Jane Burrows has very kindly researched the history of our illustrious scout group:
1907 Robert Baden-Powell took 20 boys to camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour
1908 Baden-Powell published the first copy of Scouting for Boys – at about the same time the first issue of The Scout magazine came out which spread the word far and wide
1909 The Scouting HQ was established in Victoria Street, London. King Edward VII knighted B.P. Some lads were forming patrols in Otley...
1910 Patrols in Otley combined under Jim Stead, a veteran of the Boer War, to form a troop – 1st Otley– with its H.Q. in the Three Horseshoes Yard. Later they moved to Bullock Fold in Kirkgate. Another company of lads was formed by the Rev. Granville Biggs 'The Church Lads' Brigade' in 1910. This met with little success due to the attraction of scouting so it changed to a Scout troop – 2nd Otley– with H.Q. in Station Road. The new group was led by the Rev. Biggs with Owen Holmes as assistant, and the griffin motif on the 2nd Otley neckerchief today goes back to those early days and was taken from the Granville Biggs family crest
1911 The Sea Scouts came into existence
1913 The troop was officially registered and the certificate of registration, which the group still possesses, is one of only four early certificates known to exist in the whole movement. The 1st Otleymoved their HQ to Wesley Street in 1914, the scoutmaster in this period being Charles Biggs. Later, yet another move to H.Q. in the Methodist Church under Scoutmaster PW Sergeant and assisted by Alan Wright
1914 First World War Begins. The 2nd Otley was kept going during the war by Connie Holmes.
1916 Wolf Cubs started
1917 The movement’s headquarters were established in Buckingham Palace Road
1918 First World War ends. Lady Baden-Powell elected Chief Guide. When the war ended a Wolf Cub pack was formed in 1918 and its Rover Crew in 1919. .
1920 Lord Baden-Powell acclaimed Chief Scout of the World.
1923 The effect of the war and other factors unfortunately caused the 1st Otley to disband in 1923 but many of the Scouts were able to join the 2nd Otley.
1925 The spirit of Scouting had not died at the Methodist Church and in 1925 the Otley Methodist troop was formed. Its leaders were Alan Wright and PW Sergeant. This time it was more successful, a Cub Pack and Rover Crew were formed in 1930. This group is still in existence today. Alan Wright who was Scoutmaster for 40 years was awarded Scouting’s highest award the Silver Acorn
1930 saw the formation of the Parish troop under the leadership of GL Fearnley and assisted by his wife. He will be known to many older members of the town for his newspaper articles under his pen name of ‘Silver Fox’. The headquarters at that time were in the old Musgrave Memorial School on Burras Lane.
1939 Second World War begins. Most troops lost their senior members to war service. The 2nd Otley and Parish troops now shared HQ in the old hut in Burras Lane with patrol leaders in charge.
1945 Second World War ends. Leslie Delderfield joined the Parish Scouts from 2nd Otley as assistant. The victory celebrations were given a traditional send-off with all the Scouts of the town carrying the Sam Ives torch up the Chevin to light the Beacon fire. Rovers of the 2nd Otley set about establishing a ‘Den’ in Leeds Road, due to the big revival in Scouting after the war.
1948 Senior Scouts started nationally in 1948. With this demand the Salem troop at Bridge Church became successful. The Scoutmaster was Arnold Thornton and the troop continues today
1954 saw the legendary Owen Holmes brother of Connie receive a Silver Acorn. He retired in 1967 having given the Scout movement and 2nd Otley60 years’ service from scouting earliest years. Leslie Delderfield was made an honorary GSL as a very high honour by the Parish troop
1967 The Advance Party report on Scouting came out in 1967 which has been the basis for change that has kept Scouting abreast of the times, with such changes as ‘Boy Scouts’ becoming ‘Scouts’, and the introduction of uniform berets and slacks. Most importantly however, the whole training scheme was revised (which was reviewed again in 1977 and in 1999)
1972 The Parish group expanded to three Cub Packs and in the same year the Chippendale Venture Unit was formed, which catered for young people of over 16 years. Its first leader was Geoff Glen and one of its tasks was the renovation of the old 2nd Otley Rover HQ in Leeds Road
1976 2nd Otley moved to its new HQ in Craven Street in 1976.
1977 At the time of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee the Mayor of Otley, Councillor Richard Good was prominent in local Scouting with his wife Sheila, and Scouts played a noticeable part in the celebrations. Mr and Mrs Good were leaders at 2nd Otley and throughout the eighties they, and a strong team of adults, ensured that the Group prospered.
2000 The 2nd Otley ‘s fortunes declined for a while but, by 2000, new leaders had revived the group in time for its ninetieth birthday in 2003.
2003 2nd Otley celebrates its 90th anniversary
Recent Times The Otley Bridge Church group have also prospered in spite of a disastrous fire in 1993 which burned down the URC church hall and destroyed all their camping and other equipment. The Group was among the first to welcome girls into its activities when this became national policy in the 1980s. The Otley Methodist group has had a successful period with many camps, but suffering like other organisations from a shortage of adult Leaders from time to time. The deaths of its long-serving Leader Alan Pullan in 2002, who had been a continuous member of Scouting since the age of 8 and a Leader for 41 years, and former Scout leader Les Wilkinson were sad blows. Two County camps were held locally, Chevin’82 catered for over a thousand Scouts from West Yorkshire and in 1991 Weston Venture was another large event held at Weston Park where many outdoor activities were arranged.
Changing Times Beaver Scouts originally started in Northern Ireland and spread quickly to cater for 6 to 8 year-olds and the first ‘Colony’ in Otley was established by Sue Sutcliffe at 2nd Otley in 1986. Very soon the three other local Scout Groups had followed suit. Nationally there were many changes taking place in Scouting such as the ending of headgear and modifications in the uniform. The new training programmes introduced in 1967 were brought up to date in 1985 and by the new millennium changes were afoot again in the shape of new uniforms and programmes which are currently being implemented. The Venture Scout section is being replaced by Explorer Scouts for 14 year-olds and upwards.
Another sign of the times is that some of the Cub and Scout badges for proficiency in activities such as cooking and do-it-yourself are now sponsored by commercial companies such as Macdonalds and B&Q! Members of the Scouts groups in Wharfedale have been lucky to have benefited from the help of an active service team composed of present and former leaders and known as the ‘Lionhearts’. These stalwarts arrange events for the various sections, such as Cub Sports, a Cub Quiz and a Beaver ‘Fun Day’ and were instrumental in turning the District campsite at Curly Hill, Ilkley into a well-equipped camping venue. Others played a prominent part in helping the fledgling Otley Carnival to get off the ground at its outset.
Throughout the years since 1977 many people have contributed to the development of Scouting in Otley. The Silver Acorn is the highest award for services to the movement and in this period this honour has been awarded to Sheila Good, Alan Somerton and the late Alan Pullan.
