19th Hendon

Note: The following has been prepared from an article that appeared in the 1957 Hendon Local Association booklet that marked 50 years of Scouting. It was prepared at their invitation by Frank Griffiths, assisted by Lionel Siret and Jack Le Fort.

Just 10 years ago in January 1947, the 19th Hendon Group was formed at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Mill Hill, through the efforts of Mr E W F Smith, the present Scoutmaster of the Boy Scout Troop.

Its GSM at the time was the Vicar, the Rev. Leslie Yorke, who was succeeded in July 1947 by Mr H A Miller, the present GSM. Mr Miller had been a member of the 1st Hendon Troop and had given encouragement and leadership to both the 2nd and 5th Hendon Troops. He came from a family all of whom devoted many years of selfless service to Scouting in Hendon.

The Group has its Headquarters in Hartley Avenue, with ‘The Oathouse’ in Holcombe Hill as the Den of the Senior Troop and Rover Crew. The Headquarters building was officially opened in May 1955, by Mr Ralph Reader and from its wide programme of activities the Group has made its impact on the local community, has supplied a succession of Office-bearers in the Hendon Boy Scouts’ Local Association, including its present Chairman, Mr George Campbell.

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The District Directory, dated June 1965, records the Group’s meeting place as Scout HQ, Hartley Avenue, Mill Hill, NW7. The colour of the scarf is yellow with a maroon border. The GSM / SM is M C Murch, the RSL is Frank Smith and the CM is Tony Blair.