Group History - 3rd Ventnor
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We don't have a lot of information about the group, but we do have this document which was probably written in about 2010.
3rd Ventnor Scout Group — A history
When the foundations were laid in 1909 for the formation of the 3rd Ventnor Scouts, the Bull patrol, formed by Mr. Vivian Yorke and Mr. Alfred Du Feu, had their first clubroom at Honeythorne on the Esplanade.
When Mr. Yorke became a scout he found five boys to join him in forming the first patrol. They were:
Percy Cogger, Archie Cogger, Edward Bannings, Freddie Maybee and Albert Urry.
Soon after, five more joined:
Jack Spencer, William Bates, Charles Langford, Eric Webb and John Ives.
3rd Ventnor YMCA troop was formed under Mr. George Cox, who later ran groups at Wroxall and Ryde and it was this Troop they joined.
Archie Cogger John Ives Eric Webb Percy Cogger Vivian Yorke
Freddie Maybee William Bates Jack Spencer
Bull Patrol 1912
In the 1st World War the Scouts made house to house visits in Ventnor and the surrounding area to ascertain the numbers of aliens, their nationalities and their ages and the report was handed to the police authorities. They guarded Ventnor Telephone Exchange, St Lawrence Post Office and Niton Telegraph Office. They were on cycle orderly duty at the local Military HQ and Recruiting Offices and they helped guard the Howitzer guns in Park Avenue day and night. Also, soon after the War started John Ives and Vivian Yorke discovered a German spy's house. Over 30 members joined up in the 1st World War and two were killed.
After WWI, Mr Du Feu and Mr Cox discussed re-forming the Troop and the first meeting was on 6th October 1920.
From then on, the 3rd Ventnor went from strength to strength. Many prominent local people gave their support and, in the years that followed, the movement took an active pad in the life of the district The 2nd. Ventnor (Ventnor College) and 4th Ventnor (Belmont School) were also in existence at this time. The 1st Ventnor was run by the Rev. C. H. Castle.
Mr. T. Sydney Parry helped with the formation of a Bonchurch group in 1927.
The Troop included: E. Holmberg; R. Vanassche; E. Vine; ?. Stevens; W. Whittington; E. Ingram; ?. Mackett; S. Randall; J. Dixon; J. Wood; L. Haddow; R. Peddar; L. Stagg; B. Samuel; B. Chambers;E. Simmonds; E. Loader; G. Rowe; R. Cooper; J. Loader and E. Barber.
1928
The 3rd Ventnor group grew in numbers and in 1928 Roy Smith became GSM. From then until 1938, when he left, was the Troop's heyday - over 80 strong all told.
November 1935
In World War II no fewer than 43 former 3rd Ventnor men joined the Navy, 60 served in the Army and 33 in the RAF. At least 17 laid down their lives. The Troop continued during the war, although numbers were small and at times the boys hied to organise meetings themselves.
In May of 1946 a permanent campsite, at Church Hill, was opened by the former owner of the site - Miss Maddock.
50 yrs Celebration
In August of 1959 the Group celebrated being active for 50 years (apart from a short break during the 1st World War) at the Beach Hotel. The chief guests were Mr. Vivian Yorke and Mr. Alfred Du Feu.
50 yrs Celebration - 1959 In 1962 work started on a building at 3rd Ventnor site. The building cost £720 and the following year a press clipping reports...
Owing to the large crowd of 100 or more, many of those invited to attend the opening of the 3rd Ventnor Scouts new hut in Trinity Road, on Sunday, were unable to get in, and had to listen to the proceedings from outside.
The new building was opened by Mr. F. H. Scarf (President, Rotary Club), and was named the Turney Hut in memory of Mr. P. F. Turney, who died suddenly in February.
Mr. Scarf said that Mr. Turney unselfishly and unceasingly worked for the Group over many years, particularly for the new headquarters. He was Vice-Chairman of the Parents' Committee and Chairman of the Local Association at the time of his death, and had served for 14 years on the committee.
The recently elected Chairman of the L.A., Mr W. G. Whittington, who is also Chairman of the Parents' Committee, welcomed the guests, who included Mr. A. E. J. Walters (Chairman, Ventnor Council) and Mrs. Walters and Lt. Col. D. G. Brodie (County Commissioner).
The building was dedicated by the Rev. A. L. Burrell (Vicar of Ventnor) who afterwards presented a New English Bible to the Group Scoutmaster, Mr. R. C. King, for the use of the Group
Mr. King received a gift from the Committee in recognition of his efforts as Group Scoutmaster since 1946, and an illuminated copy of the Scouts' Law from Mr. E. C. Vine, for the hut.' (It is believed to be still hanging in the Turney Hut today.)
60th Anniversary
In 1969 the 60th anniversary of the Group was marked by a dinner and dance at the Metropole Hotel, Ventnor. Again, Mr Vivian Yorke was the guest of honour. A company of sixty-five attended. These included Lt. Col. R. C. Stevens, OBE (County Commissioner), Mr. F. E. Bridges (District Commissioner) and Mrs. Bridges, Mr. W. G. Lawes (President, South Wight District) together with Scouters of the District and a number of former members of the 3rd Ventnor.
On Friday 29th February 1980, five 3rd Ventnor Scouts were presented with Chief Scout Awards by Major-General Oliver Roome, C.B.E.., the County Corn missioner. They were Richard Wood (16), Alan Saul, Richard Pease, John Waring and Sean. Strevens (all 15). He also gave Venture Awards to David Hookey and Alan Walkinshaw, who formed the nucleus, together with the five boys previously mentioned, of the 3rd Ventnor Venture Scout Unit.
An £8,000 extension to the Ventnor Scout Group's HQ at Trinity Road was officially opened in November 1984. The extension, to form a storeroom for the 3rd Ventnor scouts and cubs, together with outside lighting and paths, is the biggest scheme yet to be carried out with the aid of the Island's Community Projects Agency.
In 1986 the 3rd Ventnor Group opened a Beaver Colony, led by Angela Parsons, who then stayed with it for 11 years.
Sadly, in 1998, the Cub Pack had to close because of a lack of adults to lead it. This was the start of what must have been one of the lowest times in the Groups history. A great shame since in 1999 the Group celebrated its 90th birthday with the creation of a badge celebrating the Group foundation in 1909.
In 2000, two years after the Cub Pack closed and after being active for 14 years, the Beaver Colony was finally forced to close, also because of lack of adults to lead it. Even the Scout Troop, which always seemed to be popular, was reduced to just three members in 2003.
Fortunately, approaching the Scouting Centenary year things are picking up again. In 2004 Mrs Julie Quinlan and Mrs Heather Rutherford re-opened the Cub Pack and the Group membership has been rising ever since.
In this final paragraph we will take one final trip down memory lane and list all those buildings where the 3rd Ventnor Group have held meetings through their history. The first Clubroom, as mentioned earlier, was at Honeythorne, Esplanade.
During the years following, premises used included...
- The stores behind the Country House;
- The room beneath the Congregational Church;
- Brunswick House, Victoria Street;
- Fairholme, Park Avenue;
- A house in Grove Road;
- Sharpes' Stores, Albert Street;
- The Methodist Church Schoolroom;
- A garage in Leeson Road;
- The large room above the Albert Street School
- The Turney Hut in Trinity Road.