History

Writtle Scout Group celebrated 100 years of Scouting in the village in 2009 and continues to flourish with a membership of 70 young people.

The first reference to a Scout Troop in Writtle came from the Troop leader in 1918, Mr Fred Chittock, who said that the Troop had been formed in the village nearly ten years previously. This is also supported by the reference below to Fred Edwards, whose link with Writtle Scouts went back to at least early 1910.

The first Scout master was Frank Arnold Wallinger, son of the church warden Dr A. Wallinger who lived at Kitts Croft and was the village GP. He remained Scout master until February 1912 when he left for “foreign parts”. His successor was Mr Fred (Toppa) Edwards, an “energetic officer” who had been with the Troop for two years as assistant Scout master.

The first written record of the Scout group can be found in the Writtle parish magazine of July 1911: “Boy Scouts – we are very pleased to notice that this movement has fairly found its feet in the parish with Mr Frank Wallinger as Scout master and Robert White as Adjutant”.  Two patrols were formed, and Mr Jack Russell allowed the use of the Maltings in Bridge Street for meetings and drills. The magazine records that “Scouts have come to stay”.

The Troop met on a Monday and Friday evenings from 7.30 – 9.15 at the club room. Boys over 12 years old could join with subscriptions of 1d a week. 

Early camps were held at Boreham, Springfield Lyons, Burnham on Crouch, Galleywood, Ingatestone and Roxwell. Transport was Mr Russell’s steam lorry and a trek cart.

The parish magazine of February 1913 recorded that the Troop held its first Gang Show. The magazine stated that “the ladies of the committee played a full part, music and sketches”. The audience were “not unappreciative” and at the end of the performance there were many presentations including a King Scout badge to George Leaman, whose name is remembered in the Leaman Centre at the Essex Scout campsite at Skreens Park, Roxwell.

In February 1914, the parish magazine mentions “the new Junior section has started and the young Scouts are making good progress” although Wolf Cubs did not officially start until 1916 – another first for Writtle.

In January 1949 after the end of the Second World War, the first meeting of 20th Chelmsford (Writtle) Troop was held with 24 members.  In July 1951 the cubs entered the “totem pole competition” which they won. They also won the competition in 1952 and 1953. During the 1950s the parish magazine records a number of Scout and cub leaders: Miss Bridge, Mr P Lawrence, Mr Edwards, Judith Goby, George and Kath Davies, and Mr Spearman. Meetings were held in the “Iron room”.

In 1962 the Scout group under John Fulbeck, purchased an ex-MOD timber building from Roxwell. It was dismantled and transported to its present site on the playing fields in Paradise Road. It was rebuilt by parents and Scout leaders and opened in 1963. The wooden building was originally intended to have a life of 10 years! It is still in use today, although not by the Scout group.

In 1986, beavers started in Writtle. The group then had a membership of 150 youngsters. In 1989 the group celebrated 80 years of Scouting by holding a “Gang Show” for two nights in the village hall.  When the group celebrated its 90th year in 1999, we also launched an appeal for a new Scout centre.

During the 2000s the Scout group raised sufficient funds to start building the new Writtle Scout Centre, which was opened in May 2007, the same year as the World Jamboree was held at Hylands Park and also the year the Scout movement celebrated 100 years. 

In its centenary year, Writtle Scout Group has a purpose-built venue for Scouting, and other community activities, to continue for another 100 years. Writtle Scout Centre, next to the play area at the Paradise Road Playing Fields, is home to Beavers, Cub Scouts, and Scouts, together with Guides, Brownies, Rainbows and a Ranger unit.

The group celebrated 100 years of Scouting in the village in 2009 by visits to Bewilderwood, a tree top Adventure Park near Norwich, section camps and a group camp and a birthday party in the park at Skreens campsite attended by the then Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Tony Sach, Scout County Commissioner Jan Dear, Chelmsford District Commissioner Sue Wilde and former leaders and supporters. The day also included the dedication of new flags for the Scouts, cubs and beavers. The flags were dedicated by the then Writtle vicar, the Rev Michael Jones. The year ended with a church service and a celebratory Christmas meal.