14th (St. Anne's Scouts) Worksop are celebrating 100 years of scouting. The group is almost as old as the beautiful St. Anne’s Church, from where it takes its name. The church celebrated its own 100-year anniversary in 2012 and remains as treasured as ever to not only the scouts but countless other groups that enjoy its building for their activities.
In fact, when St Anne’s was first consecrated it could boast of a large Sunday school where at one time 700 children enrolled! As the years have passed and the culture in which we live having changed beyond recognition to that of a hundred years ago, it is perhaps not surprising that habits of going to Sunday school have changed too.
At one time St. Anne’s was renowned for its strong Youth Fellowship. In recent years this again is becoming a strength of St Anne’s with a Thursday evening Youth Group and Friday afternoon Youth Drop-In. It continues to have tight links with uniformed organisations including the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows who meet weekly in the Church Hall. The Scouts, Cubs and Beavers continue to meet in the Scout Hut, which was rebuilt during the last 25 years on Slack Walk within the parish.
St. Anne's Scouts are extremely fond of their Scout Hut and the mutual love and respect between the church parish and the group is clear.
The group is extremely proud to have reached the 100-year milestone and is marking the occasion with a number of events
and activities as it continues its celebrations into 2022. The scouts have already been busy designing a very special centenary badge which is now being worn with pride on their neckers and a 100-year celebratory service was held in St. Anne’s Church in December 2021, with both current and previous members in attendance. Quite the occasion and an opportunity for all to share their fondest memories and to toast the next chapter for the group.
Future celebrations include a family camping weekend at the lovely Walesby Forest and no summer would be complete without a garden party. Scout headquarters will be hosting this with a hog roast, traditional games, music and more.
As scouting groups up and down the country celebrate milestone anniversaries or may already have passed the 100-year mark, it seems incredible to think that the idea of one person could have transformed the lives of so many.
On 1 August 1907, 20 boys gathered together to join the first experimental Scout camp on Brownsea Island, near Poole in Dorset. The man behind the event was Robert Baden-Powell, a soldier, artist and writer. A somewhat radical idea at the time, he believed in bringing young people from different backgrounds together in the hope of bridging gaps in society, and to give everyone the opportunity to learn new skills and enjoy different social experiences.
The rest is history and it today enjoys status as the largest youth movement across the globe, enjoyed by both boys and girls, and as popular as ever. Something Lord Baden-Powel would be incredibly proud of with his legacy bringing joy and opportunity to so many.
Of course, there may still be some perception that being a Scout is just about putting up tents and singing around a campfire, and yes these are still greatly enjoyed. But scouting brings the collective empowerment and safety of being together and standing up for what they believe. Trailblazing even. Scouts have always been encouraged to ‘do their best’ for themselves and for others, and the original Scouts instilled this pledge; to be kind, considerate and always ready to help other people. It has certainly stood them well – ‘A Scout is a friend to all’, Lord Baden-Powel wrote in Scouting for Boys. Over a 100 million copies sold are testament to the respect the movement has earned.
Today’s Scouts have grown and evolved in so many ways – welcoming people of all genders, beliefs and backgrounds – but their aim remains the same: to prepare young people for the future and build stronger communities.
Steve Hind, the retired Group Scout Leader for St. Anne's Scouts has made scouts a part of his life and to some extent his family for many years before handing over the gauntlet to Kevin Ellis. Steve said, “I started cubs at eight years old on the 25th May 1950 my father told me if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t have to go again, but I am still honoured to be a scout today. My family including my Dad, four uncles, two cousins, two sons and my daughter have all been members of St. Anne's Scouts clocking up 330 years of scouting service.
“I was there on the day they laid the first brick to the scout HQ in Slack walk Worksop in 1959 and when the building was updated in 1995 and have now surpassed 71 years being a scout.”
Kevin Ellis, the current Group Scout Leader for St. Anne's Scouts said: "Fun, friendship, adventure and learning skills for life are just some of the things that make scouting so special.
“St. Anne's Scouts are celebrating 100 years of making memories and I am proud to be a part of the scouting family. Getting involved in the biggest youth organisation in the world has been so rewarding as an adult and for my family, I have a Cub Scout and Explorer Scout in St. Anne’s Group.
“To be GSL (Group Scout leader) is truly a privilege as I lead the group into the start of our second century."
As the group looks forward to the next 100 years, it is only fitting that it takes a journey down memory lane and celebrates the past 100 from its humble beginnings to the wonderful haven of adventure and togetherness that it offers children in Nottinghamshire.
If you are interested in enrolling your child then please contact 14th (St. Anne's) Worksop Scouts.
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Tel: 0115 952 361
