Our Groups

The table below shows the Groups/Units that are known to have, at some time, been members of our District whether it was just Finchley, Finchley and Friern Barnet or Finchley, Friern Barnet and Golders Green. 

We are currently collating and publishing articles on as many of these as we can. Links are provided to the said articles. If there is nothing currently written about the Group in which you are interested, please check back at a later date. If you are able to help with this, by providing information or photographs, we would be most grateful if you would get in touch with us. 

From the information provided in the section ‘In the Beginning’ you will see that it did not take long before many Patrols / Groups were formed. We know that Groups adopted (were given) the next sequential number available. This is because, when the 10th Finchley started in 1914, they were advised that numbers 1 – 8 were already being used and number 9 was reserved for a Group that was about to start at St. Luke’s.

From our research we have also discovered that on several occasions a number was used more than once. Some Groups found it necessary to shut for a short while and when this occurred the number was retained for when they restarted. However, if a Group shut permanently the number was declared available and subsequently allocated to a new Group at a later date. An example of this is the 5th Finchley, which existed in three different guises.

As a result we are not sure that the Groups listed in the 1921 census (our first official document) relate to those mentioned in early press reports.

Following the news that the County boundaries were to change in 1965 and with the creation of Greater London North County Scouts, arrangements were made for 5 North London Groups in the Friern Barnet area to join Finchley. In order for them to retain some of their own identity and common link they were renamed as the 1st – 5th Friern Barnet.

As a result the District was renamed Finchley and Friern Barnet and a new Warrant was issued by headquarters. On the 1st April 1964 when the Groups moved from North London their designated numbers were allocated according to their seniority. Therefore the 94th NL became the 1st FB, the 186th NL became the 2nd FB and so on. 

A short while later the 6th East Barnet that met in Whetstone but was in Hertfordshire District also transferred and became the 6th Friern Barnet.

In 1971 the Golders Green District Executive Committee held a meeting with the County Commissioner about their future. As a result of their discussions is was decided to dissolve their present District and to amalgamate all their Groups with Finchley and Friern Barnet District. On the 1st April 1971 our District became Finchley, Friern Barnet and Golders Green

Sadly, by 2008 when the District merged with Barnet and Hendon & Edgware Districts to become the new Barnet Borough District only a handful of the Groups mentioned below still existed.

Also provided below is another table that currently shows membership numbers for the District from 1921 – 2000. This shows, in terms of Group numbers and actual membership, how the fortunes of the District fluctuated over the years.

Census

The following table currently shows membership numbers for the District from 1921 – 2000. Please note all figures have been taken from the census returns apart from:

• 1925: There is no return but the Annual Report for 1925/26 includes the numbers for Cubs Scouts and Rovers and then compares them to 1925. These used in the table. There is no clear indication as to the number of leaders.
• 1937: Figures have been taken from the AGM Report with leader numbers included with the sections. There are an additional 94 members marked as ‘crew’ who are not included.
• 1939 – 1942: There was no official census during these years and the figures quoted for 1940 and 1941 are those recorded unofficially by the District.
• 1988 – 2000: All figures have been taken from the AGM Reports.