouts Website
- ^ Barrow In Furness
- ^ Eden District
- ^ Kentdale District
- ^ Reivers
- ^ Cheshire Scout County
- ^ Chester and District
- ^ South West Cheshire District
- ^ Warrington East District
- ^ Warrington West District
- ^ Widnes and District
- ^ a b Alderley District Scout Band
- ^ Cheshire Water Activities
- ^ East Lancashire Scout County
- ^ Blackburn District
- ^ Burnley District
- ^ Clitheroe District
- ^ Darwen District
- ^ Hyndburn District
- ^ Rossendale District
- ^ Pendle District
- ^ Greater Manchester East ScoutCounty
- ^ Greater Manchester North Scout County
- ^ Crompton and Royton District
- ^ Middleton Scout District
- ^ Oldham Scout District
- ^ Rochdale Scout District
- ^ Greater Manchester West Scout County
- ^ "The First Troops" (pdf). The Scout Association. August 2006. http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs295303.pdf. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
- ^ a b Merseyside Scout County
- ^ Bebington District Explorer Scouts
- ^ Birkenhead District Scouts
- ^ Bootle and District Scouts
- ^ Formby District Scouts
- ^ Knowsley District Scouts
- ^ Picton District Scouts
- ^ Southport District Scouts
- ^ West Wirral District Scouts
- ^ West Lancashire Scout County
- ^ Blackpool Scout District web site
- ^ Chorley Scout District web site
- ^ Fylde Scout District web site
- ^ a b Lonsdale Scout District
- ^ Ormskirk Scout District web site
- ^ Preston Scout District web site
- ^ South Ribble Scout District web site
- ^ Wyre Scout District web site
- ^ Story of Scouting Museum at Waddecar
- ^ BBC - Snow bother for the Scouts!
- ^ Greenland 2007
- ^ Mount Everest Foundation
- ^ BBC: Scouts on a polar bear hunt!
- ^ Scouts Press Release 2004
- ^ BMC supported expeditions
- ^ Young Explorers Trust
- ^ British Mountaineering Council
- ^ Scout magazine archive
- ^ Scout Leader's finest hour
- ^ Ardennes Adventure
- ^ Red Rose Abroad Camp
- ^ Menin Gate 2004
- ^ "Nostalgia - Happy Days". The Middleton Guardian. 2006-04-27. Archived from the original on 2006-09-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20060929191747/http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk/nostalgia/s/212/212413_happy_days.html. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
- ^ Bowley Scout Camp and Activity Centre
- ^ Ennerdale Scout Centre
- ^ Oxford University Scout and Guide Group history
- ^ Great Tower Activity Centre
- ^ Dog Hill Scout and Community Camp Site
- ^ Bibby's Farm Scout Camp and Activity Centre
- ^ Linnet Clough Website
- ^ Middlewood Scout Camp Website, Camping Section
- ^ Middlewood Scout Camp Website, Accommodation Section
- ^ Middlewood Scout Camp Website, Activities Section
- ^ Moor Crag Activity Centre
- ^ Ratlingate International Camping Centre
- ^ Tawd Vale Scout Campsite
- ^ West Lancashire Scouts
- ^ "Waddecar Scout Camp - Accommodation Details". Archived from the original on 2007-05-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20070517081609/http://www.waddecar.org.uk/accommodation.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ Waddecar Scout Camp and Activity Centre
- ^ Mowbreck Campsite
- ^ Fylde District Activity Barn
- ^ Lonsdale's Two Activity Centres
- ^ T.W. Helme Memorial Activity Centre
- ^ SilverHelme Activity Centre
- ^ Barrow Gang Show
- ^ Birkenhead Gang Show
- ^ Blackpool Gang Show
- ^ Chester Gang Show
- ^ Congleton Gang Show
- ^ Crewe Gang Show
- ^ Knutsford Gang Show
- ^ Marple Gang Show
- ^ Marple Scout Group
- ^ St Helens Scoutaround History
- ^ Warrington Gang Show
- ^ West Wirral Gang Show
External links
- West Lancs Scouts Mountaineering web site
- Crosby Scout and Guide Marina Club web site
- Greater Manchester West Scout County at the Open Directory Project
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