2nd 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.

The 2nd Hendon Troop started in 1918 when a group of lads met in a stable loft belonging to Hamilton’s Grocery Stores in Algernon Road. To these were added those from the 1st Hendon Troop and under Scoutmaster R Colbert, the Troop was formed. In 1919 a former YMCA canteen in Renters Avenue was purchased for their Headquarters for the sum of £50 and officially opened by Mr W E Dickens with Mr B Vann as the Chairman of the Troop. In 1931, because of building developments, new headquarters were built on land belonging to Messrs. Johnson (Chemical Works) Ltd., with an entrance in Fairfield Avenue, and opened in that year by Mr E Bernard Cook, the firm’s managing director. The Group remained there until 1952 when the Hendon Corporation permitted the building of its Sturgess Park headquarters where they remain today. Much of the success the Group enjoyed was due to the successive Scoutmasters (among whom are recalled Messrs. Cohen, Colbert, Cross and Bob Chilcott), and its present Group Scout Master Mr G J Young.

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According to the District Directory for Hendon, dated June 1965, there was a 2nd Hendon. It is quite possible that this is the same Group mentioned above, as their headquarters was The Shack, Sturgess Avenue, Hendon NW4. Their scarf colour was Black with a red border. The GSM was Roy Dyer, the SM  was Les Price and the CM was Gordon Young.

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