1st Shadwell Scout Group history
A Cub Pack was started by Miss Dawson about 1920, and met at her home, Hambleton House, Park Lane. A Church Scout Troop was started by Mr Heap the Village School Master about 1926. In 1928 it was re-formed as an open Troop known as the 23rd North East Leeds Boy Scouts and met in Crofton Terrace, being joined by the Cub Pack after Miss Dawson's retirement. Funds were raised to build a Scout Hut in Holywell Lane on land owned by Mrs Robert Brown. This was built by voluntary labour, mainly due to the efforts of Mr Jim Freeman, the local plumber who collected £100, spent it all on timber and started to build. The Scout Hut was opened on Saturday 20th December 1930 by Mr R M Sagar-Musgrave JP.
Mr Freeman was awarded a Thanks Badge by the Scout Association in appreciation of his efforts. In May 1937 the 23rd North East Leeds Troop became the 8th North East Leeds Boy Scouts, when the District was reorganised and continued until the outbreak of war.
A Guide Company used the hut in 1937 and a Brownie Pack was started in January 1939.
Wooden building, premises of J.V.Davies and Co.Engineer. Building is raised on brick pillars and has a felt roof, stove pipe chimneys and a flag pole. Mature trees behind building. The building was originally a Scout Hut, built in 1930.
Shadwell 8th North Leeds at Skyreholm, Appletreewick nr Grassington
at the top of Simon Seat approx 1949
Group Photograph 1951 - Wolf Cubs at the front Cindy Barrs brother bottom right
Kit inspection by the Scout Master on Camp 19 ?
Hello
I am Hilary Thackray, formerly Helme. My family and I moved from Stockport, Cheshire in 1969. As I had been a Cub Scout Leader there my details were passed to North Leeds and I was approached by the District Commissioner to re-open the Pack in Shadwell. The Scout Troop had been re-opened in Spring 1969 with Don MacDonald as Scout Leader.
There was a list of 8-10 year olds who were waiting for the Cub Scout Pack to open so we started in October 1969 with 12 boys – I remember five of them were called Andrew so I did not have many names to learn!
Word soon got round that there was a Pack in the village and the numbers quickly grew to 36 which was the maximum allowed by the Scout Association. The Scout Leader’s wife, Joan MacDonald became Assistant Cub Scout Leader along with Les Sayers. My husband, Ron Helme was the Group Scout Leader. At this time the Group was registered as 8th North Leeds (Shadwell).
The waiting list was growing and we were able to open a second Pack. The Packs were called Rudyard (the original Pack) and Kipling the second to be opened.
Rudyard Pack had quite a few parent helpers and I particularly recall Gordon Richardson who managed the football team and Tony Webster who helped for many years. Les Sayers and his wife, Sandra were also involved.
In 1974 the Scout District boundaries were re-drawn and Shadwell became part of Wetherby District and was re-registered as 1st Shadwell.
The group had met in the Scout Hut in Holywell Lane but, with the growing numbers and the opening of Middlethorne School on Shadwell Lane, it was decided that the gym there would provide more room for such a large group. So, around 1973 our meetings took place there.
As I became more involved in the training of leaders in Central Yorkshire the time came for another Cub Scout Leader to be appointed for Rudyard Pack and in 1978 Christine Abbott took over from me.
Shadwell Packs, both Rudyard and Kipling always took part in District Events and were usually quite successful – something which is still continued.
I would very much like to hear from any members of Rudyard Pack, particularly those who helped to put Shadwell Group back into the village in 1969.
In addition to some of the names Mum has remembered, I also recall the following:
Alan Taylor was Group Scout Leader in the late 1970s and also ran the troop when we met at Middlethorne School. After Alan I think the Scout Leader was Terry White followed by Peter Rawson and then myself.
Others who were involved that I remember were
Christine Abbott was Akela of the Rudyard pack and David Lister Akela of the Kipling pack
Gillian Leek – Assistant Cub Scout Leader with Christine Abbott
Gillian’s Husband Malcolm helped out on activities
My wife Helen – Assistant Cub Scout Leader with Christine Abbott
My brother Kevin Helme who like me was a Scout in Alan Taylor’s days and then assisted Christine Abbott with Cubs and then went on to assist Terry White with the troop.
Paul Richards – assisted David Lister with the Kipling pack
Neil Robinson – assisted with the troop
Tim Lister and his sister Sue – assisted David Lister with the Kipling pack
In addition there were many parent helpers and a very active committee who raised funds and saw through the conversion of the old kitchens on Holywell Lane so allow the group to have a place of its own after leaving Middlethorne.
It is great to see that the group are still excelling at some of the same activities as it did in the 1980s. Back then the packs regularly won the district chess competition and the troop the Andrew Oliver Hike, orienteering competition and raft race.
It was also interesting to see the photo of the 1949 camp at Skyreholm as I remember camping there when I was a scout. Other places we went to for summer camp were Rydal Hall at Ambleside, Linnett Clough near Marple, Sharrow near Ripon, Lochgoilhead in Argyll
I finally gave up my involvement with the group in about 1992 when work commitments and the demands of my own children got the better of my time. Its great to see that the group is still thriving and I will have a rummage around in my old boxes to see if I can turn out any interesting photos.
Graham Helme
May 2007
bravenet.com