History
The
modern Scout movement in Copthorne dates back to 1953 when local schoolmaster
Godfrey Rugg, known universally as Geoffrey for some reason, founded the first
troop but there were definitely Scouts in the village in the 1920s and probably
a good deal earlier. Some are thought to have attended the Burstow troop, while
there is also evidence to suggest the original Worth troop was actually a
Copthorne based unit.
Nonetheless
there is no doubt that Scouting effectively took off from 1953 onwards. By 1958
they had erected - at a cost of £400 - a hut on the present site on ground left to them for
that purpose by Percival Humphrey - the adjacent Humphrey's Field is also for
the villagers to use for leisure purposes.
The
considerable efforts of Copthorne's founder Geoffrey Rugg,
GSL
Harold Ansell, assistant scout masters Don Norman and Peter Fuller and scout
leaders Brian Uren and Derek Durran soon saw the
group
grow in strength resulting in two Copthorne boys - Joe Tee and Rodney Page -
receiving the Queen's Scout Award. The cub pack was well run under Akela, Beryl Hutchings, with Alan Tring and Eve
Catchpole as assistants but the scout numbers dropped after Ted Catchpole had to
retire through ill health.
The
Group floundered a little in the late 1960s and was faltering when Colin Tully
took over as GSL and breathed new life into the
movement,
ably assisted by a hard working committee and the
dedication
of the leaders - notably various members of the Cheesmur family. Brothers Norman,
Harold and Gwyn have all served as leaders, Harold's wife Jenny is the group's
longest serving cub leader, daughter Alison was an assistant cub leader and son
Owen is now a scout leader. Others who have rendered long and invaluable service
include Bill Sandys and wife Maureen - who together have given over 50 years'
service - June Branchitt, Dick Bunn, Frank Maloney, Janette McGivern, Robin
Ainsworth, Marion Acraman and husband Bill. The latter revolutionised the
Venture Unit from the mid 70s onwards and raised everybody's aspirations, not to
mention their blood pressure, when it came to outdoor pursuits. No challenge or
project was too big under Bill's leadership.
The
late 1970s and early 80s were heady years with upwards of 180 boys populating
the three Cub packs, two scout troops and a blossoming Venture unit. The latter
increasingly spread their wings, winning all sorts of local, district and
regional hiking competitions before venturing forth to the Peak District to
tackle
Britain
's best in the prestigious Four Inns and Master Hikes - 45 mile marathons in
full gear across the Moors in mid winter with the winners normally taking
slightly less than eight hours. Even the SAS would have found it tough going!
Copthorne never won but earned the respect of all the northern groups who knew
the area like the back of their hands and could train on the hills every week.
They were also spared a grueling six hour journey (pre-M25) after work on
Friday nights simply to get there.
And
so it continues today. A Beaver pack - for boys aged between six and eight - was
founded in 1986 by Mary Saunders but the closing of the Convent as a school led
eventually to one cub pack being discontinued. Figures are steady at 150 with a
healthy waiting list. The old favorites continue - the ever popular father
and son camps, the annual visit every Easter to some hilly region, known from
the earliest of days, and with some justification, as the Bogtrot. Copthorne
Scouts have never deviated from their primary aim - to teach young and not so
young boys to think for themselves, take the initiative and translate ideas
into action - in whatever project they undertake, indoors and outdoors.
|