Rover History 1945 - 1956

1954 - "Further Upheaval - New RSL and for the first time an Assistant RSL is appointed"

The year opened with a determined effort by all the Crew to really make the Crew 'live' and it is really heartening to see that this spirit still prevails today.

On the 1st of February, we had a meeting to discuss the "fitting of our activities to the aims of Rovering". At the same meeting, a proposal was made for us to change our meeting night, which needless to say was rejected by a large majority. Two Patrols were formed.

Training for the Mallet and Vera Trophies was started. In the Thomas Trophy we had gained second and third places.

At the AGM of that year, we found that we had the most registered Rovers than at any other time since 1945, which was really encouraging. Peter A. was elected as Assistant Secretary for the second time, and Pete G. was appointed Quartermaster. For the first time too it was necessary to hold two ballots to decide the appointment of a Rover Mate, Ken was finally elected.

A further improvement was envisaged in the Den,and that was that we decided to partition the kitchen area off from the the rest of the room, and work was instigated on this project.

We gained a member in that Martin joined us, and at the same time we lost a member (though not until the end of the year) when Maurice left to emigrate to Canada.
Taking everything as a whole it seemed that we had at last 'turned the corner',and we were to have a smooth passage from here onwards,but once again fate was unkind and we had yet another crisis to overcome.

After some weeks of absence, during which time rumour and counter rumours, were spoken of, whispered of,in the Crew, Paul submitted his resignation, through the GSM to the Crew. It seemed that we were forever to be plagued with this type of dilemma in that we were again leaderless.

However, working on the maxim 'as one door shuts etc', we decided that we should look round for a new leader,and after much discussion and argument we decided that we should have a present member as leader, and so on the 11th of October,K en was asked to take the post as Leader of the Crew, which to our joy, he did. At the same time it was decided that we should appoint an Assistant Leader. After much discussion etc Chippy was appointed.

Stuart, who had until this time been acting as Rover Mate, was appointed to this post on the same day.

Finally the Crew decided that they would give a party for the Old Aged Pensioners in the district,in lieu of having a party for themselves, and to re-decorate the Lecture Room in the Parish Hall.

To end on a similar note as the start of this history narrative, to speak of members, the last event of end the year was to accept two of the Senior Troop into the Crew and these were Martin,and Johnnie, to whom we say a hearty welcome, and may I express the hope that when they read this effort and see what has gone before them, they too will join some of the older ones in being determined that there will always be a Crew at 'Gussies'.

Let us go forward into the future endeavouring to improve the Crew so that those who eventually follow us can be proud of the efforts and indeed help to keep alive those principle that we have had to fight for in order to keep the Crew as it is today.