Boy Scouts, Bostalls Troop May 1911
The 2nd Woolwich (St Nicholas) is the oldest surviving group in Woolwich and certainly one of the oldest in the country. It was registered on the 6th May 1910, under the leadership of William Gurney, of Wernbrook Street, Plumstead. At this time, it was called the 2nd North-West Kent (Bostalls) troop and met in Bostalls Woods. In 1911, while camping at Dartford (where they had marched), they heard some poachers and chased them off.
In
1917, the troop had a special visitor when Robert Baden Powell, the founder of
Scouting, came to St Nicholas and preached a sermon in the church. The church
had special meaning for BP, since his father had been vicar there in the 1840s.
By 1919, the troop had become the Bostalls (2nd Woolwich), under the leadership
of Steven Showler, of Riverdale Road, Plumstead. At this time, it had a
membership of 40 Scouts and met at Cooks Farm, Old Park Road, Plumstead, where
it remained until 1928.
In 1928, it was first sponsored by St Nicholas Church and met in the Parish Hall
in St Nicholas Road. Meanwhile, in 1926, the Cubs had started up under Miss
Lydia Showler with 18 boys. There was also a Rover Crew by this time, led by the
Rev S.Anstie of Cordite Road.
2nd Woolwich celebrating 50 years in 1960
The group didn’t become the 2nd Woolwich (St Nicholas) until 1962 and in this
year, through the efforts of the Rev A.Walker, the 2nd acquired the sole use of
St Francis Hall, Bannockburn Road as their Group Headquarters. Regrettably, the
group had to move out in 1985, after it became necessary for the church to bring
in economic returns for their properties.
In the late 1970s, the Cubs were going strong and actually had two Cub Packs,
meeting on Monday and Wednesday evenings. In 1991, the Group had its first
Beaver Colony, while in 1994, the Group first admitted girls to the three
sections.
In 1998, the Group moved away from St Nicholas church and met in the Salvation
Army Hall, in Whit heart Road, Plumstead. Strangely, in 2000, it changed its
name to the 42nd Woolwich (Salvation Army) Group, resulting in the 2nd reforming
at St Nicholas Church in 2001 with cubs only.
In 2003 the scout troop was reformed, with some help from two leaders from 41st
Thamesmead (Dennis and Peter) with just 4 scouts. In 2004 Ian Cambridge took
over as scout leader, by this time we had 15 scouts attending on a regular
basis. In 2005, Lorraine Moody took over as Scout Leader.
In 2005 Beaver Colony was reformed under the leadership of Jackie Harris and
Lorraine Moody as helper.
In 2006, the group moved to the Invicta Community Hall at Strandfield close in
Plumstead.
In 2008, the group moved back to St Nicholas church and reformed the scout troop
under the leadership of Graham Moody with some help from Lorraine Moody and
Peter Dimmock as assisted leaders, with only six scout members attending on
first Friday night; the troop has gone from strength to strength with 19
currently attending each week.