THE 1st Headstone Scout Group is celebrating its 75th anniversary as part of the community of North Harrow.

The group began as just a Cub pack, which held its first meeting in February 1927 under Akela Bertha Steele, and now includes a Beaver colony, Cub pack, Scout troop and Venture Scout unit. It met in St George's church hall in Pinner View until purpose-built premises were opened in 1935. An extra hut was added in 1954 to house the Rover Scout Crew and senior scouts, and the present HQ in the church grounds was opened in 1975 by Lord Baden-Powell, grandson of the founder of the scouting movement.

The group has won a number of awards over the years, in particular for its camping, and its individual members have also been honoured for their achievments.

Group chairman David Killeen said the group was grateful to the many leaders who had voluntarily given their time to the development of the boys, and the parents and friends who have helped raise money to keep the group going for 75 years.

The anniversary celebrations have included a summer fair which featured a display of the group's activities, with photographs, videos and a computer running the group's website.

After the group's recent annual meeting and barbecue, Councillor Cyril Harrison formally opened the Saunders Room at the HQ, named in honour of Ken Saunders, who was an active, uniformed member of the group for 65 years until his death in May 1997, and his father Stafford, who attended the first group council meetings.

Cyril and Ken progressed through scouting together at the 1st Headstone. Cyril was a tenderfoot in 1938 and one of four assistant leaders in the 1950s.

Mr Killeen said: "Ken's wish that all boys should be given the opportunity to succeed has now passed into the new millennium and the group is now preparing for the changes in scouting that are to take place in 2003."

July 10, 2002 16:30