1907 - 1910: The Background
Scouting began following Robert Baden-Powell's publication of a small book called "Scouting for Boys" in 1906. In 1907, an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, happened at about the same time as boys across England were forming themselves into small units, which Baden-Powell called Patrols. Although they followed the lessons in the Scouting for Boys booklets, which sold in increasingly larger numbers each week.
1911 - 1915: The Early Years
By 1911, Scouting had been established in the area, with 2 troops meeting each week. 1st Billericay were the largest Troop - so much so that they had started offering a "Junior Training Section" for boys under the age of 12 - several years before the Cubs actually started nationally.
In Spring 1912, the Scouts from 1st Billericay carried out a series of exhibitions to show people from the local area what Scouting was all about. One such demonstration was held and the interest among the local youth meant that within a few weeks the 1st Ramsden and Downham Scout Troop was formed, with about 12 Scouts and 2 leaders.
We do not have much information about the Troop in those days, just three copies of the Billericay and District Scout News. So, it is our guess that the Troop ran for a few years, until late 1914 or early 1915, when due to the demands of War, Scouting in Ramsden and Downham stopped.
Links to Billericay and District Scout News sheets:
1918 - 1922: 1st Ramsden
Registration Number: 3006
Almost immediately the Armistice was signed on 11th November 1918, and with people returning back from France, the demand for a Scout Troop was once again overwhelming.
Stanley Harvey, whose parents owned Ramsden Bellhouse Village Stores, was one of the first Scouts to join in 1918. His detailed history of the Group over the course of 35 years has given us much information about 1st Ramsden.
1922 - 1955: 1st Ramsden Saint Mary's Own
Scouting had grown to such an extent, that by 1st January 1922 a registration scheme had to be set up. This was also marked by the Group becoming sponsored by the Parish Church of Saint Mary's - hence the new name. The registration number that we were given then has remained with us ever since. Officially we are group number 3006.
The group also started to wear a unique badge - The chain linked cross with 4 fleur-de-lys at each point. The bright yellow cross on a green triangular badge made the Cubs and Scouts from 1st Ramsden easily recognisable - just as much as the modern group badge design does today.
Although the Cubs wore a yellow scarf, and the Scout wore a green scarf. The same colours as the Cub and Scout flags that are used by all Cubs and Scouts across the country.
1928 - 1940: 1st Ramsden Crays (Saint Mary's)
Registration Number: 9449
Unlike the history of 1st Ramsden Saint Mary's Own, which thanks to Stanley Harvey's efforts we now know so much about its early days. The story of 1st Ramsden Crays is more patchy.
The Group was registered on 13th October 1928 with seven Scouts and one leader Mr Sidney Taylor. Mr Taylor was not related to the Group Scout Leader of 1st Ramsden SMO, Mr Aubrey Taylor, but by 1928 Aubrey Taylor was also the Honorary Secretary of the Local Association in the Brentwood and Billericay District so he must have had an influence on establishing a Group in Ramsden Crays.
The Group was "sponsored" by Saint Mary's Church, Church Lane. This meant that the Rector of Ramsden Crays Trevor Trousdale would have been a key person in the Group. Although not a Leader, he would have had an important role in the development of the Group.
Sidney Taylor lived at "Sunnyside" and the Scout Headquarters is listed as his property. This was common at the time, many of the 1st Ramsden SMO meeting venues were given as peoples houses.
That is most of the information about 1st Ramsden Crays (Saint Mary's)
By 1932 Miss Irene Logan was listed as Cub Scout Leader and the Scouts won the Essex Marathon in 1935 but there are no more records after those dates. The Scout Group probably closed during the early part of World War II.
1933 - 35, 1936 - 40, 1949 - 55: 1st Downham
Registration Number: 15392 (1933)
The 1st Downham Scout Group started in July 1933 with 8 Scouts and 1 Leader. Mr R. Potts of Hawkswood Road, Downham. The Scout HQ was at the same address.
1st Downham closed on 6th November 1935 due to the resignation of Mr Potts as Group Scout Leader
Registration Number: 18270 (1936)
Less than one year later, 1st Downham was reformed under the leadership of George Padwick. Mr Padwick was Head Gardener at The Grange, Downham and the Group had a Headquarters there. Mr Padwick was born in the Pancras District of London in the 1890s. He served during World War I with the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Manchester Regiment, the Labour Corps and finally the East Surrey Regiment. He first became GSL of 1st Downham in 1936, however, like 1st Ramsden Crays the Group probably closed at the start of World War II.
Registration Number: 27119 (1949)
Norman Simmons restarted 1st Downham Scout Group in March 1949. Norman had been an Assistant Scout Leader at 1st Runwell from 1948 - 1949 before moving to 1st Downham. On the registration form there were seven Wolf Cubs and six Scouts listed.
In 1952 George Padwick returned to 1st Downham, he had been Group Scout Leader of 1st Stock between 1946 and 1951. During that period 1st Stock and 1st Downham took part in some joint summer camps, at Battle, Sussex in 1950 and Kingsdown, Kent the following year. 1st Stock then closed so the next joint camp was in 1954 by which point George Padwick was back with 1st Downham.
Norman Simmons wrote the following in 1972:
The Cub Pack was restarted my my sister Joyce in 1949, six months later I restarted the troop. Sheila Croot took over the pack when Joyce married in 1950. From the start the group had a very energetic group committee who ran a dance at South Hanningfield Village Hall every month, with a radiogram and a drummer.
Although the pack and troop were small in number, each section just about able to muster a dozen boys, the standard was very high. I the six years of it operating the pack gained as many Leaping Wolves [badges] and the troop gained four Queen's Scout Awards, various district competitions were won, the scouts also won, one year, the county canoe race from Hullbridge to Burnham.
Most of our transport at this time comprised of cycles with a lightweight cart hitched to one of them. Cameras were non existant (sic) in the early days, being beyond the means of most until the later years.
With the advent of the Reservoir at South Hanningfield the troop was to lose 20% of its members then when 1st Ramsden started making plans for starting a troop of it's own the writing was on the wall for 1st Downham.
Norman Simmons became Senior Scout Leader following the merger of 1st Downham and 1st Ramsden. He continued as (S)SL until 1958. He was District Commissioner of Billericay and Wickford between 1970 and 1971.
1955 onwards: 1st Ramsden and Downham
???? - 1980: The Heath Cub Scout Pack
1977 onwards: The Bellhouse Cub Scout Pack
1981 onwards: The Scout Troop
Following the absorption of the Heath Cubs into the Bellhouse Pack, we had a large number of older Cubs. In 1981 David Mott agreed to become Scout Leader, and with Gary Dunn as his assistant on Thursday 1st October 1981, 10 Cubs and ex-Cubs formed the first meeting of a Scout Troop for over 4 years.
We met on a Thursday night between 7.30pm and 9pm in the old Emmanuel Hall at Ramsden Bellhouse Baptist Church. The two Patrols choose their names: Hawks and Falcons - a decision that marked our use of birds of prey as Patrol symbols over the next 20 years.
In 1982 David Mott was told that he had a heart condition that meant he should avoid stress. So we began the search for a new Leader. We did not need to look that far. Bagheera, one of the Assistant Cub Leaders and our Group Scout Leader, looked after the Troop and continued to run the Pack for almost 6 months, until the decision was taken to become our new Skip.
By this point, we had managed to secure a slot on a Thursday evening at the Ramsden Bellhouse Village Hall, this gave us a larger hall, and with the roof girders gave us our first look at climbing.
David Townsend became our new Assistant Leader and a further increase in numbers lead to the formation of the Eagle Patrol.
1998 - 2002: The Hiawatha Beaver Scout Colony
2005 onwards: The Future
13 April 2008