Memories

Scouting and Cubbing at St. Augustine's, 50 years ago by "Fire King"

[From Stumps No 57 November 1968. "Fire King" was the pen name of J T (Jack) Ash]

At the time I am writing about, the Cub section of the Scout Movement had been in existence about two years. St Augustine's did not have a Pack and as a result of seeing a film on Scouting following a visit of the Chief Scout to Sheffield (Sir Robert Baden Powell as he was then) my mother decided that my two brothers and myself and various friends of our age would form the nucleus of the 59th Pack.

This was accomplished in 1918 and our first Cubmaster was a local parent Mr Sharman whose two sons were already in the Scout section. He was a keen photographer and naturalist and I well remember the outings we had under his leadership. At first the only uniform in stock was a Cub cap and until the various items of uniform were available, this had to suffice.

Then, as now, we had difficulties in persuading people to be Cub Masters and we had a succession of leaders amongst whom were Miss Sugdon, Miss Morsen, Miss Cuthbert, "Dong" Cuthbert, Mr Fox, Rev'd Madison, Mr Moulson and Mr Cliff. These were mostly local people and the first two were Guides.

My father was cajoled into making our Totem Pole which for many years was carried by the Pack on parades etc. It was quite a feature with all its ribbons attached, each having printed on it the boy's name and which proficiency badge he had passed.

By now my elder brother had gone into the Scout section and one Easter, the Troop went to camp at Upper Fulwood, Brownhills Farm - I think!. My older brother and myself also camped with them (our first experience). It was bitterly cold and two young Cubs returned home before the end of the camp, cold, dirty, homesick and somewhat disillusioned. I have never camped at Easter since.

Other Cub's names come to mind - J Walker, J Postlethwaite, Horace Briggs, Malcolm Walker, Eric Johnson, Raymond Maltby, S Robinson, S Owen, T Collins and Harry Moore. There were many local boys and mostly attending Hunters Bar School.