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. With the 199th North London being the third oldest of the five Groups they became the 3rd Friern Barnet within the renamed District of Finchley and Friern Barnet.

The Group was founded by the Rev. B Thackeray in 1935 and was sponsored by St James and St John: St James’ being the Parish Church in Friern Barnet Lane and St John’s being a Chapel of Ease in Friern Barnet Road.  The Group met in an old hut that had previously been located at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, on a plot of land in Goldsmith Road, at the junction with Stanford Road. Use of the hut was shared with the Guides and also occasionally used by the church.

Although this article deals primarily with the Group after it became the 3rd FB we have uncovered a number of pieces of information and a handful of press articles that relate to its time as the 199th NL.

One of the longest serving members of the Group was Melita Archer who was in charge of the Cubs for 35 years. Having been evacuated to her native Scotland during the war she started to help with a local Cub Pack and, upon her return to Friern Barnet, in 1940, she joined the 199th NL.

A 1946 press cutting has been found that provides a brief report of the summer camp for that year. 31 members of the Group enjoyed camping at Beer, South Devon between the 9th and 17th August.

In June 1947 a short press report gave details of how the Troop’s Patrols had been reorganised, giving the names of the new PLs and Seconds as well as confirming that the Lion Patrol had been revived. However, six months later another report appeared telling of a number of further changes. The first report also confirmed that the Woodpecker Patrol had recently held a weekend camp and the second report congratulated Clive Garey and James Bishop on passing their First Class Hike.

It is known that in the summer of 1949 the Scouts held their camp at West Runton, Norfolk. This is because the press decided to fill some space with an amusing anecdote relating to the high winds and cornflakes being blown away.

The next references we have found are some press cuttings from 1950. First there is reference to a night hike in February 1950 across the Hertfordshire countryside and then an article in March referring to the Group’s annual church service at St James’.

A short article in July reports that 4 Seniors Scouts acted as Stewards at a Royal Garden Party held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. It also reported that the Group were successful in winning their District sports by a margin of 24 points.

In August there is a tiny piece that simply says “Senior Scouts of the 199th North London Group left on Saturday for their annual camp. It is being held at Bantry, in Southern Eire”. Unfortunately there is no follow up story.

During February 1951 the Group held a reunion dinner which 35 old boys attended. A press cutting confirms that Hugh Dare was the Scout Master at that time.

In August, Haden Blatch and David Coombes, as King’s Scouts, were selected to form part of a London contingent to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Austria. A substantial article appeared in the local press that gave an account of their adventure. The following January Haden was fortunate to attend a special ceremony at Edinburgh Castle where he was officially presented with his King’s Scout certificate by Lord Rowallan, the Chief Scout.

In August 1956 the District (Wood Green, Southgate & Friern Barnet) organised an exchange visit with a group of Finnish Scouts. A composite Troop was formed under the leadership of Ken Wynne, the ADC Scouts, and Cyril Samuels, the Senior Scoutmaster of the 199th, as his assistant. Michael Dilley, one of the Senior Scouts from the Group was selected as part of the Troop along with Keith Dunstan from the 94th NL, the only other participant to later become part of Finchley and Friern Barnet District.

Regular Troop and Patrol camps took place. There is reference to a summer camp at Aberbeeg in South Wales (1959), where Reg Lewis, the Group Scout Master (GSM) had originally lived, and where his brother was the local District Commissioner.

There is currently no other information about the 1950s although it is known that following Hugh Dare and prior to Cyril Derbyshire being in charge when the Group merged with Finchley, Scoutmasters included Eric Baker, Gordon Low, Michael Dilley and Don Snowden.

There is also hardly any information about the Cub Pack although it is known that they had an annual outing to London Zoo and that the Sixers always attended the District’s annual Sixers’ Camp at Scout Park in Bounds Green. They also had a football team and entered the District competition.

During 1960 the Scout Association held the 1st National Scout Cooking Competition at Gilwell Park which some of the Scouts entered. No one from the 199th won an award but those deemed to have reached a satisfactory standard were presented with certificates.

In 1961 Laurie Derbyshire, the younger brother of Cyril, joined the cast of the London Gang Show and in fact, continued to do so until the final show in 1974.

The Group though, as a whole, also enjoyed putting on a show, and had over a period of roughly ten years, produced one with the Guides called ‘Evening Stars’. However, in the early 60s the Group decided to change the format and do their own along the same format as the London Gang Show. Laurie managed to recruit Don Ray from the London show as the producer of the show they called ‘Take it Easy’. Cyril played the piano, as he had previously done for the joint shows with the Guides.

Another annual event was the Christmas meal for the parents of the Scouts and Guides. It was usually organised by the parents committee and held in the hut.

It is understood that the Senior Scouts were also very active and in 1963 a party of 6 plus their leader John Jennings spent two weeks camping in Scotland. They stayed at Auchengillan, the Glasgow City Scout Campsite. They travelled by the scheduled bus service to Glasgow, with all their gear packed into rucksacks, and then by a local bus to the site.

In August of that year, with the support of Cyril Derbyshire and the Group Committee, Paul Thompson, the Troop Leader, was selected to represent his District (Wood Green, Southgate & Friern Barnet) at the 11th World Scout Jamboree that was held in Marathon, Greece. Whilst there he was lucky enough to meet the Chief Scout, Sir Charles McLean.

It is thought that around this time Reg Lewis resigned as the GSM and the position was vacant until shortly before the merger with Finchley District, when the church curate Derek Carpenter took over.

Shortly after the Group became the 3rd Friern Barnet three Scouts gained their Queen’s Scout Badge: Ivor Newman, Alan Palmer and Barry Naylor. For Barry it was a family double as his brother Russ had also gained the badge a year earlier.

These were not the only awards made in 1964. Russ Naylor gained the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Gold) and it was announced that Melita Archer had been awarded the Medal of Merit for her outstanding service. It would be presented the following February after a special church service marking the Group’s 30th anniversary.

At the end of July, along with some Senior Scouts from the 94^th NL, they went to Austria and camped in the grounds of Salzburg Castle, overlooking the city. During the trip they visited a salt mine that involved a ride on a ‘mine trolley’ that ran on rails.

On the 21st February 1965 the aforementioned 30th anniversary church service took place followed by a reunion social during which Melita received her medal. The Group’s new flag, with the name 3rd Friern Barnet replacing 199th North London, was also dedicated during the service by the Rev. B Thackeray, the founder of the Group.

At the District Cross Country in March the Scouts won the Pulham Shield while the Senior Scouts finished 3rd and in the race for those over 17½ they finished 2nd. 

At the end of March, the first census since the Group’s change of name revealed that there were 12 Cubs, 22 Scouts, 7 Senior Scouts and 7 Rovers. The Rover Crew, having been formed by Cyril Derbyshire with some of the older boys that were too old for the Scout Section, only continued until the Advance Party Report and the introduction of Venture Scouts a couple of years later.

There are only two other pieces of information that relate to 1965, the first being that Peter Hagger became an Assistant Cub Master, having been an instructor for 2 years and secondly that it was about this time that the Group considered building a new hut to replace the old one that they had used since their formation.

In early 1966 the Group lost their GSM when Rev Derek Carpenter left to take up his second Curacy in Chingford. However, it was not too long before the Group had two more leaders; in May Barry Naylor and Paul Thompson received warrants as Assistant Scoutmasters, and in October the District Commissioner gave approval for Reg Prebble to take on the role of acting GSM.

At the start of 1967 Reg officially became the Group Scout Leader (GSL, previously called GSM). Laurie Derbyshire left his role as an Assistant Scout Leader to become the Scout Leader of the 6th Finchley, who met at ‘The Den’ Avenue House.

During April the District held a sponsored walk, with a competitive element, to raise funds for the planned new Training Hut at Frith Grange. It is not known exactly how many Scouts took part but A Leitland and J Prebble were successful in completing the 20 mile circuit. The 50 mile event was successfully undertaken by Robert Beale, Keith Duff and Richard Prebble.

During May Barry Naylor resigned as an ASL and in July Chris Rawlings became an Assistant Senior Scout Leader.

Also during the year three more Senior Scouts gained the Queen’s Scout Badge: Richard Prebble, David Aberhart and Laurie Ockelford; and a social gathering was held for the presentation of their Badges. Later, it was announced that Richard and Laurie would in November attend a national reception in Glasgow, where they would be presented with their certificate by the Chief Scout, Sir Charles Maclean.

Group numbers remained healthy with the numbers at the end of March 1968 being 22 Cubs, 22 Scouts and 9 Venture Scouts. Unfortunately though, Chris Rawlings’ time as the ASSL ended in May.

There is no more information about the Group until October when the Group took part in the 11th annual ‘Jamboree-on-the-Air’. With the help of the Southgate Radio Club they set up a station in their headquarters and over the weekend managed to make contact with 52 stations, of which 21 were manned by other Scout Groups. They managed to make contact with a station on Long Island, USA but most of their contacts were with stations in the British Isles and Europe. The venture received excellent press coverage.

During December the Venture Scouts announced that they were planning to go to Switzerland in 1969 and asked if any other Unit wanted to join them. It is not known if this planned expedition took place.

During March 1969 Peter Hagger married Christine Purbrick and moved to Kent. As a result he was forced to relinquish his position as ACSL.

There was sad news for the Group a couple of months later when Peter’s father Bill Hagger suddenly died at the age of 48. He was the Group Chairman and had played a very active part in the affairs of the Group, especially with regard to the building of the new hut. He had sorted out all the legal issues and played a large part in getting the work underway. 

Splitting the above two events was firstly the annual census which confirmed that numbers were about the same as the previous year, and secondly that Laurie Ockelford was one of three Venture Scouts chosen to represent the District at the Windsor St George’s Day Parade. Derek Warren ADC (Venture Scouts) was chosen to lead the North London contingent.

In June a substantial press article with photos appeared giving details of how the work was progressing on the new hut. The report stated that the cost was almost £2,500 with 50% being provided by the Department of Education and Science and 25% by way of a grant from Barnet Borough Council. The Scouts of course had to raise the remainder, and in that respect they were planning a special Christmas party. The final statement in March 1970 showed the eventual net cost to be £1,122. 2s. 4d.

Later in the year Laurie Ockelford became an ACSL and R Rawlings the Scout Leader.

Another event that received good press coverage was the snooker marathon undertaken by Philip Pugh, Alan Beal and Peter Kinnear, with David Derbyshire as the reserve, held during February 1970. Not only did they break the world record but they also raised nearly £350 for charity. A couple of months later another photo appeared in the press showing the Scouts presenting a cheque to Barnet General Hospital so they could purchase a gastroscope and other instruments used for examining people’s stomachs.

The building of the new hut was completed in March and the opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Vic Usher. The grand occasion was attended by a number of guests including Stan Bennett the County Commissioner, Tom Marshall the District Commissioner and Rev Thackeray, the founder of the Group.

During the evening a number of presentations were also made. ‘Thanks Badges’ were awarded to seven men for their work on the building. Laurie Ockelford, who had completed his leader training was awarded his Wood Badge and the three boys who completed the snooker marathon received The Canada Villa Endurance Shield, a Barnet youth service award.

More to follow.

Gallery

Click here to view associated press cuttings and photographs.

Note: There are also a number of old photographs relating to the 199th North London that can be found on the web site run by the Friern Barnet & District Local History Society. Unfortunately we have not been able to obtain the appropriate permission to add them to our pages.