History of the 1st St Albans Scouts

In 1908, Baden Powell organised the event which resulted in the start of Scouting; a camp at Brownsea Island for a group of inner city boys.

BP and boys on that first camp. Note the universal wearing of hats - a sign of the time, everyone wore a hat then.

This camp was very successful and widely reported, with numerous boys clamoring to take part in such activities, with some groups of boys even starting their own Scout Groups - and finding the leaders. In 1909, The Scout Association was formed, and Scouting was regularised.

The 1st St Albans was, as the name implies, the first official group in St Albans, and began life in 1908 with the formation of the Fox Patrol, possibly prefixed by 1st. One of the members of this patrol was Wilfred Crofts who remained with the 1st until the 1950s. He also attended the opening of the new headquarters in Watford Road in 1966.

The Fox Patrol was formally registered, at what is now Baden-Powell House in London, as The 1st St Albans Troop in 1910 with the registration number of 126.

The troop, as it was then, initially met in the Abbey Institute followed by Pageant House. In 1938 the 1st moved to its own HQ in Orchard Drive off Holywell Hill.

Mr Humphrey King who lived in Orchard House, next door to the 1st’s hut, objected to the metal roof and consequently had it thatched at his own expense, although it had later reverted to a metal roof by the 1950s. The 1st’s Rovers met in this hut in a room named after Mr Salwey who help to reform the 1st after the First World War.

Between the two Wars membership increased and two troops were formed. The Scout Masters being Mr Don Green and Mr Leslie Berry with Mrs Crofts running the Cub Pack.

In 1963 the Group had to leave the Orchard Drive HQ for a number of reasons, and three years of hard work ensued, led by Jack Wadley in raising money for the new headquarters. During this period the Group met at Cavalier Hall and on its completion moved into the new HQ in 1966 where the 1st still meets. This hut was later dedicated to Jack Wadley after his untimely death in 1974. Mr Wadley had been a member of the 1st since joining as a cub in 1930. The service of dedication was held at St Stephens parish church followed by the entire group marching down Watford Road with a police escort to the now renamed, Jack Wadley Hut.

Since the Group has had its own HQ in Chiswell Green we have been one of the largest Groups in St. Albans, thanks to the many dedicated leaders who have been with the Group over the years. For many years, the late Bill Cavender was Venture leader, then Group Scout Leader (GSL), and carrying on the tradition, the current GSL is his son, Terry Cavender. One of Bill's other sons, Anthony, was also a leader until his untimely death at the age of 22. The large outside flagpole was erected in his memory.

2007 saw the formation of the beaver section for the younger age group, and for the first time girls. While there is no evidence of girls in the Fox patrol, there were girl scouts in 1908, prior to the formation of the Guides.

This page cannot do justice to the many leaders who have run the 1st St Albans over the years but the Group wouldn't exist without them. These men and women put a lot of work into running the Beaver, Cub and Scout, and although it is a district responsibility a very close liaison exists with the Verulam Explorers. There is also a hard working committee, organising social events and raising funds for the equipment and hut maintenance.

Our aim is to prepare members for their future, offering spiritual and moral guidance along with a good dose of fun and adventure. Our activities include camping, backwoods skills, tracking, rock climbing, abseiling and many others.