Story: Patrick Duggan| Photos: Sharon Baker
In April, St Catherine’s 205th Scout Group celebrated its 70th anniversary at their HQ on Holtwood Road.
As April arrived, Earnest Garnet Gordon, our cub leader, set to work. New signs were put up at our HQ and invitations were sent to as many “Old Boys” as possible. The floor was buffed, Garnet and his friends cleared up around the building and I cut the grass. Alan Whiffin, the current Group Scout Leader, was responsible for the food for the buffet, along with one or two of our lovely mums. Garnet trimmed up the HQ on a union flag theme. When the work was done, the old place looked very spruce indeed.
The evening of the 27th came and most of 100 invited guests turned up to reminisce about days gone by. John Egan now lives in Wales, yet made the trip with his wife and brought wild Welsh garlic for the buffet and their mandolin and guitar to serenade us with. Tony Bryan came up from Berkhamsted; Brendan Hudson, now a doctor, came from Surrey and Martin Kenny and his wife came from Tyne and Wear. Paul Lipinski paid a flying visit. The Leaders and Scouts of the 76th St Peter’s Ellesmere group also joined us.
Our group was up bright and early and on parade for the Sunday 9.15am mass at St Catherine’s Church. After songs and prayers, some members – some now old enough to be grandfathers – renewed their Scouts’ Promise. I would like to say a big thank you to the parents who scrubbed and polished their children for the occasion. They were a credit to everyone. Final thanks go to Club Leader Garnet Gordon and the Group Leadership Team. Roll on the 80th anniversary!
Logged in users of the website can add comments to this page.
Login to this site if you'd like to add a comment. Sign-up for an account if you are not currently a member.