16 August 07 - 22:46Post Museum Marks 100 years of Scouting

Bath Chronicle 9th Augsut 2007

Colourful Scouting memorabilia has been put on display to coincide with the movement's centenary year.

Last week Scouts across the world renewed their promises to the organisation at a series of jamborees.

Now visitors to the Bath Postal Museum are invited to get involved with a new, interactive exhibition.

Children can take part in a competition to design a Scouting-themed stamp, with the best entries to be put on display at the museum's entrance.

Three overall winners will then receive a prize when the exhibition closes in October.

The exhibition follows various Scouting themes including Scouting: The Early Years, which focuses on founder Lord Baden-Powell and the origins of the movement; Branches of Scouting, which looks at offshoots such as the Brownies, Cubs, Guides and Sea Scouts, and Collecting Scout Memorabilia.

Items on display in the collection include an original Scout shirt which still bears a number of badges, Edwardian Scouting and Girl Guiding postcards, Scouting-themed stationery, issues of The Scout magazine and rare Scout stamps.

Museum officer Vicky Harrington said younger visitors could also try on uniforms from dressing-up boxes, use the interactive displays and try on an old Sea-Scouts hat.

"This exhibition has something for everyone," she said. "It is really interactive and will enable people to really engage with history.

"The uniforms mean it is a colourful and bright display and also teaches children about the community aspect of Scouting and may encourage more of them to get involved with the movement."

The exhibition opened at the beginning of the month and runs until October 31.

The museum is open from 11am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, with last entry at 4.30pm.

Bath Postal Museum is located on the corner of Northgate Street and Green Street, underneath the City of Bath Post Office.

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16 August 07 - 22:45Early Risers Mark Centenary of Scouting

Bath Chronicle 2nd August 2007

It Was an early start for around 500 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at Bath Racecourse yesterday.

The youngsters were renewing their Scout promise in a special sunrise ceremony.

The event marked Wansdyke District's contribution to the Scout movement's centenary celebrations.

Bacon butties were served up to kick things off at the WanJam - Wansdyke District Jamboree - before the celebrations got under way at 8am.

An African Kudu antelope horn sounded across the racecourse, signalling the jamboree's start, in the same way as Baden-Powell summoned his Brownsea Island camp in 1907.

One hundred balloons were released and a small celebratory service was held.

Beavers who turned six years old yesterday were also invested.

Scout groups from across the Wansdyke and Bath districts attended.

Air Scouts travelled from Chisledon near Swindon, and the special-needs 133rd Bristol troop also made the trip.

The party continued as the jamboree travelled to Weston- super-Mare, where Avon Scouts held an all-day beach party for their celebrations.

Further sunrise ceremonies were held there to coincide with others taking place elsewhere in the world.

"The whole year has been geared towards the centenary programme, following events taking place across the country," said Wansdyke District Commissioner Janet Turner.

"We timed WanJam to coincide with the World Jamboree in Chelmsford, and today's sunrise ceremony is happening across the world as a new century of scouting dawns."

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16 August 07 - 22:43Scouts in centenary celebrations

BBC online 1st August 2007

Millions of scouts around the world have renewed their promises in ceremonies to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the movement's founding.
Brownsea Island, in Poole Harbour, Dorset, where the first camp for 20 boys was held by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907, is the focus of celebrations.

Some 300 scouts from 160 countries have set up camp at the National Trust site.

Some 40,000 scouts and leaders from across the world are also at a 12-day jamboree near Chelmsford, in Essex.

The Hylands Park event, opened on Saturday by Prince William, is believed to be the biggest event in the history of the Scout Association.

Our aim is to bring up the next generation of useful citizens with a wider outlook than before and thereby to develop goodwill and peace... with comradeship and co-operation

At Brownsea Island, 300 scouts assembled for a ceremony at 0800 BST (0700 GMT).

Chief Scout Peter Duncan, a former Blue Peter presenter, signalled the start of scouting's second century by blowing the original kudu horn that Lord Baden-Powell blew to start the first camp.

British scout Alastair Frankl, 16, read out Lord Baden-Powell's speech of 100 years ago.

He said: "Our aim is to bring up the next generation of useful citizens with a wider outlook than before and thereby to develop goodwill and peace in the world with comradeship and co-operation."

This would be "in place of the prevailing rivalry between classes, creeds and countries which have done so much in the past to produce wars and unrest".

'Making friends'

The Dorset-based scouts led the world in renewing their scout promise to build a peaceful and tolerant society.

Some 400,000 scouts in the UK took part in hundreds of similar events.

Scouts around the globe also reaffirmed their scouting promise in ceremonies.

Events were held in places as far afield as Namibia and Ecuador while, in Bucharest, Romania, scouts formed a human chain around the parliament building.

There are now thought to be 28 million scouts worldwide.

Cardiff scout Jon Grimes, 19, said scouting was as relevant now as it was 100 years ago.

He said: "When [Lord Baden-Powell] first ran the camp, he brought together different social classes from public schools and less fortunate backgrounds. It was about crossing the social divide and making friends.

"Our camp this year will be about making friends between people from different cultures."

Mariama Irele, 17, from Senegal, said of the Dorset event: "Two days ago I arrived here on a boat with 300 strangers - now they are all my friends.

"If young people around the world can repeat what has happened here, then we really can help build a more friendly world."

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16 August 07 - 22:39Stamps Honour Scouts 100 years

BBC Online 26th July 2007

A set of six stamps has been launched to mark the start of scouting on Brownsea Island 100 years ago.
The stamps show the achievements of past and present scouts, including record-breaking mountaineer Rhys Jones, 21, from Cadnam, Hampshire.

He is the youngest person to scale the highest peaks on the seven continents.

Scouting began in 1907 when founder Robert Baden-Powell set up his first camp for boys on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset.

Since then, the Scout Association has grown to become the world's largest youth movement with 28 million members across the globe.

The stamps are illustrated by Japan-based artist Jez Fry and depict the movement's achievements.

Former scouts include 11 of the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon and the pilot to complete the first non-stop solo flight around the world.

Rhys Jones, 21, whose achievement is noted on the 46p stamp image of scouts rock climbing, said: "It is an honour to have my achievement featured on one of Royal Mail's scouting centenary issue stamps.

"The images on the six stamps really reflect the adventure that I and my friends have got out of scouting.

"I certainly got the inspiration for my biggest adventure through scouting, and I hope others will too."

We are looking forward to continuing this adventure for many years to come

Nearly 500,000 young people in the UK will join in this year's centenary celebrations, including a replica of the first event on Brownsea Island and camp in Essex for 40,000 youngsters from around the world.

Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, the UK's chief scout, said: "To have a scouting centenary issue of Royal Mail stamps is a great credit to scouting and all it has achieved over the past 100 years.

"Fittingly, the stamps echo the core principles of scouting today - adventure, personal development and achievement, community spirit, inclusiveness and volunteering.

"We are looking forward to continuing this adventure for many years to come."

Julietta Edgar, Royal Mail head of special stamps, said: "The stamps which mark this important anniversary will be seen by millions of people around the world and I hope they will inspire future generations of young people and bring back happy memories for many others."

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16 August 07 - 22:33Prince Marks Opening of World Jamboree

BBC Online 28th July 2007

Prince William has opened the 21st World Scout Jamboree, marking the 100th anniversary of the movement's founding.
Around 40,000 young people from around the world are at the 12-day event at Hylands Park near Chelmsford, Essex.

A "tent town" is housing boys and girls from more than 160 countries on the 300-hectare site.

The Scouting Movement was founded by Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1907, and the first camp was set up on Brownsea Island in Dorset.

The prince launched the festival with the Duke of Kent, who is president of the Scout Association, before being taken on a tour of the site.

'Modern organisation'

The jamboree is the biggest event in the history of the scouting movement, according to the Scout Association.

The scouts will take part in traditional activities such as adventure training and community service, and meet scouts from other countries.

The prince was cheered by hundreds of children as he arrived by helicopter.

What would Baden-Powell do?
Have your say: Scouting

He was presented with a traditional neckerchief commemorating the jamboree, which he hooked over his neck.

During the tour he met scouts from around the world who discussed issues including sustainable housing and HIV, before joining a drum band.

One of the scouts, Alec, explained what he wanted to get out of the event.

"Just meeting people from all across the world. There are scouts from nearly every part of the world here.

"Making friends with all of them and we are taking part in loads of different adventure activities with them so it's just going to be loads of fun."

A spokesman said the Duke of Kent and Prince William observed first hand how scouting has evolved.

He said: "They saw how scouting creates a better world through providing challenge and adventure to both young people and adult volunteers."

The prince was invited to open the event despite never having been a scout himself

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16 August 07 - 22:29A Life Time's Service To Scouts

Bath Chronicle 06 July 2007

A Man who gave a lifetime of service to Bath's Scout movement has died aged 74.Jack Jones was born in Camden Road in November 1932, and was the eighth of ten children.

His parents Dick and Daisy later moved to Fountain Buildings and he attended Christchurch and Walcot schools.

His lifetime in Scouting began at the age of eight as a Cub with the 17th (Walcot and St Saviour's) Group.

He progressed through to the Scout and Venture sections before becoming a leader, holding numerous posts within the Bath District.

He was assistant commissioner for both Scouts and Ventures, as well as holding an appointment within the county helping many Venture Scouts achieve the Queen's Scout Award.

At the age of 18, he was called up for national service in the Army, the majority of that time being spent in Germany as a driving instructor.

He also became a leader there and forged an international bond that has lasted more than 50 years between Scouts in Bath and Braunschweig.

In recognition of this, Mr Jones was presented with a medal for services to Scouting in Germany.

Mr Jones also received numerous accolades for his work with the Scouting movement in Bath.

These included the Medal of Merit, the Silver Acorn, Long Service Decoration, Chief Scout's Long Service Decoration and Bar to the Silver Acorn.

Outside of the movement he worked as a driver for Shell, had a smallholding at Lambridge, where he reared pigs and chickens, and then went into partnership running a tyre business before becoming a taxi driver.

In retirement he took up painting and particularly enjoyed landscapes, but his interest in Scouting was always there.

A funeral service for Mr Jones was held at the top chapel at Haycombe, which was packed to the rafters.

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