Group History - 1st Carisbrooke
We will be adding more information to this page as resources become available. Can you help or do you have any information we can add? if so, please contact us via our Facebook group, here.
In the meantime here's a new submission by 1st Carisbrooke Scout Michael Griffin. I've added extracts from documents and photos used by Barry Groves in preparing the group entries in his Isle of Wight Scouting History books.
We have more information in the archive which we will be adding in the future.
CARISBROOKE SCOUTS, submitted through our Facebook page by Michael Griffin.
Tony Snow suggested that I make this submittal. A good idea since the Carisbrooke Scout Troop was one of the oldest and most active in the Newport area.
The official name worn on our shoulder labels was “1ST CARISBROOKE, PRINCESS BEATRICE’S OWN”. I do not know the founding date or have details of the royal patronage.
Meetings were held at the community center on Carisbrooke High Street strategically close to the Stevens fish and chip shop.
I first started with the Cub Pack. The AKELA was Ms. Ruby Bradley, mostly unassisted. She did an amazing job, both controlling a large group of high-spirited boys, at the same time teaching them the basic tenets of Scouting. Since most members, once of age , transferred to the Scout Group, she obviously succeeded.
A highlight for me was winning the right to race in the Cub section of the Southern Region Scout Soap Box Derby at Crystal Place. The pedal driven car was designed and built by Sam Yelland and Mick Grist and named “VECTIS BULLET”. Better yet I did win the Southern Championship. Regrettably, I have no photographs of the car.
I moved on to the Scout Troop. The Scoutmaster (Skipper) was Tod Snow and it seemed to me that his whole raison d’etre, other than making a living, was ensuring the success of the troop. He contributed time: Tuesday meetings, organizing and attending camps, fund raising, church parades, wide games, having us to his home (CREMONA) for merit badge instructions, concert rehearsals, even learning camping skills by setting up camp in Cremona’s garden. I also suspect that a lot of his personal funds were used to further troop interests.
In that respect Tod always treated many Scouts to three penny’s worth of chips after the Tuesday meeting. Guess he knew many of us could not have afforded such a treat.
I remember there being four patrols each with six or seven members. Tod eventually got help from an assistant, Bert Harding whose two sons were members. Wide games were a frequent activity ranging over a wide area from the castle to the middle road chalk pit to Parkhurst Forest. We even set up zip lines over the shrubbery valley and down from the top of the chalk pit, luckily with no injuries.
Highlights of each year were the Whitsun weekend camp at Corf and the longer summer camps at various locations. Corf is on Shalfleet Creek, so we could swim at high tide. A highlight was the monster campfire Sunday night with a competition for the best campfire sketch, the winner being allowed to hold the trophy “LITTLE IKE” for the subsequent year. We did win it once.
Summer camps were of longer duration. I recall one at the Twining Estate at St Lawrence, another near Seaview and many at Thorness Bay that became a favorite. At Seaview I managed to sink an axe into my foot somewhat shortening my camp time.
Geoff Cox and I were lucky enough to be selected to attend the Scouting 50th anniversary Jamboree at Sutton Coldfield in 1957, thus interfacing with Scouts from all over the world. An amazing experience.
One year, it was decided the Troop should get together for Guy Fawkes night. One of Cremona’s residents, Mr. Lewis decided to contribute a bunch of his home-made fireworks. The very first one he ignited exploded thunderously, showered sparks everywhere including into the box holding the huge number of fireworks purchased for the occasion, igniting them. Bangers, rockets, roman candles, grasshoppers and catherine wheels etc. went off in a spectacular, noisy, and widespread but very short show. When all emerged from wherever they had sought cover, all that was left was the bonfire.
Time passed and many of us became too old for Scouts but wanted to continue participation. Thus, we asked to form a Rover crew. Tod enlisted Mick Grist to be our Rover Scout Leader (RSL, guess how we pronounced that). Thus, Carisbrooke became the only troop in the Newport area to have a Rover Crew.
We were very active participating in Moots with other Island and mainland crews including Rover/Ranger(female) gatherings. Lifelong friendships were made including no less than five marriages.
Regrettably, 1st Carisbrooke passed into history with the amalgamation of Newport area troops
The 1st Carisbrooke (Princess Beatrice' Own) Group Photos
The album of the photos is held by Bill Wendes as archivist of the West Wight memorabilia.
This file contains also copies of some photos taken by Don Woodford of the Rover Crew (The Chindits) Den and the building of its extension during 1960-61.
This den was located in Gunville, behind a bungalow on the left hand side, as going towards Forest Road, near the 30mph signs. The bungalow was number??
After dissolution of the Group this den hut was moved to Corf and became the Crew Hut.
