Group History | 4th Southgate Scout Group

Early Memories of our Scout Group

The 4th Southgate Scout Group is just over 100 years old, having been formed in July 1917 under the auspices of the Rev. D’Arcy Preston, the then Vicar of St Johns Parish Church .We were listed as Troop L10 in the London Diocesan Boy Scout Corps with Mr W.F.Spalding as Scoutmaster. The Cub Pack, members were known as Wolf Cubs, followed on June 24^th 1918 with Miss Dorothy Dunkley as Akela.

**The earliest picture (taken sometime between 1918 and 1920) of the Scout Troop. This was in the Vicarage garden. An impressive array of hats with some cub caps included**.

The first record we have of participation in International Camps and Jamborees was in 1920 when 7 of our scouts attended the first International Camp in the Pyrenees. From then on we have mention of many such events including the first World Jamboree held at Olympia in London in 1920.

Another photograph of interest in our archives was taken in June 1931.

The then Princess Elizabeth after holding her own inspection, and reviewing the Scout troop, taking the salute as the Troop left St James Palace. We were honoured by being on duty at the inspection of the Yeomen of the Guard by the Duke of Connaught.

The Duke of Connaught was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria, After retiring from the Governorship of Canada he undertook many royal duties and was a great friend of Robert Baden-Powell scouting’s founder.

We have no record of the date when scout groups were numbered and we became the 168 North London scouts. However on the formation of the Greater London Council in 1965, scouting was reorganized and Scout Counties and Districts were named and we became the 4^th Southgate Scout Group. However we always have been St Johns Scouts in Palmers Green…