In the beginning

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Much can be found on the Internet about how Scouting started: Baden-Powell, Brownsea Island and ‘Scouting for Boys’. This article gives a very broad outline of the early development and activities in Finchley and in particular the District known as Finchley.

In 1908, the year after B-P’s famous camp, ‘The Scout’ a penny weekly magazine was first published. This provided an important link for the rapidly increasing number of boys, including those in Finchley, who banded together to form Patrols of Scouts.

On the British Newspaper Archive web site there are several references to Scout activities in Finchley during 1908 and 1909, For copyright reasons we do not think we should publish these but give below details of some of the main events that were reported upon.

One of the earliest activities mentioned was a Despatch Running competition held on the 5th December 1908 between two teams of Scouts. Team A was made up of boys from Troop 1 and Team 2 was made up of boys from Troops 2 & 3. The despatch left Brookman’s Park at 3.15pm and was followed by Scoutmasters Mr T C Osborn and Mr A H Wright on horseback. The despatch was transferred from one runner to another about a mile apart, before arriving at Christ’s College, Finchley and delivered to Major Pemberton (commanding at Mill Hill Barracks), in front of a large crowd that included Mr I T Phillipson, headmaster of the college and Rev. David Annal, of the Presbyterian Church. Interestingly, during the address given by Major Pemberton he spoke about the perils of smoking, saying ‘that cigarette smoking is a dreadful thing, doing more harm than anything else.’

In early January 1909 the Finchley Scouts were specially selected by headquarters to give a display of their work at South Kensington in connection with an entertainment and ball, to the junior branch of the Navy League.

At the end of that month there is a reference to the first, second and third Finchley Troops recommencing their drills after Christmas and an announcement that during February the Scouts would give a display at Christ’s College, similar to the one given in South Kensington. General Charles Warren, K.C.B., R.F., who had been involved with Baden-Powell in the creation of the Boy Scout movement, would preside and give an address.

In May there were a number of events surrounding Empire Day.  This was an historic occasion that started in 1902 but did not become an annual event until 1916.  The Empire declined over the next 40 years and Britain’s relationship with the other countries that formed the Empire changed, and it was re-badged as British Commonwealth Day in 1958.  Later still, in 1966 it became Commonwealth Day.

During the celebrations at Victoria Recreation Ground a large crowd gathered to watch the presentation of colours to six recognised Finchley Troops of Boy Scouts. There was also an evening event at Finchley High School for the presentation of the Union Jack by Mr Phillipson (headmaster of Christ’s College and local president of the Scout movement) to the 7^th & 8^th Finchley Troops. Finally on the Sunday there was a church parade at St Paul’s, Long Lane which about 50 Scouts attended.

There are also a number of references to the Scouts camping and we are fortunate to have the following photos of Finchley Scouts camping in 1909. They were donated to the District in 1970 by David Powell, an ex member of the 81^st North London (2^nd Finchley).

Throughout 1909 the movement continued to grow and in September a Rally at Crystal Palace attracted over 11,000 Scouts. The numbers in Finchley were also on the increase and in October they, along with other Scouts from the surrounding area and numbering about 250, held another display at Christ’s College. An address was given by Sir Francis Vane, who was at the time Scout Commissioner for London. Specifically referring to the Finchley contingent he said that they showed marked physical improvement and that the exercises they has undergone appeared to have developed bone and muscle, and in addition they had become exceedingly active and alert.

The Boy Scouts Association was formed in 1910, in order to provide a national body in the United Kingdom which could organise and support the rapidly growing number of Scout Patrols and Troops. It also enabled Baden-Powell to gain full control of the Scout Movement, which had been under the influence of his book publisher.

Following the establishment of The Boy Scouts Association, Headquarters provided the Finchley Local Association with a Warrant to manage Scouting within the District detailed Hendon and Finchley.

We have no official information as to how this affected the Troops that had already been formed apart from the fact that Troops needed to be registered. However, from what we have read it appears that some of the existing Troops retained their existing designation while others and new Troops were given a local number or a Hendon & Finchley number, or in some cases both. By way of an example we know that the 2^nd Hendon was the 9^th Hendon & Finchley, the 10^th Finchley was the 4^th Hendon & Finchley and the 2^nd Golders Green was the 13^th Hendon & Finchley.

The Local Association was also responsible for issuing Warrants to leaders and thanks to Ivan Oakes we have a copy of a Leader’s Warrant issued in 1910 to his grandfather, Edward Oakes. A copy of this Warrant is here and a picture of him camping on Brownsea Island, along with some other photos, can be seen by clicking here.

At the end of 1920 the Finchley Local Association became solely responsible for Troops (and Wolf Cub Packs) in the Finchley area and in February 1921 were presented with the appropriate Warrant from Imperial Headquarters. It is believed that at the same time Hendon became responsible for Troops in their area.

As a result of this split the Finchley Local Association re launched itself. They started by removing the Hendon & Finchley numbers from Troop (Group) names and ensured that they became known by a Finchley number, which was in many cases the same number.

The outcome was that the 1^st H&F became the 1^st Finchley, the 3^rd H&F the 3^rd Finchley, the 4^th H&F the 10^th Finchley, 8^th H&F the 8^th Finchley, the 11^th F&H the 9^th and the 14^th, 15^th & 16^th F&H the 14^th, 15^th & 16^th Finchley. The 2^nd Finchley, who were believed to be the 10^th F&H, became the 2^nd Finchley and the 2^nd Finchley (Church End) was asked to become the 4^th Finchley.

At the same time that all of this was happening the 81^st North London applied to join Finchley and was allocated the next available number, which was 5.

It is these 11 Groups that we believe form the foundation of Finchley District and it is these Groups and all subsequent new Groups that this web site is primarily focusing on. This does not mean that where information about earlier Finchley Groups comes to hand they will be ignored.

Notwithstanding the above it should be pointed out that because there was a previous Finchley Local Association, albeit covering Hendon and Finchley, Imperial Headquarters considered 1909 to be the official year that Finchley District was formed.

See also the article ‘Our Groups’ for more information.