Handcraft – Cubs
In October 1967 it was announced that in 1968 there would be an Inter-Pack model making competition. Additional information was published in the District bulletin the following January with Packs being invited to make a model village, on a board not exceeding one square yard with the cost not exceeding 15 shillings.
All models had to be delivered to Finchley Lodge on 6th April by 11 o’clock to be judged. They were then made available for viewing between 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm.
The 23rd Finchley were declared the winners and were presented with the Yates Cup.
In October 1968 it was announced that the subject of the model for 1969 would be a Game Reserve. The format was roughly the same but the Pack was now allowed to spend up to 17 shillings and sixpence on materials. Models were presented and judged on Friday 28th March 1969, with the 23rd Finchley being declared the winners from the 8 Packs that entered. The models along with any other Cub handcraft thought suitable were made available for viewing the following morning.
Later in 1969 it was announced that the format for 1970 would be different. Packs had to select 6 Cubs who would be asked to make a model using only specific items that they would be told to bring. The event was held during March 1970 at the 12th Finchley Headquarters. They were given 90 minutes to produce a model on the theme of ‘Space’. For the third year running the 23rd Finchley won the competition. All models subsequently went on display in Finchley Library.
The 1971 competition followed a similar format to 1970 with the teams having to make a model village. On this occasion the event was won by the 2nd Friern Barnet and for the first time it received some press coverage.
The competition continued to follow a similar format with the 1st Golders Green winning in 1972 with what was considered to easily be the best model of a fairground. The 6th Friern Barnet won in 1973 with a model harbour and in 1974 the 1st Golders Green won again having designed and built robots.
There was a slight twist to the 1975 competition that was held in the hall at St Mary Magdalen Church Whetstone, home of the 4th Friern Barnet. Instead of building a model with the materials they were told to bring, they had to produce a collage with a Jungle theme. Twenty Packs took part with the 22nd Finchley emerging the winners. The 21st Finchley were second and the 6th Friern Barnet third. There was press coverage of the event that included a photograph of the victorious team.
In 1976 it was back to model making but this time carpentry was involved. Teams were reduced from six to four members and the equipment they had to provide included hammers and nails with various pieces of wood and card. After one hour the 12th Finchley were judged to have built the best Fort and were duly presented with The Yates Cup. The 2nd Friern Barnet were second and the 22nd Finchley third. Once again the event was given plenty of press coverage.
In addition to the Team challenge for The Yates Cup, in 1977 Cubs had the opportunity to demonstrate their individual skills by entering their handiwork in a new category. This involved them making something for one or more of the following classes: a) A kit costing 50p or less b) something from odds & ends c) A painting or drawing; 30cm x 45cm d) cake making, 1 large or 6 small e) A toy.
The Yates Cup was won by the 4th Friern Barnet for their model of a Log Cabin, with the 22nd Finchley being second and the 21st Finchley third. The winning model went on display on Saturday 12th February, between 11am and noon, along with all the individual items that had been submitted and judged earlier that morning. A full list of winners was subsequently published in the District bulletin.
The new addition to the Handcraft competition proved very popular and became a permanent fixture, although the categories did get changed occasionally. The Yates Cup though was still the Trophy that the Packs wanted to win and on the 16th February they met to see who could build the best motorway service station out of cornflake packets, cotton reels, cocktail sticks, matchboxes, string and old sponge. The 21st Finchley were declared the winners of the 1978 competition with the 11th Finchley second and the 10th Finchley third.
The following Saturday (the 18th) the Cubs submitted their individual entries for judging with the winners being announced after the hall had been opened for everyone to view the entries. The names of all the winners were later published in the local papers and the District bulletin.
The 1979 Competition followed a similar pattern to the previous couple of years with the team event taking place on Thursday 8th February and the individual competition, with an additional class (a free standing sculpture), taking place two days later on the 10th.
The 10th Finchley won The Yates Cup for the best model of a ‘Bedsitter’ but unfortunately no press coverage has been found. Nevertheless a full list of all the winners was published in the District bulletin.
The 8th Golders Green won The Yates Cup in 1980, when the judges decided that their model of a ‘Cub Scout’ was the best that had been made out of an assortment of material which included 4 toilet rolls, 2 large boxes, 8 large tubes, a mixture of paint and some pieces of material.
Significant changes were made to the classes for the individual section that now comprised a) A working model b) A model made out of odds and ends c) Cake making d) Up to 4 photographs on a specific subject e) A soft toy f) Six sweets and g) A plate garden.
The full results were not published in the District bulletin and the only press item we have found does not mention The Yates Cup.
There was no handcraft competition in 1981.
When the handcraft competition was reintroduced to the programme in 1982, for The Yates Cup, it is not known if the element covering individual handicraft was also included. District bulletins covering this period have not yet been found although the AGM annual reports up to 1996 do include the names of the winners of The Yates Cup.
It is probably safe to assume that, because of the engravings on the Cup, the competition continued to take place during the remainder of the time that Finchley, Friern Barnet and Golders Green District existed.
The table below lists the names of all the Groups that won The Yates Cup for handcraft:
Gallery
Click here to view associated photographs and press cuttings.