Normandy Scout Group

New gates at entrance to 1st Normandy Scout Group

The first mention of a Normandy Scout Troop was in 1912, although little is known of its activities. Then, scouting took its lead from Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts movement in 1908. The Normandy troop probably met in a cow shed on Mr Warner's farm at Wyke Cross, a hop, skip and a jump from St Mark's Vicarage. It is believed that the Rev F N Pickford and his wife ran the troop. In 1919 with life beginning to return to normal, scouting in Normandy attracted the attention of Mr and Mrs William Henry and with the help of Will Fowler laid the foundations for the present day Normandy Scout Group. Meetings and troop activities were held at their Headquarters called The Normans

Normandy Scouts Camping Normandy Scouts (one of whom is believed to be a "Dyson", according to Mrs Joan Brooks), seen camping about 1932, possibly on Pirbright Common.

This building, still in use but not for scout meetings and activities, was a Canadian Army hut brought over from Witley Camp in 1919 and erected on land purchased from Longerend Farm. William Henry was appointed Scoutmaster and D B Pitt Assistant Scoutmaster. Mrs Henry was appointed Leader of the first Wolf Pack in 1922 with 15 cubs in her charge. William, her husband, retired in 1928 when there were two scouters, 20 scouts and 12 cubs and she took over the Warrant and duties of Group Scoutmaster holding the Warrant until 1959. In addition to her group duties she found time also to help with the organisation of the World Jamboree at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead. She dedicated 38 years to the scout movement, enabling many of the youth of this village to prove themselves and to prepare for adulthood.

In 1954 the 1st Normandy Scout Group won the Harvey Totem Pole for camping, the Packman Flag for scout craft and the Gordon Whale Cup for drill, the first time that the three trophies had been held by a single Group.

The golden anniversary celebrations focused attention on the inadequacy of the headquarters building and the need for replacement for which a "new building fund" was subsequently started. Thanks to keen local support, particularly from Doreen Halton, Pam and Jim Chant and Edie Sharp the target of £1000 was reached within 5 years. The Scouts Association rewarded each of them with a "Thanks Badge". The opening of the new headquarters on 12 September 1970 by past District Commissioner Major-General Bond was a nostalgic occasion for a number of guests, especially for the Reverend Andrew Tuck, Queen's Scout and former member of the 1st Normandy Troop, who administered "the Blessing".

The Group is fortunate in possessing extensive grounds around their headquarters building, ideal for practising camping skills and outdoor activities enabling them to win the Surrey Camping Competition on at least three occasions. Undoubtedly many present and former residents will remember the swimming pool. Although perhaps comparison with a Guildford Spectrum type of pool is hardly fair, it has been greatly appreciated by both the scouting fraternity and the populace of Normandy until its decline in about 1980. In 1996 it was drained, filled and the site landscaped.

Normandy Scout Group's Swimming Pool c1931 Miss Florence Kate Manfield, a teacher at St Mark's, Wyke C of E School, in charge of the group about the 15th September 1930 and who terminated her service at the school on her marriage the 26th September 1932.

Standing at the back L- R: Frank Weston, Fred Oliver, Dennis Woods, Bill Crighton.
Front row L- R: Frank Chant, unknown , Syd Humby, ? Slaughter, unknown, unknown, Charlie Oliver, unknown, unknown, unknown, Gerry Avenall.

If you know any of the others in this photo please let us know

In 1974 an International Scout Camp was held at nearby Fairlands Farm bringing together 1200 scouts and guides including those from Normandy. Camping is a feature of scouting life. "Going to camp in Jim Chant's lorry" is remembered by many ex scouts and not just those of Normandy but of other Groups in the district for it was Jim's pleasure to help set-up camp and return at the end of the holiday to help strike camp.

Residents will recall Bob-a-Job week when a smartly uniformed scout or cub would turn up on the doorstep asking for work. It was an innovative and imaginative scheme to raise funds. The "no nonsense" attitude as to the size or the unpleasantness of the job, had great appeal but sadly the scheme was abused and eventually laid to rest.

The 1st Normandy scouts is one of the few Groups that display a Roll of Honour for its King's Scouts and Queen's Scouts. David Kimber, Robert Watson and Bernard Crooke were the very first Queen Scouts in the group. The Normandy scouts group were very successful during that period at winning all of the local scouting competitions beating all the Guildford groups much to their annoyance. It also holds an unusual record in that father and son both gained the Queen's Scout award. Bill Knight gained his in 1959 and his son Richard in 1989. In 1970 Bill Knight retired as Assistant Scoutmaster and became Venture Scout Leader. By 1989 he had, to his credit, produced 22 Queen's Scouts.

There has been a wonderful history of husband and wife teams serving the Group. Starting in 1912 with the Pickfords followed in the early 1950s by the Henrys and then by the Boxalls. Don and Pat Plumley worked together for 25 years followed by Jonathan and Carole Gasson with Tony and Carol Shirtliff continuing the tradition. Warrant holders have always enjoyed a wonderful support from its lay officers, too numerous to mention here. They, together with family and friends over the years, have helped to make the 1st Normandy Scouts Group a successful and vibrant member of the scouting movement.

Scouting in Normandy in the 1950s

Normandy Girl Guides

At the request of Sir Robert Baden-Powell, his sister Miss Agnes Baden-Powell formed an organisation for girls, similar to that of the Boy Scouts, known as Girl Guides, the badge of which was the Shamrock, the three leaves representing the guides promises.

1st Normandy Girl Guides formed in January 1931. Photo taken at 'Holne Chase', Guildford Road, Normandy, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Grimshaw. L to R: Lilly Lee, Betty Brooks, Katherine Creighton, Phyllis Gower, Dorothy Seward, Ethel Rolph, Joan Hellard, Joan Humby, Pamela Durrant, Lillian Holmes, Amy Taylor Seated: Beatrice Grimshaw (Captain), Doris Woods (Lieutenant)

The 1st Normandy Girl Guides was formed in January 1931 with Beatrice Grimshaw as Captain and Doris Spears as her Lieutenant. Initially their meetings were held each Saturday evening in the village hall. Sir Philip and Lady Henriques frequently invited the guides to their home at Normandy Park where the girls entertained them with singing and dancing. Lady Henriques presented the guides with a Union Flag which, Joan Dyson recalls carrying to St Mark's Church where it hangs to this day for safe keeping. The original "Colours" that were carried and featured on formal occasions were mislaid but in 1973 new ones were presented anonymously and blessed by the Reverend Graham Hawkett at a special service. Ethel Turner recalls that when she was Guide Captain between 1945 and 1952, the guides and ranger guides met in either the church hall or the village hall. Apart from the regular weekly activities, they attended rallies in Guildford, and on one special occasion met Lord Baden-Powell at Hampton Court. In 1945 the Summer Camp was held on the Isle of Wight.

The guide uniform, like that of the scouts, has changed over the years to reflect the fashion of the period and to suit today's more active pursuits of guiding and like the scouts, obtaining achievement badges is equally important to the guides In September 1984, for nine months, Puttenham Guides with their leader Sheila Smethurst, amalgamated with the Normandy Company.

In April 1985, to celebrate 75 years of guiding, Jean Mayhead with guides Alison and Catherine Davies, Christine Rooks, Debbie Seymour and Melissa Sherwood attended a rally at Crystal Palace at which Melissa carried the Normandy Colours and Christine the Puttenham Colours. They also attended and took part in a pageant at the West Surrey Guides Rally at Sandown Park. For Debbie Dean, 1990 was a memorable year. That summer she was enrolled as a Guide on the balcony of Lord Baden-Powell's South Africa Room at Foxlease in the New Forest, the Guide Association's Training Centre and camping site, when she and four of her Normandy companions together with guides from Emmanuel Church, Stoughton, were there at camp. Jean retired that year but maintained her ties with guiding as a tester. Fiona Larby briefly ran the Company, but after a break Christine Nicholson restarted it in the autumn of 1994 and as their Leader maintains the fine standards she inherited, continuing the traditions and training of guides as did her predecessors. The guides continue to meet as usual on Friday evenings in the church room.

Normandy Brownie Guides

A Brownie pack, sometimes called Brownie guides, was formed in 1932 possibly as part of the West Surrey, Woking Division, Brookwood District. The records of the Guildford Rural Division, Ash District, indicate that Ellen Garman was appointed Brown Owl of the Normandy Pack on 24 July 1933, continuing as Mrs Ellen Passingham until November 1937 when Miss J Wilson was appointed as Assistant Brown Owl and then Brown Owl in 1938. Doris Baker who retired in May 1945, took over from her in 1943. Betty Tapply, who became Tawny Owl in 1945 and Brown Owl the following year, became the driving force of the pack and remained in the post until her retirement in 1965. In later years, some former Brownies returned to Betty with their offspring for enrolment.

Brownies worked for their achievement badges in the same manner as did the scouts, cubs and guides. Thanks to the patience and help of parents they gained skills in cookery, art, writing, gardening, entertaining, swimming and first aid, to name but a few, and all put to good use at camp. They were too young to be allowed to camp under canvas but nevertheless enjoyed their "pack holidays" at various village halls and, of course, Wanborough Youth House at nearby Flexford. Their pack meetings all ended with singing and playing games thus ensuring happy faces at the end of the day.

In 1965 the Brownies were thriving and meeting weekly in the church room with Doris Page as Brown Owl assisted by Louise Rigby as Tawny Owl followed by Evelyn Bush. In March 1970, they were proud to welcome Lady Baden-Powell, grand daughter-in-law of Lady Olave Baden-Powell to their "thinking day" at St Mark's church room. Guests were entertained by poetry readings and tea was served by six Brownies each anxious to obtain a hostess badge. The pack had a number of successes singing in competitions, attributed without question to the enthusiasm and choral exuberance of Doris, her helpers and parents. Many families will remember Doris and her little group singing carols outside their homes. In 1972, they came second in the National Guide Festival of Song, featured on London Radio, and in 1980 entered and won the Song & Dance Festival arranged by the London and South East Girl Guide Association.