Heritage

10th Christchurch (Mudeford) Sea Scouts Registration Number 24761.

It is reported that the Troop was formed 18 months after the experimental camp on Brownsea Island in August 1907. Known as 1st Mudeford, the Troop consisted of 4 patrols - Wolf, Stag, Peewit and Horse made up of boys from the Stanpit, Mudeford and Purewell areas. The Scoutmaster was Mr Louis Henry Hiscock, coachman to the Shrubb family, who at that time lived at Inveravon and it was in the Coach House, now known as The Paddock, that the Troop held its meetings. Mr. L H Hiscock, the Scoutmaster was also the Honorary Secretary to the Christchurch Association, the first person on record to hold this position.

The Christchurch Times for March 1911 mentioned the Mudeford Troop in a report and the Headquarters.

The Gazette of November 1911 announced the award of the Medal of Merit to Scout A Cox of Mudeford Troop.

The Christchurch Times gives more details of this award, reporting that it was for saving a man from drowning. The Troop was represented at the Windsor Rally of 1911 and when Baden-Powell visited Southampton in 1912 Lifesavers and Kings Scouts from the Troop were presented to him.

The Group, it seems from stories handed down, almost ceased to function during the First World War but the 2nd Christchurch Mudeford Troop is mentioned in the 1920 census return, meeting at the Village Room in Stanpit with F Ricardo as Scoutmaster and then again in 1921 with E T Han as Scoutmaster. It is assumed that the Troop ceased to exist between 1923 and 1936 as no mention is made of it. The 10th Mudeford All Saints started in 1937 but closed during the Second World War as confirmed by the Form E sent to Headquarters from Christchurch District - Group 17596 10th Christchurch (All Saints Mudeford) closed, lack of Scouters and 34 dated 10th November 1938.

It was again registered on 6th September 1946, number 24761 10th Christchurch (All Saints Mudeford) by the Group Scoutmaster Rev K P FitzGerald with 18 Scouts and 7 Sea Scouts. Apparently the group became a Sea Scout Group in 1948.

In 1975 the title of the Group was officially changed to 10th Christchurch (Mudeford) Sea Scout Group. Since reforming in 1946 Mudeford has always been a strong group and well supported. In 1973 the group decided it needed a new headquarters, with this as its aim, a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Gerry Long. Plans were drawn up in 1974 and a massive fund raising drive was launched. On December 4^th 1976 the task was complete when T S Orestes was opened by Capt. Ommenny, Queens Harbour Master at Portsmouth. The Troop won the Solent Sea Scout Regatta for the first time in 1978. The Group achieved Royal Navy recognition in 1981.

The Troop won the National Swimming Championship for Admiralty Recognised Scout Groups at HMS Raleigh, Plymouth in 1982. The Scout Leader at the time of these successes was David Stevens who later became the Assistant District Commissioner Leader Training

A Beaver Colony was formed in June 1987 the first leaders were Christine Crow and Ann Morton

The Group introduced girls into the Troop for the first time in January 1999.

Leaders during the “Noughties”

Beaver Leader -Amanda Noles

Cub Leader - Ashley Harman and then Paul Root

Scout Leader -Roger Murray and then Keith Vinycomb

Explorer Leader - Nick Stone

We continue to make our own History