Happy Birthday Ware and District

This is not actually my badge I borrowed it for a photo.
I hope to get one at some point in the future!

On Thursday March 16th 1911 at 7.30pm a small group of people gathered together in the Mission hall in Ware. They had arranged to meet with Percy Everett with the view of forming the Ware and District Boy Scout Association.

Rev. Payne, Rev. Farmer, Messrs Fox Hill, Grace, H Burgess, Page, Crawley and Blake were present and were in agreement; Ware needed to become a District in its own right and so the Hertford and Ware Boy Scout Association was split into two and Ware and the surrounded villages formed their own Association which was to be presided over by RB Croft Esq. of Fanhams Hall.

The next day the District was registered and Ware and District had begun! 3rd Ware was amongst the Troops who were there on the first day and as you know are still going strong.

Happy Birthday Ware and District!

Christ Church newletter

This weekend I have the opportunity to read the short article about Scouting history in the Christ Church Ware, Church newsletter. This magazine is published several times a year and contains articles written by or about members of the church. This month 3rd Ware Scout Group and our centenary are featured.

As you know the Group was started by Rev. Augustus Payne, the curate, and several other members of the congregation. For some considerable years only boys from the congregation could join, where as now we are open to all of Ware and have a few members from outside the town. Many of the still attend Christ Church, either the church or the school next door.

Cooking up a storm

Every year Ware and District Scouts hold a cooking competition and the winning team get to go though to the County competition. This year I was able to accompany our team of four as they cooked and presented their meal. It was a busy evening but they coped well with the timings.

The Menu

Payne's Patties with chili lime mayonnaise

Mathews' Medallions in cider sauce with Broccoli & carrots

Honeyed Pear Pancake with crème fraiche

I am very proud to say that our Fab Four managed to put in such a good performance, that they came second in the competition, being pipped to the post by 2nd Ware Scout troop.  A big well done to our own team and we also wish the winners well as they represent Ware and District in the County competition this weekend.

Early history



100 years ago Rev. Augustus Payne, the curate at Christ Church Ware, decided that the boys of the parish needed something worthwhile to do during the week and so he set up 3rd Ware Scout Troop.

The first recorded mention of the troop was in the Hertfordshire Mercury newspaper dated 11th June 1910:

"In connection with the Christ Church Sunday School and Bible Class a troop of Boy Scouts has been formed by the Rev. A. Payne. It consists of 3 patrols of which Mr. Payne is the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are Messrs. J. Kinniburgh, E. Clibbon and A. Mitchell. About twenty-five have already joined and the lads are taking much interest in the preliminary drills and manoeuvres."

As of yet, it has not been possible to find an actual start date for the troop, but we assume it was in the weeks preceding this newspaper article. We also have a record from Gilwell showing that one W.Clibbon (who was an Assistant Scoutmaster) was granted his warrant in December 1910.



 

Ernest Clibbon Scoutmaster, Walter Clibbon Ass. Scoutmaster, Patrol Leader Charles Clibbon and Scout Cecil Clibbon - 1911

We know that the troop took part in the Rural Sport day held at Christ Church, in New road, on the 3rd September 1910 and they won a silver cup for Scouting skills by competing against Scouts from Hertford, Ware, St. Margaret’s and Wareside.

3^rd Ware attended several parades during 1910 and 1911 and (along with 1st Ware and 2nd Ware) were present at Kendal Hall in February 1911 where they had the honour of being inspected by Founder of Scouting and Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell.

In June 1911 the 3^rd Ware Scouts held an entertainment evening. The program consisted of several items including two sketches entitled 'A Couple of Scamps' and 'A Day in the Life of a Policeman' which were well performed by the boys. The Scouts gave a display of signalling, boxing and first aid and a short address was given by the Rev A Payne.

They took part in the town celebrations and parade for the coronation of King George V, where it was reported that Rev. Payne was responsible for the bonfire and pyrotechnic display (Scouts and fires – nothing changes!!) and in August 1911 H. Riddle, a 3^rd Ware Scout, was reported to have dived into the river to rescue a boy from London who had fallen in the water and was going under.

All these newspaper reports are evidence that 3rd Ware was up and running and thriving during 1910 and 1911 and the boys and their Scoutmasters were making their presence felt both in the local community and within Scouting. 

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog! I am Augustus Clibbon, otherwise known as Gus. I am named after Reverend Augustus Payne who founded 3^rd Ware and the Clibbon family who played a significant part in the early years of the Troop. 3rd Ware have a long and interesting history and since formation have always tried to participate in the life of the market town of Ware.

In 2011, 100 years after officially being registered, I am going to accompany members of the Group as they take part in various events and then they will share the event with you, in their own words, by posting here and we will hopefully add pictures. I hope you enjoy our year of celebration.