April 2025 marks the Golden Anniversary of the foundation of the 1st Tipton St John Scout Group. Where did that half century go? On April 2025 marks the Golden Anniversary of the foundation of the 1st Tipton St John Scout Group. Where did that half century go? On 29th, a chilly evening as I remember, twelve lads, aged between eight and ten years old, under the leadership of Ann Mattison (now Knight) and Sheila Boyes met at the playing field to be introduced to the magic of Scouting.
In those days the leaders were known by the names of Jungle Book characters, so I was Akela and Sheila, Shere Khan. The boys or pack were divided into sixes with a Sixer and Seconder appointed to organise them. A series of tasks had to be passed, with The Promise and Cub Law learnt by the boys before they were invested as full members of the pack, able to wear the pack scarf (in Tipton’s case a red one) and given membership badges – round purple ones – to be sewn on the left front side of the green jumpers. There were District and County badges for the right sleeve, with the Group name tag for the top. A number of interest badges could later be earned and 29th, a chilly evening as I remember, twelve lads, aged between eight and ten years old, under the leadership of Ann Mattison (now Knight) and Sheila Boyes met at the playing field to be introduced to the magic of Scouting. progress through the pack achieved with arrow badges.
By May the numbers had increased to seventeen and by the Autumn there were twenty-six cubs, and a Scout Troop was proposed. By January 1976 this was established with Frank Johnson as Skipper followed by Brian Pottinger who did a great job keeping the troop going in the early days. The weekly subs were five pence at the start, increasing to ten pence in 1979. Now the term fee of £40 pounds is paid by banker’s order making things much easier for all.
Scouting is a worldwide organisation governed by strict rules. The ones for this country were set out in what is known as POR or Policy, Organisation and Rules. These have, of course, been changed and adapted over the years to keep up with the times. One of the biggest changes in the Scout movement as a whole must be the admission of girls in Tipton’s inaugural year of 1976. In the seventies and eighties there were several competitions for both sections run by the District. Tipton took its share of success, with Cubs winning the sports and swimming several times. The Cub sports were run by Tipton on our playing field and became quite a village event.
Our group continued to grow and flourish. A huge boost was the purchase of the ‘plot’ from Clinton Devon Estates in 1984. The land, just outside the village off the Harpford Road, has been such an asset providing an outdoor space for games, fire-lighting, outdoor cooking, camping and learning many other skills integral to scouting. The building of a scout hut, small at first, then replaced in 1993, improved over the years and now in need of an upgrade again, has been invaluable.
Before acquiring the plot, the cubs had a weekend camp each September in fields loaned by local farmers. The Scouts, who were encouraged to arrange their own patrol camps, were also able to do this locally but as a troop were much more adventurous, visiting Dartmoor, North Wales and the Norfolk Broads.
‘Bob-a-Job’ week was an early feature of fund raising. Boys went knocking door-to-door and were given small or not so small tasks such as sweeping leaves, car washing, window cleaning or washing up in exchange for cash: there was great rivalry to see who could earn the most! In more safety-conscious days, the group supervised activities such as a shoe-shine outside the shop or car wash in the Hall car park. Later, fundraising became more a job for adult supporters and a series of themed dinners took place in the Community Hall.
From 2011 ‘Cuberets’ or concerts by the cubs and scouts followed by a meal and organised by Brian Foulkes were held. For many years, starting in 1989, a biennial duck race, held on the May Day Bank Holiday was run by the Scouts then under the leadership of Graham Leah.
Graham was a stalwart Scouter from 1989 to 2015, first as Assistant Scout leader then Skip – and also held the post of Scout District Commissioner for many years. He was enticed into the movement by his wife, Carol, who took over from me as Akela. He only initially came to help the cubs with their map-reader badge but fell under the spell. The group has had so many dedicated leaders and helpers throughout the years and generations of youngsters have reason to thank them for the experiences they have enjoyed that may not have been available elsewhere.
A new branch of Scouts for six- to eight-year-olds was introduced in 1986 but didn’t take off in Tipton until 2015 when the Tipton Beaver colony was launched under the leadership of Brian Foulkes.
The group has had its ups and downs over the years but always managing to stay alive. How delighted I was in 2015 to be asked to join the Group Executive again and find the Group flourishing with big plans ahead for improvements to the Plot and Hut. There are now 26 Scouts, 30 Cubs, 12 Beavers, 5 on the waiting list and 11 Leaders headed by Alison Clatworthy, the present Group Scout Volunteer. Alison asks me to add a plea here for help with the Beaver section. Now children of the children in the early pack are joining and I am still occasionally accosted in the street by middle aged men saying, “Hello Akela, do you remember me – I was a Tipton Cub.” They don’t forget.
Like all big organisations the Head Office is always coming up with new ideas, programmes and training systems but the aim is the same. Scouting is an amazing organisation for helping young people to find their strengths, develop their interests and shoulder their responsibilities to others and their community while having fun. May Tipton’s contribution to this continue for at least another 50 years.
Ann Knight
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