Thorley Sections
This is an extract from the scouting movements website
About our work
The Scout Association provides adventurous activities and personal development opportunities for 400,000 young people aged 6-25. Internationally, we have over 28 million young people enjoying the benefits of Scouting across 216 countries. Personal development means promoting the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual well-being of the individual, helping them achieve their full potential. In Scouting, we believe that young people develop most when they are ‘learning by doing,’ when they are given responsibility, work in teams, take acceptable risks and think for themselves.
Myth busting
Bob a job, dyb, dyb, dyb, boys in shorts and big hats: do the general public really know what modern Scouting is all about? The Scout kNOT Book has been designed to debunk some of the myths about the Movement.
International
Scouting is currently active in 216 countries and territories with a global membership of over 28 million. Two thirds of the international membership are in developing countries.The International Office, based at Gilwell Park, promotes international opportunities including camps and projects, with the aim of strengthening links between The Scout Association in the UK and other members of The World Organization of the Scout Movement.
New to Scouting?
Welcome to a new kind of Scouting. At this official site of The UK Scout Association you can find out about the organisation and use the site to find out how to get involved.
1st Thorley (St James) Scout Group
A Brief History
18th January 1956 Thorley Scout Group came into being under the leadership of Canon Sydney Robinson.
The first and subsequent Scout nights were held in what was then the Thorley village/working men’s club. A wooden structure erected around the time of the First World War. Within a short space of time Scouting became very popular and the group numbers increased and continued to do so.
1967 A major review by the Scout Association resulted in a new uniform. Out went the big hats and shorts and in came a new green shirt, long trousers and a beret. 1st and 2nd class awards were replaced with a more progressive scheme with a new top badge for the Scout section, the Chief Scout award, with camping and outdoor pursuits taking front and centre stage.
1970s The Group continued to grow and some major changes happened next door to our hut. The old school became vacant, and a decision was made by the Group Executive to move out of the hut and into the school. The inside was a mess, no floor, no power and plaster coming off the walls. However Scouters, parents and friends set to and refurbished the building, and it was opened by Tony Burgess, County Commissioner on 19th April 1975.
St James & Holy Trinity Next came the joining of two groups. The parishes of Thorley and Holy Trinity were combined, and so it was decided that the two Scout Groups should also join together. Holy Trinity had been the home of the 7th Bishop’s Stortford Scout Group. The Scouts moved to the Thorley HQ with the Holy Trinity Cub Pack staying at the Waytemore building, now the Havers Community Centre. With our ever-increasing numbers, a new Cub Pack was formed by Pack was called ‘Saxon’. Thorley’s original Pack became ‘Viking’ and the Waytemore Pack became ‘Norman’.
1981 Venture Unit ‘Aquilla’ formed at Thorley.
1984 After some serious fundraising, Adventurer Troop, as it is known today, went to Kandersteg in Switzerland for two weeks of alpine adventure. They had such a brilliant time that they went back for more four years later.
1990s Our membership was still increasing, so much so that we started another Scout Troop. And decided that, just like the Cub Packs, the two Troops must have names. The new troop was called Buccaneer and the original troop took the name Adventurer.
We also started up a Beaver Colony. The response from the 6 – 8 years old was tremendous and at one stage we had two Colonies, ‘Raleigh’ and ‘Drake’, running back to back programmes. Even though we had a waiting list of 50+, leadership of two Colonies could not be maintained, so we had to close one down.
1999 Group numbers were now in excess of 250 and we had to look at our facilities to see what could be done to enable expansion. The original wooden hut was fast approaching the end of its life so plans were drawn up and approved to demolish the old building and rebuild a new Centre. Everybody was gearing up for a fundraising campaign to end all campaigns as we approached the new millennium.
21st Century We said ‘good-bye’ to the old hut and ‘hello’ to many obstacles in our re-building plans. Fundraising in the group proceeded very well, it was external funding, or should that be the lack of external funding, which gave us headaches.
We also said ‘good-bye’ to our Venture Unit and ‘hello’ to a new section, Explorer Scouts. The Scout Association introduced a new programme for all sections, meeting the needs of this Century’s young people.
Future? Thorley Scout Group’s future is very bright – thanks to the standards set by its first leaders, and maintained by everybody who subsequently took up the challenge. Young people throughout the district want to come to us, knowing that we provide fun, adventure, challenge, achievement and, of course, lots of fun.
Given the strength and depth of our present Leadership and Executive teams, the Thorley Scout Group can and will provide Scouting at Thorley for many years to come.’
Programme Zones
Each Section offers a balanced programme based on:
Beliefs & Attitudes
Community
Fitness
Creativity
Global
Outdoor & Adventure
The Fass School
The Group has formed a link with the Fass School in the Gambia via the Helping Charity. We know how much the people there value our support, in particular the letters the Cubs and Scouts write, earning them the International Friendship award. In return the members of the Group have learned to value the comfort and privileges we enjoy in our daily lives.
Thorley Sections
1 Beaver Colony – Raleigh – Boys and girls aged 6 – 8 years.
3 Cub Packs – Norman, Saxon and Viking – Boys and girls aged 8 – 1012 years
2 Scout Troops – Adventurer and Buccaneer – Boys and girls aged 1012 - 1412 years’
More Information
An article written by Reg Jacobs is posted in ‘From the Archives’ on the Friends’ web site:
http://www.friends.stjames.btinternet.co.uk/Thorley_Scouts.htm.
Getting Involved
The Scout Group would be interested in hearing from anyone who wishes to be involved. Opportunities exist for:
- weekly Leader/Helper
- ad hoc Instructor/occasional Helper
- member of the Adult Support Team (the Executive Committee) that provides encouragement, support and administrative help to the Section Leaders and meets 6 times per year.
- Bookkeeper/administrator for a Section
If you think this is for you, please contact:
Stuart Jacobs, GSL, ‘ 01279 305315,
Or speak with any of the Leaders
- from within our own Parish family Sue Bibby, Maureen Hargrave, Chris Hinge, Phil Knight and Max Streets
Guides, Brownies & Rainbows
In Thorley, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides are also thriving – girls only!
Contact: Janet Gordon ‘ 01279 656021
