Isle of Wight Air Scouts
Air Scouts
Ryde Air Scouts
Brading Air Scouts
The following article was taken from the Isle of Wight County Press, May 3rd 1965.
A Scout group who have had a number of number of "ups and downs" in their 4 year history are now hoping for more of the former, having become the first air Scouts on the Island.
Earlier this month the 1st Brading Scout Group were renamed the 1st East Wight Air Scouts, Bradlng.
The move came Just over a year after the troop were reformed — they had folded some time before when the Scout leader had to give up.
"We got the new title because we want to attract boys from outside Brading", said Mr. Derek Howard, the group Scout leader, explaining that the town had only a limited number of youngsters Interested,
"We found we were having problems holding the scout age boy in the group and we realised we needed some extra activity which perhaps they could not get elsewhere.
"Being situated between two airports helped us to decide to bring air scouts to the Island."
Air scout troops are also fairly rare on the mainland, expense being one of the problems.
"Unlike the sea scouts who can buy boats, we obviously cannot afford to buy our own aircraft," said the leader.
EXPERIENCE
The Brading boys will get their flying experience through friends of the troop who own their own aircraft.
They also hope to form a connection with the Vectis Gilding Club who fly from the IW Airport at Sandown.
Another of the "different" activities of the troop will be parascending.
Initially they will go to the mainland for this, but Mr. Howard said he would like to bring the sport to the Island.
This would be for all local Scouts, but getting It off the ground would be expensive and four people would have to be properly trained beforehand, he explained.
In addition, all the boys take part In normal Scout activities such as hikes, camps and first aid training.
Their uniform will set them apart from other Island scouts, being an RAF blue colour rather than the traditional green and khaki..
They plan, however, to move over gradually to the new colours because of the added cost — most of the boys have had their present uniforms for only a short while.
The troop began their air activities several weeks before they officially changed their title and many of the 12 Scouts are well on the way to winning the airman's badge.
The cub pack is also about 12 strong, although Mr. Howard Is looking for new members all the time.
"We would like an extra leader for the Cubs." he added.
The 1st Brading Cubs were.in fact. In existence before the Scouts — founded In 1980, about six months before the senior section came into being.
Mr. Howard joined soon after that.
Winner of the Scout Association Medal of Merit, Mr. Howard is an unlikely leader of an air Scout troop — his job Is at sea. on the Trinity House pilot launches.
His association with the movement stretches back over 30 years, to when he was an eight-year-old cub with the 3rd Sandown Group.
At 11 he transferred to the 1st Sandown Scout Troop, where he later became cub Scout leader.
One of his main alms for the Bradlng group, which meets each Tuesday evening at the town’s youth club, is to win Royal Air Force recognition.
For this they need to boost membership to 25 boys, half of whom need to have airman’s badges.
“It’s an aim we can work towards,” he said.
Starting to pack their kit in readiness for a two-day hike are back (from left): Nigel Eldridge, Mr Derek Howard (group Scout leader), Clive White, Justin Jones and Freda and Gress Westbrook (Scout leaders); front: Chris White, Niki Sadler, Jody Sadler, Andrew Bowbrick and Stephen Shaw.
