Scouting centenary

MARKING out the milestone

ONE hundred years of adventure, comradeship and dedication are being celebrated in Oldham this year as the town’s scout groups celebrate the landmark birthday.

With a joyous reunion of members old and new finishing off the year-long celebrations in Uppermill this weekend, we take a fond look back at snapshots of the Oldham groups over the years.

Set up by Lt-Gen Baden-Powell in 1907, the scouting movement began to sweep across the country, being taken up by boys brigades and at YMCA clubs throughout the land.

Oldham’s first crop of young lads to pull on their woggles and make their promise, did so in 1910. It is believed from the badges of the first group, reading 1st Oldham, 2nd England that the borough’s founding group could have been at the very forefront of the movement, but official records proving this are still to be found.

Groups began to spring up in every corner of the Oldham district, taking in Saddleworth, Shaw, Royton and Chadderton at the time. It was to be the beginning of a century-long tradition of scouting in the borough.

Current acting Oldham district commissioner John Woolley said: “We aim to help young people to develop and become responsible citizens in society — that’s as relevant today as it was when the movement started.

“Around the town in all walks of life, thousands of people will have had connections with the scouts.”

Faded photos from the past show young boys sporting their trademark hats and grasping their kitbags as they set off to Jersey in 1937.

Throwing caution to the wind, boys in 1964 can be seen sailing their home-made rafts along the canal at Hollinwood, while thousands line the streets of Oldham town centre for the St George’s Day Parade in 1965.

Dave Riley (64), chairman of the Oldham District, fondly remembers his younger years as a member of the 50th Oldham group.

He said: “I joined when I was nine and absolutely loved going camping and learning new skills.

“Scouting gave me a sense of responsibility, but I also got a lot of fun out of it and it taught me skills that will stay with me for ever.

“The main thing was friendship — I think that’s one of the reasons why it has lasted so long.”

Fast forward a century since its origins and the movement has travelled the globe, with more than 28 million members in 216 countries and territories.

The number of groups stretched to over 130 in the Oldham District alone. In 2007, the rules were changed to allow girls to join all of the scouting groups, with activity badges now including lessons in how to be an entrepreneur and surfing the Internet, a far cry from the scout’s humble beginnings of survival skills.

Mr Woolley said: “It’s nostalgic to look at how things have changed, the uniform and the handbook are completely different.

“But it’s brilliant to see the existing groups, one of our newest groups the 6th Oldham group set up only a year ago, extending into the Muslim community in Glodwick.

“It’s really gratifying to know that scouting has always been so strong in the borough and I think it will go from strength to strength.”

Organisers are calling for anyone interested in attending Saturday’s event at the Civic Hall in Uppermill to contact Mr Riley on 01457-876730.