The First Scout Group 1937 to 1954
St. Kenelm's Scout Group
The first Scout Group in Romsley was registered on 10th February 1937. The registration form held in The Scout Association archives says that it was called St Kenelm’s Scout Group. The Scout Group met at the Mission Hall (now called St. Kenelm’s Church Hall) and comprised of 6 Wolf Cubs, (aged 8 to 11), 15 Scouts (aged 11 to 17) and 6 Rover Scouts (over 18) with 4 leaders. The Group Scout Master, who oversaw the whole Group, was Stanley Shaw who lived at Kenelmstowe, St Kenelm’s Road, Romsley. In charge of the Cubs was Cub Master was John Martin who lived in Bromsgrove Road on top of Romsley Hill. The Scout Master was a Mr W Johnson of Shut Mill Lane, Romsley. He was assisted by Gerald (?) of Back Lane (now called St Kenelm’s Road). St Kenelm’s Scout Group came under Halesowen District, part of Worcestershire County. At the time the District Commissioner was Jos Jaquis, Head teacher at St John’s School, Halesowen. Jos Jaquis gave his name to a District Camping Competition that still takes place every year. |
One of the early duties for the Scouts was providing a Guard of Honour to Viscount Cobham at the official opening of the Camping Club Site in Fieldhouse Lane on 27th June 1937, when he unveiled a plaque. Professor Wills of Shut Mill provided a large stone for plaque, the stone being one of the many glacial deposits that can be found around the area. The Scouts brought the stone to site on their Trek Cart and it can still be seen at the site today. |
1938 - Cub Leader John Martin was being assisted by his wife Jessie Martin The Scouts - and later also the Guides - used to meet in the ‘Scout Hut’. This was in the back garden of John and Jessie Martin’s House in Bromsgrove Road on the top of Romsley Hill. |
The Scout Troop was now run by John Wridgway before he joined the army in 1940. John was a Dispatch Rider in Egypt from 1940 till 1945. Here he is seen with Assistant Leader Ted Deeley and Mick the Dog |
The Scouts often joined up with Romsley Guide Company which was founded in 1942. The Guide Captain was a Mrs Evans. In this photograph taken around 1943 we can see (back row l to r) Elizabeth Harris, Barbara Martin, Mrs Evans (Captain), Jean Wridgway, Hazel Hughes and May Shaw. On the front row on the right is Clara Potter who would later become a Guider, as well as her daughter Carol Potter. |
John Wridgway later bought a van to be able to carry all the equipment for camp. Around that time, another Romsley resident John Brown was the District Secretary for Halesowen District Scouts. John lived at Churchward on Bromsgrove Road and is known for collection of photographs he left to the History Society. |
The Scout Group saw a big wedding in 1949 when Scout Leader John Wridgway married Cub Leader May Shaw at St. Kenelm's Church. The snow came down as the wedding party passed through the Guard of Honour created by the Scouts with the staves. The ceremony was followed by a reception at St Kenelm's Church Hall. |
To celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951, the Scouts and Guides organised a full week of events in Romsley and Hunnington. The money raised from the events were to go towards a new Headquarters. To read about the Festival Week click here |
St. Kenelm's Scout Group closed in 1954 when John and May Wridgway retired as leaders after many years of hard work.
It was to be 12 years later that the Scout Group re-opened
Thank you to May Wridgway for her help and kind permission to reproduce the photographs.