Dyb Dyb Dyb A hundred years of scouting in Chester

The Beginnings of Scouting

In 1907 war hero, talented artist and actor Robert Baden-Powell, held an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Dorset. Twenty boys from different backgrounds were brought together under his leadership to learn the techniques of observation, tracking and initiative.

In 1908 Baden-Powell published Scouting for Boys, which he based on his earlier military handbook written for scout troops in the Boer War. Sales of the book were enormous and boys soon began organising themselves into Patrols of Scouts. It was soon realised that some form of organisation was required to support these Scouts and hence the movement was born. The 1^st Chester Scout Troop formed in 1908 and met in the cellar of one the boys houses on Nicholas Street. From these humble beginnings the Scout movement slowly evolved into a world-wide youth organisation which today has 28 million members in 216 countries. Currently there are 26 Scout groups active in Chester District.

1st Blacon Scouts c1959