History of 1st Lymington and Pennington

The 1^st Lymington Scout Troop is arguably the oldest in Hampshire, and certainly one of the oldest in existence around the Country. Scouts first started meeting in Buckland in late 1907 after hearing about Lord Robert Baden-Powell’s First Scout Camp on Brownsea Island , before officially being formed in 1908. The Lymington troop’s founding scoutmaster was Francis Patmore, son of the three-times married poet Coventry Patmore – though the scouts’ first meeting place in 1907 is uncertain, with May Avenue and High Street mentioned.  They were originally formed as a scout troop and cadet corps, with Mr Patmore instrumental in founding both, assisted by Harry Elliott and Cecil Vicary – but in 1912 the Scout Troop became a separate concern with no boy able to join both organisations.

Mr Patmore was made scouts’ county secretary, which office meant he had to relinquish the post of scoutmaster and he played a significant part in the early days of scouting in Hampshire.  By 1910 the 1^st Lymington were housed in a large Scout Hut off Emsworth Road, opposite the old Parish Hall – now the site of the Parish Court wardened housing flats – a corrugated iron structure which cost £377 8s. 2d to build & was opened by

Baden-Powell.  Mr Patmore was called up with the 7^th Hampshire Regiment for war duties, and served with distinction as a Captain in the 7^th Hampshire Regiment.

Taken prisoner by the Turks during the siege of Kut-el-Amara, he was force-marched with his men the 1,700 miles from Baghdad to Kastamuni, often helping carry the kit of his weary infantrymen.  Capt. Patmore managed to escape, was recaptured and flung into a primitive jail, where he contracted typhus and was carried semi-conscious, face upwards on a mule, to the next jail. Such was the Captain’s physical state that he was exchanged with other prisoners-of-war.  After a lengthy period in hospital, he began coffee growing in Kenya after the war ended in 1918, but died before reaching the age of fifty.

In the meantime Sid Cooper had succeeded as wartime 1^st Lymington Scout Leader while schoolmaster Len ‘Honky’ Hoare became the second county secretary.  Under Mr Cooper’s leadership and as their part for the war effort, the young 1^st Lymington lads collected sphagnum moss from heathlands round the Forest to be used in surgical dressings, as well as acting as orderlies at the temporary hospitals set up around the town, in the large house Home Mead (now the site of the High Street post office), in Old Town House, and in the Undershore Military Hospital, also helping with the gardening at these institutions.  Amongst the 1^st Lymington scouts who died during the First World War were Gorge Lewington, George Lewis, Cyril Osborne and Sid St John.

 It was under Sid Cooper that Archie Corbett joined the Scouts at Emsworth road in 1918.  Mr Cooper in turn gave way to Scout-Mistress Miss Margaret Todd, daughter of a Lymington chemist, and she received considerable help from a friend, Mr Kirk, the 7^th St Pancras Scout Leader who often came down to Lymington to lecture the Scouts and Mr Kirk arranged that a number of the Lymington scouts, including Archie, make an exciting trip to London when the Prince of Wales inspected Scouts from all over the World at Alexandra Palace.  The Lymington Scouts slept in a London Hall, complete with boxing ring, and proudly took part in the Inspection: “The Prince came very close to us – we were very fortunate”, Archie recalls.

During the bitter winter of 1934, when the country was embroiled in a slump, the 1^st Lymington scouts distributed bags of logs and firewood to the needy around the town.  Camps abroad to Brittany and Lausanne before the Second World War were real adventures. Meanwhile Bill Rowland (second form left top row), son of Mrs Amy Rowland, a Lymington Infant School teacher from 1933 until the early ‘fifties, joined the 1^st Lymington Cubs in 1931, the Scouts three years later, then after the outset of the Second World War, was made Scout Leader in 1940 until the end of hostilities. Harold Hendey (far left 3^rd row down), who joined the Lymington Cubs in 1934 as an eight year old, became a Scout three years later, served in the ATC during the War, was Sway scout leader for five years before leading the 1^st Lymington cubs from 1974-1980,

During the conflict twenty-five 1^st Lymington Scouts and Scouters were called up on active service of whom four were killed: Jack Gregory, Fred Cassey, Bert Ireland and Stanley Clarke.

There was great concern when the Emsworth Road scout hut was destroyed by fire on November 5^th 1948, and it was not until 1951, when Wellworthy founder Johnny Howlett was their president, that a new home was opened in Marsh Lane, built by Rashley & Co for £3,500, site foreman was Bill Rickman. His son Brian who died in 1994 at the age of 56. Joined the cubs and went on to Scouts, was the 1^st Lymington Scout Leader in the late ‘fifties. At the official opening, the mayor of the borough, Alderman Stuart David, fixed a commemorative plaque designating the hut “The Way Ahead”.  The Town Band played, and the youngest cub, eight-year-old Robin Corbin, presented the Mayoress with an orchid. The Hampshire Camping Competition was won in 1953 and 1954.

There were great celebrations when the troop celebrated its golden anniversary in 1958.  A Jamborama was staged in farmer Jim Bacon’s field in Belmore Lane with dozens of Scouts joining in pageants and arena displays, including the 9^th Lymington, 15^th Milford and 16^th Barton.  Lymington Fire Service demonstrated fire fighting, and in the evening there was a torchlight procession through the town to a campfire and barbecue.  On the Sunday a Scouts’ service was conducted by the Vicar of Sway, the Rev. Peter Were. Also in 1958 the Troop was offered the use of a Campsite at Brockenhurst ‘The Log Cabins’ – wooden huts use by the Canadians during the Second World War with camping area that the group still rent from the forestry.

Skip - (far left in this picture) the Troops’ indefatigable Scout Leader started his Scouting in 1947 when he joined the Cubs at the age of seven, the Scouts three years later and Senior Scouts five years later, before being assistant-leader to Brian Rickman and taking on Scout Leader in 1960. Colin Spurway was Group Scout Leader from 1963 to 1991. An extension was added in 1971 which Skip with the help of Colin Spurway organised voluntary help to build new Patrol Rooms and office.

In 1998 the Troop celebrated its 90^th anniversary with a fete at Woodside Park when the Red Devils dropped in, and a Reunion at Pennington Social Club where over a Hundred former 1^st Lymington Lads joined in for jovial reminiscences of both Scouting disciplines and boyish pranks. The oldest ex Scout on parade was 90 year old Archie Corbett, other former scouts present included 75 year old Bill Rowland, 72 year old Harold Hendey, ex GSL 72 year old Colin Spurway and the late Brian Rickman’s father 95 year old Bill Rickman.  Making the furthest journey to attend the Reunion was 41-year-old Peter Chilcott, from Scotland . The evening included old film slides of the Scouts’ activities, dating back to 1950. Where it was learned that Skip had taken his Scouts on Summer Camps to Switzerland , Austria , Germany , Italy , Belgium , Holland and France plus Torbay, South Wales, Hastings , Woolacombe and Sidmouth etc. Also his the Troop has won the New Forest South Camping Competition every year from 1977 - 1997 (1987 did not enter) and the Hampshire Camping competition 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990 and 1995.

The 1^st Pennington Troop joined 1st Lymington in 1999 because no leaders could be found . This led to the two groups amalgamating and ‘The Way Ahead’ being sold in 2004. The new group called 1st Lymington and Pennington moved to the Pennington HQ which has better parking facilities and the recreation ground next door. A new Minibus & Mess Tent was acquired before a new Oak Floor was laid in September 2006 (right). An extension to the end of Scout Hut was built (December 2006) with a new Office and Large Tent store.

In 2007 the Troop celebrated its centenary along with the Scout Movement itself. A campfire was held with many ex scouts present  along with local dignitaries and the County Commissioner with the Scouts performing a hilarious range of skits and the local Fellowship providing the food.

Skip celebrated 50 years as a Scout Leader and continues to inspire the Scouts, Parents and the Leaders with his drive and enthusiasm.

The group goes from strength to strength with exciting programs for all the sections.