The Blisworth Scout Group

Tony Marsh

Note on June 25, 2012    One of the omissions in Blisworth history is a maintained account of the Blisworth Scout Group.  There are many photographs taken at places and times that are not recorded.  There have been many past Scout and Guide Leaders whose names had "misted over" but this page aims eventually to fill most of the gaps.  So that the current troop's website, http://1stblisworth.ukscouts.org.uk/, might present some history on its pages, contact was made with this website recently asking for copies of many of the photographs of earlier scout groups. Rather than support that idea it was resolved to assemble here what one can of a historical account using what George Freeston offered in 1982 and Sandra O'Connor wrote in 2009 - with some editing.  That assembled sketchy history follows.

2013   As of December this year the scout website is being moved to http://www.1stblisworth.org.uk  

Note on July 3, 2014   In the Spring of this year some old records lodged with our past Parish Clerk, Tony Lack, came to light and were ejected from their household. There was a folder of Scout-related documents and photographs and these were 'rescued' and found their way to the First Blisworth scout troop and were then passed on to me for recording purposes. There was fresh information about the succession of scout leaders and a wealth of photographs from a series of camps which were mostly from the 1930s (ie. with George as the leader and with a camera). I was able to note comments from Mick Turton regarding the leaders after ~1980. The leadership details have been added into the following paragraphs and the coverage of camping trips taken by the troop are collected on a separate page. Also, miscellaneous documents are recorded here:

Miscellaneous documents:
The First Troop c.1907/8 (date judged from R.Freeston's size compared to
his size at Anderly in 1914 (which may well be incorrect). Details suggest
that the lads pictured here were probably the entire troop at that time)
Baden Powell enrolment card
Anderly Creek gathering (coastguarding - see below)
A 1934 cheque from the Parish
Village Tree Planting - the Scouts represented by a crab apple tree (1935)
Scouts involved in the War Effort, 1939 - and also to be found here
Blisworth Wolf Patrol - winners in the Tove Valley Venture Scout Unit (1981). Simon Gudgeon emails in to explain "I’m missing from the photo because after the night hike (and at 3am) I had to walk the 5 miles from Towcester back home to Stoke Bruerne to be ready for my 8am shift at the egg farm in Alderton - those were the days."
22 Cubs take part in an experiment, 1990

 G Freeston wrote for Blisworth R&A, March/April 1982 (the account has been enhanced with details from an old folder):

Scouting, which was started by Robert Baden-Powell (ex military campaigner from the South African conflicts) in 1907, grew at an amazing pace and Blisworth got involved soon after 1907. Apparently, "many of Baden-Powell's war tactics were applied in peace-time in the form of brotherly open-air exercising". Blisworth’s first Scoutmaster was a civil servant named Mr. Cheyney, from Pynus Cottages and a relative of Bob Young.  He was assisted by Tom Whitlock (son of Witty Whitlock). The first troop was founded around 1910 (actually, I believe it was 1907/8 - see first listed document above) and a small number joined from Pattishall and Gayton, especially for camps held in those parishes. Messengers were taught horse riding. Camps were held regularly, but Scouts in those days marched to and fro between venues towing the handcart which carried all their gear. A field was available to them off Dingley Lane (the lane has since disappeared from between Grafton House and the new house next to it) for camping practices. The troop earned their pathfinder badge from creating a relief map in Plasticine^TM of an area near Blisworth Station. The model was set up in the Infant School (The "Stute"), being their headquarters from 1913.

Other notable points are they became ill from creating lemonade in a zinc bucket and took advantage of horse riding lessons at Eastcote and ambulance lessons at the Stoke Road Westley Bakery. Upon the outbreak of war in 1914, some senior scouts camped on Banbury Lane to oversee rail movements.  From those days we still have (1982) two old Scouts, Mr. W. (Bill) Sturgess and Ron Freeston. Brother Ron’s enthusiasm introduced him into the realms of signalling, both with morse code and with semaphore. He and some other scouts were sent, in 1914, to take part in Coast Guard duties at Alderly Creek in Lincolnshire -see item above. From that activity, Ron volunteered and joined The Royal Naval Reserve and in the war years, as signal officer on the bridge, witnessed cargoes of hundreds of horses, in convoys, being shipped from the USA to Britain..

The first Scout Troop was dismantled during the first world war. The rebirth came in 1933 when Mr. W.A.Woolacott became Scoutmaster and his assistants (A.S.M.) were Richard Caesar and myself.  That troop enjoyed a period of scouting to the full, camping in Dorset, on the East Coast, in Snowdonia and many other localities - see the camps photos.  Notable also was the in-village activities arranged by the Scouts, for example a series of Whist Drives and Dances usually held at the "Old School" (being now the Village Hall). However, a wretched war intervened; a war to which most of the Scouts were called, one of these Scouts being a young Dennis Bodsworth who went into the Royal Navy.  Anyway, with my calling up the troop came to an end. Prior to being called up, many young scouts served as bicycled messengers and we have a photographic record of this - see above.

With the WWII over, the idea of scouting niggled in one or more heads (should we start up again?) but it was not until 1966 that Dennis Bodsworth, who was in the troop before, with the aid of Alan Westell formed a Scout troop.  Scouting flourished for a second period and it became a family involvment for the Bodsworths. I should mention at this stage that following the formation of the Scouts, the Rector, the Rev. Bunker formed a Cub pack which Mrs. Greta Bodsworth took over in 1970 (actually the reverend deemed that scouting activities were perhaps insufficiently devotional and he parted company). 

Then, in 1971, a young Stuart Turner of Milton Malsor, came over to help with the Scouts, apparently to deal with boredom. He became assistant Cub/Scout leader and in 1979 became Leader.  A daughter of Dennis and Greta Bodsworth became involved in the scouting family c 1970 and her husband joined also (maybe this husband was in fact S. Turner?). In 1973 there was the realisation of a dream when the Cubs and Scouts owned a new building situated in the northeast corner of the playing field.  It was a modest affair, built by benefactors, organised by Dennis and Greta Bodsworth and fully supported by the Parish Council who provided a supply of electricity and water and the specification of a tiny ground rent. By 1977 there were 19 Scouts under Scout Masters Eric Warner and Mr. E. Harris from Tiffield and 28 Cubs under assistant leaders Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Turner with Greta Bodsworth as leader. The cubs of Blisworth (Blisworth Pack) got together with many nearby villages as a part of the District Scout Movement, attending some church events as well as camping competitions. The 1976 camping was won by the Blisworth Pack who took 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes . . .

In the 1970s the District Scout Movement (being the Towcester & District) was represented by Scouts and Cub Packs from Whittlebury, Pattishall, Greens Norton, Towcester, Blisworth, Pottersbury, Yardley Gobion, Deanshanger and Old Stratford.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bodsworth retired in 1980 from active service for the Blisworth Scouts. Dennis Bodsworth took up the role of Deputy District Commissioner. Stuart Turner became the Scout Leader. It is worthwhile mentioning at this point that in the 1980s there was a successful Youth Club held weekly in the Village Hall. It was very well attended by up to 60 children run by Colin Gardner. It attracted notoriety at times because older youths assembled outside the Hall, smoking and drinking alcohol from the shop and the pub. For good or for bad, the activities of the 1980s and in subsequent periods diverted some of the momentum that would have otherwise supported the scout movement.

An attempt is made in the following table to record the promotions of all the main leaders in the 1st Blisworth troop. This proved difficult and will involve a few discussions.

The rules which affect organised events for scouts and cubs were revised over the years. Not only had there to be a sufficient number of adults in a supervisory role at all times but it was no longer allowed that one adult should ever be separated from everyone else with a few minors. This last point made it very difficult to organise a trip by private cars to venues offering some challenge (eg. hill walking). The last photograph in the camps page in around 1993 was more or less the last of day trips by car. The venue there was the "Packhorse Bridge" near Hathersage in Derbyshire.

Activities to which the children's parents can offer transport became the norm.

On this website there were a small number of photographs that often lacked any caption but since June 2014 it has been possible to fill out the account on this page and add many 'camp' photographs.  Dates are provided where possible and this serves to fit them into one of the three phases in which the troop was active in the village.  Please note that, in addition to Scouts, there were also Guides and Cubs at Blisworth but, unfortunately, George Freeston has made little mention of them.  Pam Ayres was notable in the village and our account of one of her activities will somewhat fill the yawning dark hole.  We also know that the Girl guides in Blisworth was founded in 1922 by Miss Margaret Tait (who lived then at the Loundes in Station Road) and that M.C.Clinch (Blisworth House), author of the small history book on Blisworth, was "Brown Owl" from February 1935, which was when she formed a pack of Brownies for young girls.

S. O'Connor (Group Scout Leader) wrote for this website, Sept 2009: 

The present scout group is a thriving one, the youngsters are so amazing and the activities offered so adventurous even the leaders show signs of nerves.  We are now the venue for an "Explorer Unit". This unit is District based and caters for the 14-18 year age group.  The district-basing probably identifies the troop as less of a village organisation from now on.  This together with our hopes of rebuilding the hut has got us to thinking about the history of the group. We celebrated our 40^th birthday in 2006 as the troop was registered with the Scout Association by Mr. Bodsworth when the troop was reformed in 1966.  It appears that in 1961/2 there was no group in the village but some scouts from Blisworth met at Stoke Bruerne or Shutlanger.  We have a flagpole that was presented to the scout troop on the 19th March1934 by Mr. & Mrs. E. Caesar. It also records on a ferrule the scout master and assistants at the time.

In 2007 there was a re-organisation within the Northamptonshire Scout Movement and the 1st Blisworth group transferred to the Grafton District grouping which offered contact with even more village-based troops than had been the case within the Towcester District grouping. Troops from as far separated villages as Middleton Cheney and Hartwell were included. The table above covers this event and brings the leadership record up to date (2014).

The group has consistently grown over the past 3 years, we have a dedicated leader team and lots more challenges to undertake a group worthy of its place in the village.  We have future plans for the upgrading of the existing hut.

Ongoing Story:  this amounts mainly to the establishment of an excellent new hut close to the original one, which has been demolished.  The details on this project continue here - the new hut, or hall, was officially opened in 26 Nov 2011 and is a credit to the cooperation and fund-raising by Blisworth residents as well as Sandra O'Connor's perseverance. An updated commentary was provided for the 2012 Scrapbook page. Because of their choice of "difficult" font, the text offered is reproduced here in image format, as follows:

Please note that there are no photographs corresponding to the post-2000 phase of the Blisworth Troop, other than some coverage on the Blisworth Jubilee Scrapbook page and anything that may be available in the members section (password needed) of the Scout website at http://www.1stblisworth.org.uk  On going coverage by myself offers the following items, added to as time moves on:

1. The June 2014 Scout Fun Day