Group History

The 15th Torbay (Belgrave) Scout Group was founded way back in 1932, the first meeting was held on 3rd September 1932, there were 14 scouts there.

By 1939, the troop organised a party which 150 parents attended and the Scouts and Guides gave a concert in which 300 programmes were sold for the Wednesday night show, and this show was then repeated on the Friday where 150 parents attended. Later that year the troop went to the Walls Hill Whitsun Camp which was a very successful camp, unfortunately the timing of this camp was just one week before Germany declared war. Even so the Scouts enjoyed their stay, which was at Maenporth near Falmouth. In the same year the troop won the Dundee Hooper Cup and the Darke Bennett Signalling Cup and two of the Senior Scouts became Officers, they were Mr. A. Blackmore as an A.S.M. and Mr. P. Taylor as an A.S.M. Also Mr. K. Grainger and Mr. Lee were appointed A.S.M.s but were unfortunate to leave the troop for the Forces after only a few months service. At the end of the year, Mr. Lionel Watts, the troop leader was running the large troop of 61 Scouts. The pack after the outbreak of war had to start to meet earlier, which made it impossible for the Cubmaster, Mr. Keenor to be there so Mrs. Cookman and Miss Bennett took over the running of the Cub pack. Several of the evacuees joined the troop, which during the war assisted the war effort by collecting many tons of waste paper.

The war did not restrict the activities of the group, which in 1940 the Parents Camp Fire was held as normal, together with the annual concert which managed to raise a profit of £12 10s. 6d. The troop then went to camp at Greenover Farm, Brixham from May 10th to 13th – this was at the same time the Germans invaded Belgium and Holland. At the later end of the year Mr. Richardson and Mr. Dutch came to assist with the running of the troop, Miss Hodge and Miss Peggy Packer assisted with the pack.

The year 1941 showed that the activities of the group were beginning to be affected due to the war, with only a few hikes and little training evenings being run. The main events that did take place were the parents party, the scout and Guide party and the signalling exercise which covered Windmill Hill, Chelston, Cockington, Shiphay and Edginswell. Mr. Dutch presented a patrol trophy and Mr. Sermon presented two cups, one, for signalling and one for the Ambulance competition. This year Mr. Keenor and Mr. Richardson had to leave the district and Mr. Dutch was left in charge of the troop.

On Friday, March 6th, 1942, Flight Lieutenant Simpson gave the troop a talk on how he escaped from the Germans. Flight Lieutenant Simpson was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the D.F.C.

A new venture was embarked upon, a concert cast from Scouts and guides was held, the profits of which were £15. the troop yet again won the Dundee Hooper Cup with the 4th Torquay. They also won the Signalling Cup and Ambulance Shield. The Troop had at this time nine King’s Scouts, eight of which were patrol leaders.

The Belgrave scouts did their fair share of the war work by erecting Morrison Shelters. The profits from this and a sale of work produced £30, which money they donated to the Baden-Powell Memorial Fund. The troop lost the services of Mr. Dutch but it was felt that the patrol leaders with the aid of the leaders could run the troop satisfactorily as a temporary measure. The year 1942 was marked by the occurrence on September 4th of a bit of a catastrophe. The Scouts and Guides had prepared the Belgrave Church Hall for their birthday party, having scrubbed the floor and laid out all their food, when a bomb dropped in Tor hill Road and spoiled all their preparations and damaged the premises.

By 1943 the troop won a competition for a report on the troop’s activities which was submitted in The Scout. The report won the double honour of winning the weekly competition and also the monthly one too. The prize was a coloured portrait of Baden-Powell and an autographed photography of Lord Rowallen. The troop also formed an Air Scout section on may 10th. The members of the Grammar School A.T.C. helped in the instruction which at this time was aircraft recognition and landing and takeoff theories. The Air Scouts also met three times a week at the school.

The following year 1944, the troop held its concert, various hikes and short camps but the most important innovation of this year was the formation of the Sea Scout section, thus making it the only troop throughout sixty years of scouting with all three sections running concurrently in Torquay and for many miles around. The troop camps were spent at Ashburton, Ashcombe, Coffinswell and Maidencombe, also P.L.’s Holden and Martin created a sensation by cycling to Snowdon and back. The troop won the camping and signalling competition and also the Ambulance Shield. Two of the older Scouts took out warrants as A.S.M.’s they were Glyn Burton and Peter Warren.

As could be expected, the year 1945 when the war ended the troop was able to get back to normal. The war record of the troop was certainly very good, 14 having served in H.M. Forces: One gained the Military Medal, one mentioned in dispatches, one killed. 30 tons of waste paper collected, 200 Morrison shelters erected and dismantled. The troop held a camp at Marazion near Penzance and was away at camp when the war ended. The troop took part in the V.E. Parades and lots of other civic events.The band played at various parades and also at Moretonhampstead Carnival. The air scouts spent a very enjoyable day at Exeter Airport on October 20th.

During 1946, the group saw the parting of Mrs. Cockman from the Cubs, but Mr. And Mrs. Brighton took over the pack. Also during the year the troop saw the return of some of its Scouters who went away to serve in the Forces. These were Scoutmaster K. Grainger and Assistant Scoutmaster A. Blackmore, B. Gale, A. Keenor, G. Burton and Skipper Warren. These Scouters took over the running of various sections of the troop, the records this year were to show that seven senior scouts went on an all-night hike on the moors in early March. The weather was certainly true to form and very poor but they enjoyed themselves all the same. The following month two Queen’s Scouts namely P.L. Lloyd Mclean and J. Trethewey represented Torquay at Windsor Castle. The troops main camp was at Burnham-on-Sea. This camp had two main highlights, one being a visit to Broadcasting House where the scouts made a recording and also a visit to Cheddar Gorge and the caves. In the District Competition, the troop won the Dundee Hooper Cup again also the Signalling Cup for the seventh time in succession, the sports and camping competition. The Sea scouts at this time were using the private yacht belonging to Skipper Warren.

The year 1947 was one of change, when the Senior Scout section was started in December, 1947 with Peter Warren as Senior Scoutmaster. Mr. K. Grainger had now received his warrant as G.S.M. the pack this year won the Totem Pole competition and the cub sport shield. The troop had representatives in the “Dog Watch” held at Babbacombe Theatre, on December 5th and 6th, 1947. this year also saw the disbanding of the Sea Scout section. The troop also entered all the district competitions.

The following year 1948, Mr. Grainger Resigned as G.S.M. and also Mr. Blackmore had to leave to go to college and older Scouts left the district for employment. Mr. A. Keenor became G.S.M. some of the troop assisted with the Olympics, acting as runners and took part in the opening of the district campsite at Whitsun. There were two camps one for the main troop under Mr. Keenor. They went to Bradninch and the seniors with Mr. Gale spent a very enjoyable week hiking to various sites.

The troop was in a very strong position by the middle of 1952. it consisted of seven Scouters, about 36 Cubs and 31 Scouts, with Mr. Keenor as G.S.M. and Mr. D. Bullocke as Scoutmaster and Messrs. C. Thompson, R. Mann and D. George as A.S.M.s. The troop during 1952 had fair success in the District Events and the troop held a very successful camp. The pack which was being run by Miss Beryl Hooper were the winners of the second sports shield. On Monday, 22nd December, the group held a carol service at Union Street Methodist Church.

Early the following year the troop entertained boys from St. Vincent’s Orphanage, and the evening included a film show. The next event was the “Gang Show” in which several of the group took part. The troop won the Dundee Hooper Cup tying with 5th Torquay. The Coronation Swimming Gala proved a great success for the troop and pack, they won 11 out of 32 possible certificates. On August 8th the summer camp was held at Douglas House Meadows, Petersham Near Richmond, Surrey, when they had with them the newly formed 16th troop. At the annual swimming Gala the troop won the Davis Diving Cup and the D’Espiney Swimming Shield. Just after this on October3rd the troop and pack formed a guard of honour for the wedding of Miss Beryl Hooper to John Trethewey who had been with the troop for some time. Miss Hopper’s place was taken by Miss B. M. Lugger with Miss B. Kimble as A.C.M. this year was the troops 21st birthday and a party was held to celebrate.

It was during 1954 that the troop camped at Watcombe Campsite for the Devon County Jamboree. The troop was honoured by having P/L John Gray Selected to hoist the Jamboree Flag. The Cubs this year won the first sports shield and the Scouts were second in the sports cup. Had to record the passing of the Group Committee Chairman, Edward Henry Sermon, Esq., Who had been a Great help to the group. He died on February 11th, 1955. This year the troop won the Darke-Bennett Cup for sports by a very clear margin. The summer Camp was again held at Richmond. The Christmas good turn this year was the distribution of bags of chopped firewood given to the council of social service.

The year 1956 though not very outstanding from the competition results still had its fair share of events. The Gang Show had 20 members of the troop in the cast. The scouts lined a section of the route which H.M. the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh took, on their way to Torre Abbey. This year’s camp was held at Southernwood Farm, near Lynton, North Devon.

By the early part of 1957 the troop officers were: A.S.M. D. George, A.S.M. E. Hider, the G.S.M. A. Keenor, S.M. D. W. Bullocke, A.S.M. J. Gray, C.M. Miss E. Kimble, A.C.M. G. Hooper. It was at this time that Peter Rowe who is confined to a wheelchair was invested as a member of Hound Patrol. He was a very keen scout. The troop won the Luxmore Ambulance Shield, and the pack won the Totem Pole, the District Flag and the 3rd Cub Sports Shield. At the end of this year Mr. Keenor resigned as G.S.M. The troop had several scouts who had reached the age of 15 so a separate section of 13 Seniors was started under Mr. D. George, Mr. Bullocke and Mr. Hider and Mr. Gray remained with the troop.

In the year 1958 the pack tied with the 10th to win the 1st Cub Sports Shield, they also won the District Flag, and took part in the weekend camp at Watcombe. Several of the Seniors took an active part in the running of the pack.

By the year 1959 the pack with 28 members won the Totem Pole, the trop won the Musgrave Camping Pennant and the Darke Bennett Signalling Cup. The Seniors won the Senior Scout Swimming Points trophy. The summer camp was held this year at Yeo, near Chagford. The next year the pack officers were increased by Mrs. Smale as A.C.M. and Mr Stoyle joined the troop as an A.S.M. Owing to the decrease in numbers of the Seniors, Mr. George took over the Troop as S.M. The Seniors, even though numbers were depleted to five were still able to win the Senior Scouts Sports Trophy. The summer camp was held at St. Trudy , near Bodmin, Cornwall, at which 16 Scouts attended.

The following year the Seniors won the Senior Scout Swimming Points trophy and the annual Camp was held at Quantock in Somerset. Their list of successes the following year was most impressive, they won the Dundee Hooper Cup and the Musgrave Camping Pennant. The Scouters were S.M. S. Stoyle and A.S.M. D. Rowe, A.S.M.s M. Marshall and B. Neville. This year P. Rogers gained his Queen’s Scout. The camp was held this year at Stourpaine, Dorset. The troop was able to retain the Musgrave Camping Pennant for the year 1963. the officers were again to re-shuffle at the end of this year when Mr. NWilliams, Mr. G. Edmunds and Mr. R, Harrison joined the troop as A.S.M.S and Mr. G. House joined the pack as an A.C.M. the troop at this time were trying to re-start the band which had been discontinued for several years. A very good turn-out was recorded at the St. Georges Day Parade. The pack won the 2nd sport shield. In the following year the new G.S.M. was appointed. He was Mr. R. Harrison with Mr. M. Marshall as S.M. and Mr. C. Edmunds as A.S.M. the troop, even though the change of officers was numerous, remained a successful troop and they won the Musgrave Camping Pennant.

The next years summer camp was held at Wareham in Dorset. The pack was run by Mr. House when Mrs. Smale resigned in 1965, with Mr. B. Collacott as A.C.M. the troop officers were to change yet again when Mr. C. Edmunds was made S.M. and Mr. N. Williams and Mr P.G. Brett as A.S.M.s. the camp was held at chagford .

The troop during 1966 and 1967 camped at Lanhydrack, near Bodmin and Roborough, near Plymouth. Their successes for the year 1966 were the Musgrave Camping Pennant and the Commissioner’s Pennant for Seniors, and in the Diamond Jubilee Year of Scouting they gained the Ambulance Shield, the Darke Bennett Sports Cup, D’Espiney Swimming Shield and N. Pike gained the Victor Ludorum for Scouts aged between 13 and 15 at the athletic Sports. The officers in the group during 1966 were G.S.M. Mr. G. R. House and Mr. D. Rogers S.M., the Cub Section, Miss J. Lane as Acting Cub Scout Leader and Mr. A. Lane as Cub Instructor.

After 1966-1967 the groups history goes a little vague until about 1995-1996 when we still have old certificates from. If anyone has any information or history regarding that then it would be very appreciated to fill in the 30 year gap.

There is little patches of information between 1965 - the present but not many.

On 17th June 1988 the 15th Torbay (Belgrave) bought and opened their own scout hut in the premises behind Torre School at a cost of £16,658.38. they also had several parties to commemorate the occasion.

In 1993 the 11 Scouts and 4 Leaders went on a camp to Saltash in Cornwall.

Then on 13th August 1994 19 Scouts and 5 Leaders went on a camp to Gilwell Park near Chingford in London. Then in August 1995 the Cubs went on a a summer camp to the Huish Woods Campsite at Taunton, in Somerset, and won a certificate for the First Class Camping Standard. This year they also took part in the borough first aid competition.

In 1996 the cubs took part in the Hurdlestone Challenge Weekend, also later in the year they took party in the Beavers Football Competition at Audley Park School. The troop also took 12 Scouts and 4 Leaders to Chatham in Kent for their summer camp.

In 1997 the troop took part in the district first aid competition, the Beaver colony members took part in and came third in the football competition, they also took part in a beavers handicraft exhibition, also group went on a summer camp to Shell Island, in North Wales. In 1999 12 Scouts and 3 Leaders went on camp to Taunton on 14th April. In 2000 the Beavers took part in the Borough sandcastle competition. Then the history goes a bit vague and murky again until the end of 2004.

This article, the text, the images and the underlying coding are Copyright

Gregory G. Halliday©, 1968