The origins of Longham Scout Group are somewhat hazy; although known to be in existence in the early 1930s, it appears to have closed for a while and on reopening was treated as a new group, with records of the old one having disappeared.

Being based on Church premises, their own records can tell us something about our past:

At the Annual Church Meeting in January 1932, there was a report given by Mr Wright about the Scouts (having been no mention the previous year).  In the summer ‘the Scout Master’ offered assistance at a garden fete in Parley.  Mr Wright gave two further reports in 1933 and 1934, so it seems likely that he was Scout Master during that period.

The next entry in the Church Records was in 1957 when it was noted that a Cub Pack had been formed but Scouts were not mentioned.  First Longham Scout Group was registered with Scout Headquarters on 23 January 1958. 

Longham Scouts with Peter Grant (the former Mayor of Ferndown - Ferndown Middle School's Peter Grant Way is named after him)

In 1959, Mr Clewes, who was both the Church Minister and Cub Master, assisted by Mr Ives, had 10 Cubs in the Pack.

By the following year Mr Ives appears to have been in charge of both a Cub Pack and a Scout Troop and planned to hold Church Parades four times a year, possibly with the Guides and Brownies too.  The Group continued to grow under the guidance of Mr Ives.  He and Mr R Stride ran a Scout Troop of around 13, whilst Mrs Ives and an Assistant Cub Mistress looked after 15 Cubs.  The Scouts enjoyed swimming and regular weekend camps and sometimes annual camps at either Gilwell or the Cotswolds. 

We have a Warrant dated 31 July 1964 for Mr Alan Denham, appointed as Assistant Scout Master.  On 15 July 1968 he became our Scout Leader.  At this time First Longham was a member of the Wimborne Local Association (District). 

From 1968 to 1970 Church reports were given by a Mr Knightly with no mention of the previous Leaders and in 1971, Mr C Hayter reported on a successful year for the 12 Scouts and 20 Cubs, but asked for assistance for the Troop.  Within a couple of years the situation had reversed and it was the Cub Pack which had closed temporarily due to lack of Leaders. 

We have a few notes from Charles Hayter, Scout Leader from 1969 to 1974, whose two sons, Michael and Phillip, were Scouts at the time.  Charles' ASL in 1970 was Chris Wells.  There was also a Jonathan Wells in the Troop, of ‘Coppins’ Linden Road, Dudsbury; we can presume from this that Chris Wells (ASL) was the same person who until recently ran Coppins Nursery on Christchurch Road.  Charles tells us that Longham used to join up with Ferndown, Parley and West Moors troops for summer camps at Gillingham. the Forest of Dean and Guernsey.

Longham Scouts in 1982

On to 1975 when Pauline Iball had a Cub Pack of 21 and a waiting list and Frank Lee joined to lead a Scout Troop of 15.  The Cub and Scout activities described then would still be familiar to our members today.

At the 1985 Group AGM, John Lawson introduced himself as the new CSL following the resignation of Jean Elms after three years as Akela.  There were 28 Cubs and John thanked his helpers Cheryl Walters, Dave Oakley, Justina Cave and James and Jason.  John Potter reported on the Scouts and thanked Mike Scott who was now his ASL.  Chairman Peter Walters announced that there were now 60 Cubs and Scouts and the Group were hoping to form a Venture Unit. 

Between 1985 and 1988 (and possibly beyond) there was an unnamed GSL (Frank Lee, perhaps) but the Scout Leader was Mike Scott who lived in Cammel Road, West Parley. 

By 1991 the Venture Unit was thriving.  The SL was still called Mike, but we can’t be sure it was the same one, as Mike Travis became involved around this time, and Kim Pitts had become CSL. All change the following year with the departure of ‘Mike’ to be replaced by Geoff Bacon as SL assisted by Ian Butterfield and Chris Grant.  Kim continued with Cubs and Penny Mogg became ACSL, with Jan Pitts and Jane Ennis helping. 

Early days of Longham Beavers

Our first Beaver Colony opened in September 1993, led by Bud Cherry and assisted by Jenny Parkhouse.  Cubs were unchanged and Scouts added Richard Drayton to their staff.

1 April 2005 saw the Vale of Allen and Crane Moor Districts merge to become East Dorset District, returning us to the equivalent of the old Wimborne District.

In September 2007 our second Beaver Colony opened on Friday evenings for both boys and girls, making the group fully 'co-ed'.  The original Colony became the 'Treefellas' and the new one the 'Loggers', being very appropriate names for Beavers.

The most recent milestone to date took place in 1 October 2009 with the opening of our second Cub Pack. Our original Friday Pack became the 'Pythons' and the new Thursday Pack, the 'Cobras'.