1st Chigwell & Chigwell Row Scout Group has a wealth of history founded after the merger of three Scout Groups in the District of Royal Forest (previously Epping Forest) on the 1st February 2007.
12th EPPING FOREST
The roots go back to originally the First World War when we were established in 1916 (as the 12th Epping Forest) at South Woodford Parish Church Memorial Hall, South Woodford, London, E18. The records from Gilwell Park only go back to the document attached to the 30th September 1919. The records we have from Gilwell Park show that in 1919 the Scout Group had 5 Adult Leaders and 72 Scout Members. The Curate of Parish Church was the Scoutmaster Rev. Arthur S. Frudgett of Abbottwood, Grove Hill, South Woodford.
The 12th Epping Forest was divided and the 52nd Epping Forest South Scout Group was formed and located at 118 High Road, South Woodford, London, E18 2QS (It is located there until this Present-Day). The Scout Group was re-registered at the Group Headquarters in ‘Oaklands Farm’, Chigwell Row, Essex. This meant that the 12th Epping Forest (1st Chigwell Row) had moved from West Essex (Epping Forest South District) to Epping Forest (Royal Forest). The Scout Group was made ‘open’ and not ‘controlled’ by All Saints Church. The Group Scout Master was F.E. Koester whose ‘Oaklands Farm’ headquarters belonged. The Scoutmaster was L.C. Page from 29 Wainfleet Ave, Romford. On the 26th November 1947 the 12th Epping Forest had 2 Adult Leaders and 12 Scout Members. The 12th Epping Forest was based in Chigwell Row with links with All Saints Church, of which still uses the Church building since the 4th December 1947, for weekly meetings and use of all facilities for many Scouting activities.
15th EPPING FOREST
(I think he still lives in Fontayne Avenue. His son was in the 26th for a time. A lady called Janice Randall ran the Cubs for a while, and then became GSL. Jamie Moseley’s Mum ran the Beavers for a few years. You can speak to her of course, and also Janice, who is a prominent member of the congregation at St Win’s. Her son was in the 26th, too.
26th EPPING FOREST
26th Epping Forest was first registered on the 17th July 1925 at Grange Hill, Chigwell. The Scoutmaster B. Green was from 2 Robin-hood Cottage, Chigwell and had 31 Scout Members. The Scout Troop was controlled by Chigwell Council and was cancelled in 1936
The Scout Group was then re-registered as controlled by the Vicar at St.Mary’s Church. The Scout Leadership Team was the Townsend family. Mr Arthur Edward Townsend was Group Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster. This wife Mrs Freda N. Townsend was Cubmaster and Miss Hilda Cully Assistant Cubmaster. The Townsend’s lived in 6 Cypress Grove, Hainault, Ilford, Essex. Miss Cully lived next door in Number 6 Cypress Grove. On the 18th May 1938 the Group had 3 leaders, 10 Wolf Cubs and 13 Scout Members. The Headquarters was the back of Manderon News Agent, Chigwell, Essex. It was cancelled likely due to the Second World War and leadership issues.
The Group was started once more on the 15th December 1954 on the arrival of Wilfrid Dickinson, after the purchase of the ‘Old Village Hall’ with them connected to St.Mary’s Church, which became the Official Group Headquarters. The 12th had a very strong Cub pack (Pete Longman) and a Scout Troop (John Cooper, David Woolston and Rob Johnson). Pete retired and Tom Emmett moved to the 26th as Scout Leader. Following Pete’s retirement the Cubs languished until the arrival of Geoff and Sue Dunk (and Geoff’s parents).
1st CHIGWELL & CHIGWELL ROW SCOUT GROUP
The decision was taken to merge the 12th and for the 12th Cub Pack to be a second pack within the 26th and at that time the Group was re-named 1st Chigwell and Chigwell Row to reflect geographical reality and to underline the fact that it is a Group for the Parish (of Chigwell and Chigwell Row) on the 1st February 2007. Jill Moseley, who had been at Assistant Beaver Leader with the 15th, re-joined to act as ABSL to Gemma Carpenter and together they have started a Beaver Colony within 1st CCR. (Gemma’s partner is Jill’s son.) The Chigwell Row Cubs meet in All Saints Hall and Chigwell Cubs, the Beavers, the Scouts and the Explorers all meet in the Scout HQ in Chigwell Village (until approximately 1965 Chigwell Village Hall. The freehold is now vested in the 1st CCR). The re-organisation within County of Essex the local Scout Districts of ‘Epping Forest’ and ‘Epping and Ongar’ were merged and the new District is called ‘Royal Forest’. It covers what many feel is an impossibly wide area – stretching as far as Kelvedon Hatch, Moreton and Fyfield, Epping and Ongar obviously, North Weald, Theydon Bois, Theydon Garnon, Waltham Abbey, Upshire, Abridge, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell.
1st Chigwell & Chigwell Row Scout Group around 2012-2014 had a few bad years due to a large amount of leadership issues. The Beaver Colony organised by Gemma Moseley (nee Carpenter) was unable to continue due to work, which lead to the Beaver Section closing. Then, Geoff Walker (Silver Acorn) left the area and moved to the countryside on his retirement from the movement, this meant that he left his roles in Scouting of Cub Leader and Scout Active Support. Therefore, over the months that followed the Scout Group was unable to get a suitable Cub Leader and Jamie Moseley had a close the Section in 2014. Michael Housley retired from 1st Chigwell & Chigwell Row Scout Group as Acting Group Scout Leader, to be replaced by Christopher George Hall of 26 Dickens Rise, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6NX. Christopher G. Hall was became Group Scout Leader on the 30th June 2012 by the District Commissioner Matt Mills. However, The Scout Group received a very generous donation from the members of Forest View Lodge No. 6588 of £372.00 after raising the money at their last meeting before they closed early this year. The Lodge believed it would be very appropriate to give the donation to the Group so that the funds could help to re-decorate the Headquarters. The Lodge donated the money to the group due to the connections of Robert Baden-Powell, founder and Chief Scout of the Scouting movement, with Masonry. The Worshipful Master of the Lodge W.Bro. John Taylor, said “It was a great opportunity to raise the money for a great charity and group which do some much for young people in the area of Chigwell”.
The Scout Group had an amazing achievement of Michael J. V. Housley being awarded the Silver Wolf Award. The Award itself is the highest award made by The Scout Association “for services of the most exceptional character.” It is an unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout. The award consists of a Silver Wolf suspended from a dark green and yellow neck ribbon. This was awarded to Michael Housley at the Royal Forest Renewal of Promise and by Gilwell Park Headquarters on the 23rd April 2013. Adam E. L. Taylor. ASL. AESL., was recommended for District Executive Committee Member position by the District Commissioner Stephen Wells on the 16th September 2013. Adam E.L. Taylor became Headquarters Quartermaster and refurbished and decorated the Hall with the help with the electrics from his father John E. Taylor (Managing Director of John E Taylor Specialists Limited). Afterwards, Adam E.L. Taylor recruited David Woolston and John Cooper from retirement, to become Quartermaster’s of the Equipments. Then, Adam Taylor became Building Warden to maintain and repair the Scout Headquarters for the future of Scouting in the Parish of Chigwell & Chigwell Row.
The Cub Pack in 2014 consisted of Geoff Dunk CSL and Sue Dunk ACSL, supported by 2 Adult Leaders James Myers ACSL and Harrison Dunk ACSL, with the addition of Young Leaders Samantha Toplis and Hannah Smith (Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze). The Scout Troop consisted of Tomas Emmett Scout Leader, Annie Emmett ASL, Adam E.L. Taylor ASL and Antony Faulty ASL. The same as the Cub Pack the Scout Troop gained an additional leader Young Leader Grace Fry for Duke of Edinburgh Award. The STAG Explorer Scout Unit had a long standing image of being the Section with the large amount of leaders, consisting of Daniel Greaves ESL, Michael Graves AESL, Christopher Hall AESL, Alex Seager AESL, Gemma Lee AESL and Adam E.L. Taylor AESL. The Unit has had a range of Occasional helpers which include Mark Smith, Richard Smith, George Lawrence and Katherine Woracker. The District Commissioners at this time were Stephen Wells DC and Peter Fairweather DDC. The Scout Troop and STAG ESU took part in Bag-Packing fundraiser at Waitrose Supermarket in South Woodford and within 9 hours during the 22nd-23rd December 2014 created £892.00 for a new minibus. Additionally, Scout George Ingleton has been selected by the Essex County and Royal Forest to attend the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan 2015.