You are probably aware that the year 2007 was the centenary year of the Scout Movement, being founded by B-P in 1907, but you may not be aware that 2008 is the centenary year of the founding of 1^st Uxbridge Scouts.

The Centenary Year of 1^st Uxbridge could not be allowed to pass without holding suitable events for present members and also for past members to celebrate such an achievement. There will be a Group Camp over the bank holiday weekend 23 / 26^th May for all the current members of the Beaver Colony, Cub Scouts, Scout Troop and Explorer Scout Unit to be held at Phasels Wood Campsite. Also a Summer Camp is planned in August for the Cub Scouts, Scouts and Explorer Scouts to be held at Gilwell Park.

For all previous members and old friends of the Group two reunions are being planned. Firstly an informal Get-Together on Saturday 7^th June 2008 at the Scout Hall Rockingham Recreation Ground and later a formal Dinner in Newton Room of the Hamilton Centre, Brunel University, Uxbridge on Saturday 27^th September. The date of this Dinner is, as far as we know, the time of year when the first meeting took place between the boys who formed the original patrol of 1^st Uxbridge Scouts.

We are in contact with Mr John Harewood, the son of one of those founding members, who it is hoped will be able to attend at least one of these events, as well as numerous former members and leaders from the intervening years, so we anticipate having a large attendance on both occasions. However the record list is far from complete. Many have moved home and of course over the years many ‘old scouts’ have been called to higher service as we say in the movement. So if you have contact with any other former members I would be very grateful if you could please note their names and contact details on the reply slip so that I can ensure they are informed of the reunion events.

There have been celebration events held for past and present members on several occasions including the 50^th year when we members then took part in a 1^st Uxbridge Scout Gang Show in St Johns Church Hall Hillingdon produced by Tommy Barnard. Then there has been a formal Dinner to my knowledge for the 70^th 80^th and 85^th anniversaries each of which was organised by long serving Group Scout Leader Ron Buttrum. Sadly, both of these ‘born organisers’ and many other long serving leaders have passed on, but the Group is still very strong under the leadership of GSL John Childs.

I hope the planned reunions are of interest to you and I would appreciate the return of the reply slip to help give us an idea of the numbers of people interested, without of course any commitment at this stage. Further details of the arrangements for both reunions will be sent out to all who express an interest in attending as soon as they become available.

If you were a member of 1st Uxbridge and wish to share your memories then a special centenary guestbook has been set up for that purpose...  Centenary Guestbook

CENTENARY REUNIONS reply form.pdf