Some notable dates in Scouting and District history

1907

August: Robert Baden-Powell organises an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. The campers test out ideas that were written into “Scouting for Boys”

1908

1910

August: Girl Guide Movement founded by Baden-Powell and his sister Agnes

1912

January: Royal Charter of Incorporation for the Boy Scouts granted

1914

August: The Great War starts

See “The War Years

1916

December: Wolf Cubs officially launches

1917

Rover Scout scheme starts

1918

November: The Great War ends

1919

Gilwell Park officially opens

1920

1921

District Census: The first year’s data that we have found. See all of our Census records in ‘Our Groups’.

1929

July: ‘Coming of Age’ Jamboree (3rd) held at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead

1934

The District leases land for use as a Camping Ground

See article ‘Frith Grange’.

1936

May: Official opening of the District Camping Ground (Frith Grange)

See article ‘Frith Grange’.

1938

Good Turn Rally

1939

September: World War II starts

1941

1942

March: Lord Somers (Arthur Somers-Cocks) becomes Chief Scout

1944

Finchley Scout and Guide Week

1945

See article ‘Finchley Lodge

1946

Senior Scouts starts

1948

BP Guild begins

1957

See articles ‘Jamboree Journeys‘ and ‘A Year To Remember

1960

Finchley Lodge, the District HQ, is sold

See article ‘Finchley Lodge

1961

1962

The National Trust purchases Brownsea Island for the public

1964

April: Five North London Groups join Finchley to form the new District “Finchley and Friern Barnet”. They are later joined by the 6th East Barnet from Hertfordshire District

1965

March: The new Finchley Lodge opens

See article ‘Finchley Lodge

1966

June: The Chief Scout’s ‘Advance Party Report’ published: major changes in uniform, terminology and training programme

1971

See articles ‘Our Groups’ and ‘Jamboree Journeys

1972

July: Sir William Gladstone becomes Chief Scout

1976

Cub Scouts Diamond Jubilee

See article “A Year To Remember

1979

World Scout Jamboree in Iran cancelled due to the revolution and replaced with International camps in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA

See article ‘Jamboree Journeys

1982

1988

May: Garth Morrison (later Sir) becomes Chief Scout

1996

March: George Purdy becomes Chief Scout

1990

  • Girls can join the younger sections if Groups wish
  • Finchley Lodge sold and Frith Grange becomes the District HQ

See article ‘Finchley Lodge

2002

See article ‘Jamboree Journeys

2008

The District merges with Barnet and Hendon & Edgware, to form the new Barnet Borough District

Other sections

Click here to go straight to the Jamboree Journeys, A Year to Remember and The War Years pages.

HM King Charles III has been confirmed as our new Patron, a great honour for UK Scouts.

The King continues a long tradition of the monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.

Find out more
King Charles III

Our Patron, HM King Charles III