Were you a past member of a Scout or Guide troop in Harringay?

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on September 4, 2009 at 10:17

Most of my school friends were in the 75th.. but I never joined, although I did go one evening to the red shack (sorry, I meant - hut) on Stanhope Gardens, but it wasn't my sort of thing.. :o)

All the scouts and guides wore their uniforms to school on saints days and other occasions. But I'm not sure which. I think they were given orders when to wear it..

The Boy's Brigade was also active in the area and some boys at school were in that rather than the Scouts - I always felt that the BB uniform was much more interesting than the Scouts.

I still remember one girl at Woodlands, Jane Pierce who always wore her Girl Guides uniform on special days.. and Stephen Anderson* who lived on Grand Parade who was in the 75th..

*we were the 'Transport Stephens' - We used to play railways together, he pretended to be the manager of the District Railway and I was the manager of the Metropolitan.. he wanted his trains to chuff - Dist-rict - Dist-rict :o)

Permalink Reply by Liz on September 17, 2009 at 16:01

Roy and Keith have kindly allowed me to reproduce their exchange of memories about scouting in Harringay

I joined 75 NL(green scarf) in 1954 and was a scout, senior, rover troop (rover mate), ASM and Hornsey District Rover Crew until 1968 when I moved away although I kept in touch with the 75th attending camps and events.
Of course I remember 77 red and yellow scarf, Alison Hall for handball and the long thin hut next to the church.

It was ironic that we at 75 always looked down on 77 which was a smaller group and when the new style of uniform came in after the 1966 Report as the scout shirt was green to make our scarf stand out I designed a new scarf green with red and yellow edging. I had in mind that eventually when we took over 77 they would be happy with such a coloured scarf. Ironically it was 75 which closed first and combined with 77 at Alison Road but that combined group did not last long.

Harringay was changing and there was no interest to be leaders and rover crews had been killed off (a mistake in my opinion). For some years I was an ASL with the 1st Stanford-le-Hope and through my son I am associated with 4th Southgate.

I don't know about you but scouting gave me and my brother a great education and opened up the world. World Jamborree in 1957 and that lead to 6 months in USA with Boy Scouts of America in 1965. I play golf every week with my APL (Swifts) and with Meryl O'Neal' brothers keeping our scouting spirit alive.

My old scoutmaster Eric Swan died this year, he was GSL of 75/77 or 77/75 besides Hornsey DC for a while and Gwil Griffiths Cub master at 75 and also Hornsey DC is currently poorly.
As for people at 77 the only ones I can recall are a couple of the cub leaders - female!
Keith

Hi Keith,

Thanks for your comments about scouting in Harringay. Yes I have a lot to be thankful for scouting in more ways than one. It gave me so much enjoyment and I think it taught me a good sense of values which is sadly lacking in so many young and older people today.

Maybe as you say you looked down on the 77th but I dont think that could have been whilst I was a member of the group, and the reason I say this is that I was lucky to have joined the 77th at the same time as Harry Townsend became Scout Master, and Master he was!! He was an ex MP in the army and quickly knocked us into shape, which we really needed. We became very smart and took real pride in our appearance, so much so that I think it was about 11 of us got places to the International Jamboree at Gillwell Park, we also got places in the Ralph Reader Gang Shows and you may just remember our historic win at the North London Swimming Gala at Hornsey Road baths: we won every event! this, I doubt, has ever been done since.

I am afraid I have lost touch with scouting and think it too late to do anything about it now, but as I say Keith I have some very pleasant memories of things I experienced in scouting.
Thanks again

Roy

See a picture of the 77th North London Swimming Team in 1953 here

Permalink Reply by Liz on February 1, 2011 at 23:54

Some photos of the 77th here

Permalink Reply by Paul Loke on May 25, 2014 at 20:23

Hi,
I was a member of the 77th North London Scout Group from around 1957 to 1962, great Group and some of the best years of my life. It made you realise that there's a whole world out there and that you can achieve much with hard work and effort.

Alan Bryant was indeed called Timber and in my time was the Senior Scout Leader supported by John Shewring. I have a collection of their monthly news letters from that time, it lists many of the Scout Leaders and Scouts, plus Cubs,Brownies and Guides.

We put on some great Gang Shows, themed around South Pacific, Oaklahoma and others. Great times and I do have some pictures should anybody have an interest..

Went back to Alison Road Church the other week, but all is gone!

Quite happy to do some work and provide lists of people and events should anybody have an interest?

Regards,

Paul Loke

Permalink Reply by ROY BOWKER on October 25, 2016 at 11:46

Hi Paul, I don't think I have made comment on your post before, if I have please excuse me, it's my age! However I shall take it that I have not. I know it's 2 years from your post but I have not been very regular with looking at and contributing to Hol, but here goes.

 Looks like you joined the 77th about a year before I left. Really thinking of it, I should not have. Scouting also did a lot for me including all of the things you mention. Was Harry Townsend still the scout leader? also Jeff Adams there in your time? I knew Alan Bryant very well and together with Johnny Watling we went weekend camping either to Tolmers in Hertfordshire, or a camp at East Grinsted, which I cant remember the name of. Another name that comes to mind is Ron Barker who also was heavily involved in the shows that were put on, nice chap was Ron. It seems your shows were more superior than our efforts and if you have any info on them I would very much like to see it, or for that matter anything to do with the 77th. 

 Thank you for posting Paul.

  Cheers Roy

 

Permalink Reply by Paul Loke on October 28, 2016 at 22:52

Hi Roy,
No, not heard from you before.
I remember Jeff Adams but not the others. Some of the names I do remember: Pete Bishop, the Smith Family 2 boys and girls of various ages, Derek & Ronnie Burt, Peter Weeks. I'll look through some papers and come up with some other names.
I'll dig out some photos and let you have some copies.
Regards,
Paul

Permalink Reply by ROY BOWKER on November 13, 2016 at 11:45

Hi Paul,

  Thanks for your reply.

  Now the name comes to mind of Peter Weeks, so, I am assuming he was there same time as me. Can you jog my mind about him ie what position did he play in the 77th? Also Pete Bishop the same.

 Look forward to seeing some of your memorabilla. I assume you have seen the 77th swimming group photo? I am third from the left, standing. I can name them all, if you want.

Cheers, Roy.