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Foreword...
Before reading our article on the 1st Whitstable
Scouts, we would like to draw attention to an important message to
all ex-scouts from Lawrence Wells....
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2009 - 1st Whitstable Scouts
Centenary
It's the 1st Whitstable Scouts centenary this
year. We are throwing a large tea party for present & past
members on..... Sunday
14th June 2009 at our Headquarters.
We wish to contact as many past members as we can.
Please e-mail... groupexec@sky.com
or write to.. Lawrence
Wells, Group Chairman c/o 12 Linnet Avenue, Whitstable Kent CT5
4TN
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We would be grateful if our readers would
pass on the message to ex-scouts around the globe
The First
Whitstable Scouts
Our Chat Column of 7/7/08 (click
here to view) contained a super group photo of
the 1st Whitstable Scouts. It was taken at Westmeads Recreation
Ground and kindly forwarded to Simply Whitstable by Cliff
Cuttelle.
Now, Chris Nutten has added to the collection from
his family photo archives. We start with this lovely shot of scout
members at the rear of their Acton Road hall in 1933....
1st Whitstable Scouts 1933
As we have said on one of our other pages this
week, the Nutten family played a significant part in the town's
football and cricket history.... but their community involvement
didn't end there. They were also heavily involved in the scout
unit and there are several family members in the photo above. I'll
let Chris explain
| My uncle Cecil Nutten (middle row 1st left) ran the scouts
for many years and his wife Elsie was Akela to the cubs
certainly well into the 60's (ie my time). Their
daughter Jackie also helped run the cubs. My father is in
the back row (2nd from right) and his younger brother Leslie
(Chummy) is 3rd from right in the front row.
My family connections with the 1st Whitstable don't end
there. My cousin David Butcher (on my mother's side of the
family - Foad's) also ran the scouts during the 60's and
early 70's. His wife Sue also helped out.
Chris Nutten
Whitstable |
I am even more fascinated by the next
photo....
Chris believes it features his uncle Cecil (with
Bill Blyth - see the message from Bernard Blyth at the end of
this Chat Col page) at the investiture of what seems to
be David Carter. However, I am going to poke my nose in here
because the background suggests that it may have been more than
an investiture. The fancy dress, painted scenery and makeup all
suggest a much remembered annual event..... the 1st Whitstable
Gang Show!
I was never a scout but my parents took me along
to see the gang shows in Acton Road. What great evenings they
were.
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We finish with another delightful shot (see left). The
scouts on the right are Chris's father (Frank Nutten) and
uncle (Chummy Nutten) |
Comments on Scout Photos...
We have received the following messages relating
to Chris's scout photos...
| I was delighted to see some photos of the 1st Whitstable
Scouts. Although the pictures are before my Wolf
Cub/Boy Scout Days, they brought back some wonderful
memories.
David Butcher was "skip" in my days. I was
delighted to see his wife Sue mentioned as she is my
cousin. David did a wonderful job of running the meetings
and the camps -- ahh, happy days.
David ran a very "tight ship" and packed a
lot into those meetings. I don't think the meetings ran
much over an hour or so but, in that time, we had the flag
raising, reciting of the promise (which I can still
recite), investitures and badge awardings, inspection,
patrol time, time to work on badges and some ripping good
games such as "British Bulldog!"
I seem to recall that David had a large and very
beautiful Alsatian that would sometimes be in
attendance--I think it's name was Ricky.
While my Scout and Cub uniforms are long gone, I still
have all my badges and certificates. I still have my
membership card from 1966 which was issued and signed by
David.
One of the highlights of the Scouting year was the
annual Gang Show which was held at the Congregational
Hall. I still have a poster for the 22nd Gang Show and
I also have tickets from Thursday April 16 1968: reserved
seats were priced at 4/6d and unreserved 2/6d. If my
memory serves me correctly David performed an accordian
solo on that occasion.
The 1st Whitstable Scouts were a real credit to the Boy
Scouts Association. I acquired a lot of practical
knowledge from Scouting tht I still apply today. The
1st Whitstable truly emphasised citizenship which we
Scouts took very seriously. Indeed, the 1st Whitstable was
a real asset to the community.
Lawrence Bradley
Tacoma
Washington
USA |
| Our Reply:
Thanks, Lawrence.
We will be building a 1st Whitstable Scouts feature
in due course. Scans of mementoes would be gratefully
received! |
Elsie Nutten was still Akela in 1978 when I joined
and I think for a few years after that.
Paul Hadlow
Canterbury |
| Our Reply:
Thanks, Paul. The name Hadlow
rings some bells in connection with the Oxford Street Boys
School football team of 1952/53. That featured a Colin
Hadlow. I wonder if there is any family connection. |
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Re: The Investiture Photo of Cecil
Nutten
To the right is my Uncle Bill Blyth (who had the Scouts Band
for many years) and not " Doody " Blyth (also my
Uncle). My Father was Tom The eldest of 5 sons of William Richard
Blyth, who was the Scoutmaster in the early 1900's.
My late brother, Don and I were in the scouts band for short
time around 1937. The sons of William except my Father were all in
the Scouts band in the early 1900's. My father remained with the
Whitstable Salvation Army Band , as Don and I did, and the rest of
our family.
Bernard Blyth
Whitstable |
| Our Reply:
Thanks, Bernard. I have amended the wording of
the article. As it was written some time ago, I have also
added your comments to our Visitors Book (entry date
11/11/09) to ensure a wide audience. |
Our Thanks
To...
Many thanks to Chris for sharing these photos
with us
Comments...
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