Memories

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

[Extract from Stumps No 65 July 1969. "Fire King" was the pen name of J T (Jack) Ash]

Round about 1932 and for several consecutive years following the 59th Rovers and the 16th Westbourne Crew had a joint Annual Pilgrimage at Xmas Time to Alport Castles. By bus to the now submerged Ashopton village and thence via Crook Hill Farm over the hills to the farm Usually there was snow around - pretty deep too! and by the time we had arrived we were all ready for the Grand Xmas Dinner which Mrs Eyre had cooked by previous arrangement.

After dinner was spent singing carols, there were various solo items, much ribaldry and jesting and eventually time for departure came. Being dark by now, we took the farm lane down to the Snake and from there to Ashopton Inn. We used to march to the accompaniment of bagpipe music provided by Douglas Cass - calling at various farms on the way to sing a carol at each. Our march terminated at the Inn where there were more carols and individual turns and the inevitable "pint"!

I believe the piper took his pipes with him when he joined the army and lost them in the evacuation of Crete or Greece - maybe he will confirm this should he happen to read this.

In the words of the Shorts Revue song - "These are the times we shall all dream about".

[Archivist's comments: Shorts Revue was an annual (?) show presented by the scouts of Sheffield]