7th Finchley

Note: This article relates to the Group that was formed in 1925. However, it should be noted that the number 7 was used on at least 2 previous occasions.

The first of these was prior to 1921 when the Finchley Groups were first managed by the Finchley Local Association, rather than by Finchley and Hendon. There are two press cuttings from 1917 that relate to Concerts with which the Troop were associated. The first, from March, refers to a sell-out event that was given to raise Troop funds. The second from December is about an event organised by Private Willson, the Scoutmaster, to raise money for the Mill Hill Soldiers’ Home, within the Mill Hill Barracks. Although the Scouts did not on this occasion perform, they provided help with the arrangements.

The second time relates to a Troop that existed between June 1921 and January 1924. The District Executive gave Mr Darrington permission to start a Troop based at 17 Elm Park Road, which at the time of the census in September had 12 Scouts.

There is a note in the records saying that he took the Troop to camp at Mill Hill over Whitsun in 1922 but miscalculated the cost. As this was 5 shillings and not the 3 shillings he had charged each boy, he felt that he should cover the excess. Despite this he approached the District who made a contribution of £1.

By September there were 17 Scouts with an additional Scouter, Mr J A Smith. However, over the course of the following year Mr Darrington resigned and by September 1923 there was one less Scout. Unfortunately though, in January 1924 Mr Smith reported that due to the financial position he would need to give up the Troop and as no other leader could be found it was disbanded.

On the 4^th May 1925 the District Executive approved the formation of a new Troop at St Mary’s Catholic Church in East Finchley. They were given the number 7 and Cyril Allen was subsequently granted a warrant as the Scoutmaster (SM).

Although we do not have a copy of the 1925 census it is known that by the end of September the Troop comprised 20 Scouts.

During the following year a Cub Pack opened but a lack of assistance necessitated its closure. Apart from this disappointment the Troop was, according to the 1926 District AGM report, making good progress. Numbers had dropped slightly to 16, a summer camp had been held at Oxborough in Norfolk as well as various weekend Troop and Patrol camps during the year. They had also finished 4^th at the Scout Sports.

The next item of any substance is a short report in the 1928 District AGM report. It stated that there had been considerable activity by Patrols during the year and that they had held their summer camp at Mayfield in Sussex (where they had also camped in 1927) and also held 4 other Troop and Patrol camps. It also reported that there was an active Ladies’ Committee who had run a number of whist drives and dances. There were 18 Scouts.

It is not clear why, but it appears that during the next few months the Group severed its links with St Mary’s and moved to St Philip the Apostle Catholic Church at Church End Finchley. Although there is a note in the District Executive minutes for 29^th April 1929 giving permission for a new Troop to be formed, the 7^th is recorded in the 1929 census as being ‘reconstituted’. The colour of the Group scarf was maroon with a grey border.

The move appears to have breathed new life into the Group which, by the end of September had a Cub Pack with 8 boys, a Troop with 8 boys and a Rover Crew with 4 members. Father Francis Hogan, the priest at St Philip, had become the Group Scoutmaster (GSM), with Miss W Rengger and Miss A Clemens becoming the Cubmaster (CM) and Assistant Cubmaster (ACM) respectively. Shortly after that Mr E H Bliss became the Rover Leader.

On the 5^th July the District held a Rally at the Gun Station, at the junction of Summers Lane and the High Road, with most Groups contributing to the entertainment in the arena, The 7^th joined forces with the 9^th and presented an amusing item called ‘Crampo’s Wonderful Circus’.

Around the same time Mr A J Gilbert joined the Group as an ASM and within the next couple of months the Group merged with the then 5^th Finchley. The 5^th, who were another Roman Catholic Group with just a Scout Troop, met at St Alban’s Church in Nether Street and had only been open for about 2 years.

By the end of September 1930 the 7^th is recorded as being ‘The Finchley Catholic Group’ comprising a GSM, 9 Rovers with 1 leader and 13 Scouts & 13 Cubs, both with 2 leaders.

The next references to the Group that we have found are 2 items from September 1931. The first is the census from which it is apparent that the Rover Crew had disbanded and that the number of Scouts had increased to 22. The second is a short note in the District’s annual report stating that the Troop had held a summer camp at Romsey in Hampshire, and a great deal of time had been spent renovating their club room.

Although no reference has been found relating to the departure of Miss Rengger and Miss Clemens, warrants were approved in October 1931 for Cyril Allen to be the CM and Mr GC Gilbert to be his assistant. Around this time Cyril relinquished the position of ADC (Scouts).

It is another year before anything further has been found that relates to the 7^th, and that is again the census figures published at the end of September 1932. The Group had continued to grow and there were now 30 Scouts and 17 Cubs.

Information about the Group during the following year is again sparse, although it is known that Mr G C Gilbert took over as the CM from Cyril Allen who replaced Francis Hogan as the GSM. There is also a note that states that the Scouts held their 1933 summer camp at Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire. The number of Scouts on the census was also down by 10, with 20 being recorded.

The District’s 1934 Annual Report says that the Group had a difficult year, specifically with regard to their clubroom. On the brighter side the Rover Crew had restarted in December and numbered 6, the Scouts had held a summer camp at Oxborough in Norfolk, and the Cubs won the Sports to claim the Lady Peat Shield for the first time. Mr M Butler also joined the Group as the SM.

Once again it is not until the next District Annual Report that we learn about the Group’s activities covering 1^st October 1934 to the 30^th September 1935. Once again that is not much, although the Rover Crew had restarted and had recently attended a District camp. It had been run on the lines of a competition and the 7^th, having won, were presented with a cup that had been manufactured by the ADC (Rovers). Group numbers had also been maintained and the Troop had returned to Ratcliffe College for their summer camp.

At the end of the year Cyril Allen resigned as the GSM and became the ADC (Scouts), replacing Eric Whittlestone who had become the new District Commissioner. Mr G Gilbert took over as the GSM and resigned his position as the ADC (Cubs) which he had also been while being the Akela of the 7^th.

The official opening of the Camping Ground took place on the 23^rd May and like most of the other Groups in the District the 7^th joined in with the day’s events, including taking part in the Flag Pole Race.

Although the 1936 District Annual Report states that the Group had a troubled year the census figures were still fairly healthy with 16 Cubs, 18 Scouts and 4 Rovers, and they had done more camping than ever before.

During the course of the following year (1937) numbers increased significantly to 27 Cubs and 28 Scouts, and the Group, according to the District records, found a new HQ (unknown location).

More proficiency badges than ever were gained and several Patrol camps were held, including the Troop’s summer camp at Ugbrooke Park in Devon.

During January 1938 the District noted that the Group’s controlling authority had changed to Rev Clement Parsons. With Rev Parsons being the priest in charge at St. Alban’s Catholic Church in North Finchley, this was the first clear suggestion that the Group had broken their link with St Philip’s.

The Scouts entered the District Cross Country Race in March 1938 and put in a good performance, finishing in 4^th place. A month later, at the St George’s Day event it was announced that the Cubs had won the 1937 Inter Pack competition and the Scouts had finished third in their event for the Cadogan Shield.

In May the local press provided a brief note about each of the Groups in Finchley which, for the 7^th, mentioned the Cub Pack’s success and also that the Group had made their HQ over a shop in Ballards Lane. It is not clear though if this is the same place mentioned earlier, but later in 1938 the District reported that the Group had acquired an old room over a garage as their new HQ.

On Saturday 18th June the Group took part in the ‘Good Turn Rally’ that was held at the Camping Ground. This event was held to raise money for the Boy Scouts’ Fund, opened as a national tribute to the work of the Chief Scout Lord Baden Powell, so that for all time Scouting would be financially secure. Following the opening ceremony, during which a 7^th Finchley Cub presented the Mayoress with a bouquet, Cubs and Scouts provided a number of displays in the arena. The 7^th provided two; the first was an item by the Cubs entitled ‘What we do at Cubs’ and the second was by the Troop entitled ‘Good Turns’.

As part of the District Annual Report at the end of September it was revealed that the Scout Troop had gained 24 proficiency badges, just four fewer than the 12^th Finchley who had gained the most. One Scout had also gained the King’s Scout Badge but unfortunately his name is not known.

The last piece of information specifically about the 7^th that has been found before the start of the war is that in February 1939 J F (Jimmy) Hill became an ACM.

More to follow.

Gallery

To view associated press cuttings and photographs click here.