Archiving Team Note:
This 1921 to 1938 note had been written by an early Scoutmaster and retained by one of the Group Scout Leaders as a historical record. We’re delighted it was safely kept and that we’re able to publish it exactly as it was written.
Beginnings – Our Early Years
In 1907 all over Britain boys were clamouring to follow the ideals of Baden-Powell (B.P.) in his book “Aids to Scouting”. Boys in Renfrew did likewise and prevailed upon a Mr. A.G. Thomson to be their Scoutmaster, thus the first Boy Scout Troop was formed in Renfrew in 1908.
The movement in Renfrew came under the upper ward of the Renfrewshire Association whose meetings were held in Paisley until the Renfrewshire Boy Scout Local Association was formed at a meeting in the Police Buildings in Renfrew on Sunday, 11 December 1921.
The Trinity Troop of Scouts was inaugurated by the Rev. Robert B. Hastie M.A. and met for the first time in September 1921 meeting in the then Church Hall on Tuesday evenings.
We’re extremely fortunate that our archive includes two original, printed, photographs of the first Troop in 1921. Better still – one of the photographs had all the names with it. How good is that from 100 years ago? We’re delighted to share that picture and formally thank all in it, as without their enthusiasm in starting the Troop, we wouldn’t be where we are 100 years later.
Twenty boys were enrolled among them some older lads with previous scouting experience in the old 19th, the original first Troop in the district, with Mr. Archie M. Ferguson as Scoutmaster assisted by Mr. James Ritchie and Mr. Alex McCracken. The first Patrol Leaders were William Calderwood, John Gray, Ray Ritchie and James Wilson and by 1923 one Scout had attained First Class status. [Note: There are fuller explanations of 1st and 2nd Class Scouts in the Badges section of our history.]
At a special Church Parade in June of that year the Troop were presented with Colours by the Kirk Session and Managers Court. By this time a combined meeting of all Scouts in the town was held once a month to meet and to listen to visiting Commissioners on Scouting activities.
By 1924 Mr. Ferguson had three assistants in Messrs. James Ritchie, William Calderwood and John Gray; with Patrol Leaders James Wilson, William Murray, William Law and Joe Gray. In this fourth year of our history the Troop now 36 strong, took part in a Scout Week and gained second place in all the competitions.
During the month of October the Guides and Scouts held a successful concert as a result of which over £20 was handed over in aid of the Organ Fund.
In December [1924] Mr. Ferguson was granted permission by the Session to form a Cub Section of the Boy Scouts, for boys under Scout age, and a Rover Scout Section to cater for boys who had passed Scout age.
Group in 1925
During 1925 a Patrol of 8 Scouts took part in an eliminating contest at Meadowpark for the County Flag and came second to the 3rd Clyde Area Sea Scouts but we were successful in gaining first place in the Inter-Troop competition during Scout Week. 1925 will be remembered by the boys as it was their first year under canvas when 20 Scouts and 4 Scouters spent ten days in camp at Strachur, Loch Fyne.
In addition, a number of week-end camps were held, two at Strachur, one at Whistlefield and one at Balloch, four of our young leaders attended a Patrol Leaders’ Training Camp at Milliken Estate.
In the early part of October we co-operated with the Girl Guides in producing a three nights entertainment in the Church Hall in the form of a three-act play, “A Pair of Spectacles”, a jumble sale organised by the Ladies Work Party and financial help from the Junior Choir helped swell our meagre funds.
1926
The Troop entered its sixth year of existence as healthy and active as ever, with the Cub Pack increasing in efficiency, both taking part in the Scout Rally and Meadowpark during Scout Week.
Two Rover Patrols were formed in November [1926] to retain the interest of the older boy of 17½ years and to continue their advanced training, six boys transferred from the Troop along with the four Scouters making a total of ten in all.
By 1927 the Troop meeting had changed to a Friday night and the 27 Scouts were kept busy working on Second and First Class Badges as well as many proficiency badges. Scout Week was again one of the main attractions for the boys with the Rally being well patronised by the public and again we were just pipped at the post in the competition by Simons Sea Scouts. There was a full turn out of all the District at the Annual Church Parade which was headed by a party of the Dalmuir Parish Pipe Band and four of our own drummers.
During the winter months a number of the boys’ parents formed a committee for the purpose of donating bagpipes to the Troop; from them we received three sets of pipes and a fourth set from Mr. Mitchell’s Junior Choir; two side drums from a Mr. Todd and one large drum from the Scoutmaster’s father.
The summer camp was again held at Strachur when 23 Scouts and 4 Scouters spent and enjoyable time, the cost being £1-3-6 for over 18 and £1-2-6 for under 18. A large number of proficiency badges were gained during the year including 3 First Class, 3 King’s Scouts and 3 All Round Cords
This year we were in camp at Kilconqhuar, Fifeshire, which was voted a great success, 11 Scouts, 8 Rovers and 4 Scouters taking part in the activities.
The Wolf Cub Pack are still going strong, being 50 strong meeting every Monday evening in the Church Hall. The position of Cub Mistress has now been accepted by Miss F.H. Findlay who is proving an efficient and enthusiastic leader. The Rovers are still going strong with meetings held firstly in the old Session House and latterly in the hut in Haining Road through the good grace of one of our members. The meetings now take place on Wednesday evenings when the lads receive instructions in the noble art of self defence by a Mr. R.M. Harry Ward of Glasgow.
The Rovers spent the spring holiday weekend in camp at Luss, Loch Lomond.
1928
Another year sees the Troop as active and progressive as ever and taking part in the inter Troop Rally at Blythswood policies[1]. The summer camp of 1928 was held at Ballantrae, Ayrshire with 15 Scouts, 5 Rovers and 2 Scouters taking part in an ideal spell under canvas. The Pipe Band which had been in the making for some time made its first appearance in Renfrew at the Armistice Parade on 11th November. During the year we lost the services of two of our Scouters, William Law who died in such tragic circumstances after an injury on the football pitch and William Calderwood who left Renfrew to take up a position as engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.
1929
Another successful year in terms of our ninth year of its registration with all the Scouts still busily engaged in training and hobby badges. The Troop attended several Church Parades including the Scottish Scout Week Service and the Armistice Service on both of which occasions our Pipe Band played the Troops to and from the Church. The Band was also in attendance at the Annual Rally held in June at a summer camp in 1929 but preliminary arrangements are in hand for 1930 when we hope to be under canvas once again.
Mr. Murray our Sec. and Treas. reports on the successful Whist Drive and Dance held in the Town Hall by which our funds benefited by about £40.
1930
Entering the year 1930 the Troop is now being fed by intakes of boys ‘Stepping Up’ from the Cub Pack which ensures the continued training suitable to the boy’s age group. This year our Troop was chosen by the Local Association to represent Renfrew District in the County Flag Competition being held at Milliken Estate, Troops being tested on a Patrol basis. The Troop again attended the Annual Rally held in Blythswood Policies in June when displays were given by all Troops, the Pipe Band playing selections during the evening.
The summer camp was again held at Ballantrae when all the lads enjoyed a very happy and healthy time under canvas.
1931
1931 and ten years since our inception most of the original members have left [but] there are still younger lads coming forward to fill up our ranks. Applications have been made to Scout Headquarters by Mr. A.M Ferguson, J.B. Ritchie and W.M. Murray for warrants as Group Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster respectively. A week-end camp was held in Blythswood Policies to train the patrol which had entered for the County Flag Competition being held at Milliken Estate.
Some of the Rovers led by A.M. Ferguson hiked to Auchengillan to visit the Glasgow Rover Scout Moot in June; again the troop were prominent at the Scout Rally held at Blythswood. Week-end camps held at Milliken Estate and at Auchengillan kept the outdoor activities much to the fore for the remainder of the year.
1932
1932
By 1932 with the enrolling of new members and transfers from the Cubs the Roll augmented to such an extent that a new Patrol had to be formed, thus making a total of six Patrols. The number of Scouters has also been increased by the addition of Messrs. W.D. Killin, T.R. Evans and J. Mitchell who during the session obtained the necessary warrants. This year we again represented the District in the County Flag Competition entering a Patrol for a week-end spent under canvas, the boys doing well in gaining second place with only a very narrow margin from the winners. Twenty eight Scouts and three Scouters spent a thoroughly enjoyable time under canvas at the annual summer camp which was once again held at the ever popular venue of Ballantrae.
1933
The start of another year saw the restart of the Rovers coupled with the weekly practices of the Pipe Band to keep the other lads busy and the younger boys still actively engaged in badge work. District events included a Scouter’s Social evening in the Co-operative Halls; a Scout and Patrol Leaders’ Meeting in the Parochial Halls in Fulbar Street.
Our Cub Pack held an Open Night to interest the parents of the boys, Patrol Leaders’ training at Elderslie Policies, week-end camps at Milliken Estate, Tree felling in the Trinity Manse grounds, Cub and Brownie parade led by the Pipe Band, week-end camps held at Auchengillan and the annual Rally held in the Western Park ground of Renfrew Football Club. The summer camp was held at the ideal site at Southend, Kintyre which proved an interesting and happy experience, while there a grand opportunity to occurred to perform the proverbial ‘good turn’, a Mr. J.H. Maxwell of the Archaeological Society of Scotland came to Southend on historical research work and welcomed the assistance offered to clear part of a cave to allow examination of excavated relics, all carefully handled (see the ‘Helping Others’ Display for more information). News of this effort of the Scouts appeared in the Glasgow Herald and eventually reached Scout Headquarters in London when the editor of ‘The Scout’ publication awarded an autographed photograph of the Chief Scout to the Troop. Our Rovers were on duty at the Highland Games held at Western Park in September, a Scouter’s conference at Seafield House, Greenock, the Armistice Parade in November and a win for our swimming team at the schools gala in December, the team, J. Cooke, J. Whyte, I. Geddes and J. Graham, reserve E. Foyer ended another year of progress for the Trinity Troop.
1934
1934 sees the start of another year of active scouting with a joint meeting of Scouts from Trinity, North and Simons in Trinity Church Halls to meet the County Commissioner.
Early in April Miss Findlay was the recipient of a presentation on the occasion of her retirement as Akela, Leader of the Cub Pack and was succeeded by Mr. Hugh Whitehouse assisted by Miss Jean Welsh. The Troop took part in a display of handicrafts in the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow and received Certificates of Merit for an exhibit of sea grass stools. May starts the outdoor pursuits of both sections with the Cub Packs from the District enjoying an outing to Inchinnan and the Troop tramping over the Douglas Muir to camp at Auchengillan. Camping was kept to the fore by our lads week-end training at Milliken Estate and on many Saturdays at Meadowpark; once again the Troop represented the District in the County Flag Competition, the annual Church Parade was held in June prior to the Troop once again choosing to hold the summer camp at Ballantrae. The Pipe Band took part in the Church Parades of the Cub Packs in April, the annual Church Parade in June and the Armistice Parade in November.
The end of the year saw another get together of all Scouts in Renfrew meeting in the North Church Halls; the District Annual General Meeting continues to be held in the Court House, Police Buildings in Inchinnan Road.
1936
Ballantrae Camp – 1936
Attendance is still good, although some of the older boys now have evening classes to contend with and this resulted in 3 new Patrol Leaders being appointed, namely Senior P.L. Eric Deichmahns, P.L.’s John Cook, Samuel Hamilton and Alastair McInnes. The remaining P.L. is John Graham who has now had his stripes for a few years.
The annual summer camp was again held at Ballantrae for ten happy days spent under canvas with all boys benefitting from the stay.
1937
32 boys in all including Senior P.L. Eric Deichmahns, P.L. John Cook ‘Cuckoo’; Andrew Wallace ‘Wolf’; Alistair McInnes ‘Otter’ and John Graham ‘Stag’.
New ground was found for the annual summer camp which was held at Pitlochry, Perthshire when 19 boys and 3 Scouters spend a most enjoyable time together.
1938
Still progress being maintained by all the boys in training for badges, etc, the highest award being to P.L. John Cooke who gained his “All Round Cards”. P.L. John Cook represented the Troop at the opening of the Empire Exhibition at Bellahouston in May. It was found impossible to hold a summer camp this year due to various circumstances. During the year the troop lost the valuable services of Assistant Scoutmaster T.R. Evans who left town to take up a situation in London.
Notes:
1926 also saw the presentation of the Elliot Cup by Rev R.B. Elliot, Minister of Trinity Church from 1923 to 1928. This is not included in the formal record, but we think it should now be added. The cup was used for inter-patrol competitions, and we have decided to re-introduce these competitions, starting in our centenary year.
We assume that the record would have been maintained, but ceased in 1938 because 1939 saw the start of the 2nd World War. If you’d like to find out more about all the work Scouts did during the 2nd World War, please look at the War Years Scouting section in our history by clicking here. Although we say so ourselves, it’s an extremely interesting and informative read.
[1] Blythswood Policies are the grounds of the old Blythswood Estate in Renfrew.