A brief History of Scouting in Henfield
Scouting dates back to the Second Boar War, which lasted for 3 years between 1899 -1902. During that conflict, Robert Baden-Powell was a serving British Army Officer – he had already had a distinguished career, serving in countries across the British Empire including India and Africa. Baden-Powell or B-P as he was affectionately known became a national hero for his actions during his time in South Africa. B-P was in command of a small regiment of about 2,000 officers and men in the garrison town of Mafeking. B-P’s under-strength British force was surrounded by a much larger force of around 5,000 advancing Boers. B-P and his regiment managed to defend the town for 7 months until a relief force arrived. During the siege, as men were busy protecting the besieged town, B-P organized the resident boys, or scouts as he called them, to undertake many of the other tasks that needed doing. Mafeking became the birthplace of B-P’s ideas for scouting.
On a journey back from Africa, Baden-Powell was accompanied by an officer from Henfield, Captain A.G.Wade (later to become a Major). During the journey, B-P explained his plans for setting up a training scheme for Britain’s boys modelled on the training he gave to the boys who were scouts during the Siege of Mafeking. Wade was deeply impressed by these plans and upon arrival in Henfield related them to his sister Audrey Wade who at the time was the organiser of a boy’s hockey club in Henfield.
On 1 August 1907, 20 boys (some said to be from Henfield) gathered together to join the first experimental Scout camp on Brownsea Island, near Poole in Dorset. The man behind the event was Robert Baden-Powell, a soldier, artist and writer. In bringing young people from different backgrounds together, he hoped to bridge gaps in society, and give everyone the opportunity to learn new skills. It was a radical idea at the time, but it paved the way for what was to come.
The island was an inspired choice. Eight days’ worth of action-packed activities were set up on its shores. Designed to teach young people how to take the lead and try something new, it covered everything from tracking and fishing, to the study of animals, plants and stars. Thanks to B-P’s natural charisma, his ideas quickly caught on.
Back in Henfield, Miss Wade who had been wanting a year-round activity for the Hockey boys to undertake, decided to convert the hockey club into a troop of scouts. An old carpenter’s workshop, Hacketts Barn in Church St, served as a meeting place. Using the six-part newspaper series, Scouting for Boys, Audrey Wade began training the boys in the scouting activities over the winter of 1907 – 1908 as envisaged by B-P. 1st Henfield Boy Scout Troop was officially registered in 1908; there were 36 scouts in the troop.
By the time of the official launch of the Scout Movement in January 1908, Henfield had over 30 scouts.
1st Henfield is regarded as the oldest existing scout troop in the world which was endorsed by the Scout Association in 2007. Within two years of 1907 there were 100,000 Scouts in the UK alone.
Henfield Scouting in the twentieth Century
Scouting in Henfield continued to grow with a camp in 1909 at Chesham alongside the growth nationwide with spectacular rally of over 26,000 boys in Windsor Great Park in 1911 provided another milestone. The Scouts present, including some from Henfield gave tumultuous cheers for their King and Queen and to their beloved Chief. In 1912, the Movement was granted its Royal Charter and King George V became its Patron.
The coming of War in 1914 could have brought about the collapse of the Movement, but the training provided through the Patrol system proved its worth and Patrol Leaders took over when adult Leaders volunteered for active service. Scouts contributed to the War Effort in many ways; most notable perhaps were the Sea Scouts who took the place of regular coast guards, so freeing them for service afloat.
The success of Scouting with boys from 11 to 18 years gave rise to appeals to provide a similar activity for younger boys and so, in 1918, the Wolf Cub Section for 8 to 11 year olds was formed in Henfield .
Between the two wars, Scouting in Henfield continued to flourish to the extent Frank Clarke, a local councillor and benefactor, allowed the scouts to use land in his ownership located in the centre of the village and a temporary home was constructed on it. Such was Frank Clarke’s commitment to the 1st Henfield Scout Group that he subsequently put arrangements in place that the land should be available for use by the scouts in perpetuity. This field became known as the Scout field and its first Headquarters was constructed using an old Army Hut.
When war came in 1939, the story of 1914 was repeated. Scouts carried on under the Patrol Leaders; they undertook many National Service tasks – messengers, firewatchers, stretcher bearers, salvage collection and so on.
Henfield Scouting mourned many Scouts that lost their lives in the service of their Country in both World Wars, and these Scouts are still remembered every year, alongside all from Henfield at the annual Remembrance Parade.
Post war Scouting was as popular as ever and in the 1960’s Henfield Baden-Powell Guild, erected a next scout hut replacing the life expired original structure. This Structure would last some 50 years!
The 1970’s and 80’s saw Cubs and Scouts have great times with many enjoying the experiences of camps in Wales and the Lake district, with many Scouts going on to become Queen Scout.
The 80’s saw again the demand for Scouting for those to young to join Cubs, and so in 1986 another new era for Henfield launched was with the formation of the Groups’ first Beaver Colony. This allowed Scouting from the age of six and the boys loved it.
The 1990’s saw another new era with Girls being allowed to join , and is something we are very proud that we are a very inclusive organisation. .
A new Century – How we’ve changed (but stayed true to our values)
This new Century has been eventful and one that has seen Henfield go from strength to strength, but not without its challenges.
We have in this new century celebrated three Jubilees for HM Queen Elizabeth, witness the Proclamtion on a new King and his Coronation. We incorporated members of 1st Partridge Green that was forced to close due to a lack of volunteers and now have members from Henfield and the surrounding villages.
Cubs Centenary Picture – 2018
The biggest challenges so far was have come recently when in 2020 Covid and Government rules forced to stop face to face Scouting, and we had to move to online – but we rode that challenge and the restrictions that were to last for almost two years. That was followed by being told in July 2021 to vacate our Scout Hut for its rebuild, forcing the Group to move location for the first time in 100 years.
That location was to Hillside Scout Camp, in Small Dole where we continued to grow and now also operate from St Peters School in Henfield with a reformed second cub pack and……Another new Section!,
2023 saw the launch of Squirrel Scouts, a new section for 4&5 year olds and they have also taken to Scouting with such enthusiasm.
Our first Squirrels at launch
But through all of our History , the aim remains the same: to prepare young people for the future, build stronger communities and Skills for Life
Long may it continue.
