WORTHGATE / 5th CANTERBURY AND OTHER DISTRICT SCOUT HISTORY 08/2013
Previous brief attempts for 5th Canterbury involved local church groups;
1934 to 1936 5th Canterbury (St.Mildreds) HQ St.Mildreds Parish Hall, also
1937 to 1938 5th Canterbury (St.Mary Bredin) HQ The Vicarage, St.Mary Bredin.
Note St. Mary Bredin church was previously near Rose Lane, present building built post war.
5th Canterbury registered 01/09/1943
5th Canterbury HQ at various locations such as Thanington Church Hall, Hollow Lane, Wet Fish Shop in Wincheap in cellar, St. Mildreds Church Hall, Wincheap (now Wincheap Tools) and Presbyterian Church Hall at Wincheap Green in 1946 with Scouters Mr & Mrs Smith (great grandparents of Holly Smith, former Worthgate Scout)
1953 – District Meeting minutes include mention of an interesting address given by Lord Baden Powell, also listed on Exec Comm as active members Mr B Smith, Mrs M Smith.
6/5/1957 District AGM held at 5th Canterbury new HQ, group were congratulated on achievement of new hall, J Rayner gave a report on the building of the hall. Note of DHQ foundation stone laid by councillor AJ Ross on 22/2/57. Note of awards during the year to Mr VS Stokes the Silver Acorn, also 1958 Mr Stokes and one Queen Scout attended the Windsor Parade. (Mr Stokes is great grandfather of Kyle Larcombe, Worthgate Scout).
1960 District AGM held at District HQ Sturry Rd, report inc. the building funds, refreshments by 2nd C
1963 – 5th Canterbury had x36 Wolf Cubs, x27 Scouts, x66 Rover Scouts, x3 Senior Scouts, x5 Scouters.
5th Canterbury (Bridge) registered 1968 with link to 5th Canterbury, HQ The School, Bridge,
1972 Worthgate applied for permission to use part of former Casual Block at Old People’s Home, The Close, Bridge. Noted in 1974 HQ adjacent to The Close, Bridge – KCC plans to demolish ?
1971 district plans for numbered groups to change to Westgate, Northgate, Worthgate.
6th Canterbury (St. Stephens) and 2nd Canterbury become Northgate
5th Canterbury has pack and troop operating in Bridge therefore their colours would be worn by St.Martins with St.Pauls linked to 5th / Worthgate
Note Bridge and St.Martins with St.Pauls both linked to 5th Canterbury but run own sections and operate own accounts and included separately on 5th Canterbury end of year accounts.
10/5/1971 Change to group registration with amalgamation of 5th Canterbury and 12th Canterbury (St.Martins with St.Pauls) to Worthgate with x64 Cubs, x31 Scouts, x8 Ventures, x13 Scouters;
Jack Rayner GSL (1952-1979), John Vousden Dep GSL, Ray Vaughan CSL, Brian Pearson CSL (Bridge), Ann Shaxted CSL (St.Martin & St.Paul), John Vousden SL, Charles Flood SL (Bridge), James Baldock VSL, Pearl Gower ACSL (1968), Gladys Vaughan ACSL, June Baldock ACSL, Margaret Shaxted ACSL, Maureen Wurr ACSL, Ray Townsend ASL
Worthgate Annual Report 1972-73
The Group consists of sections at Worthgate HQ and Bridge, Littlebourne and St.Martins & St.Pauls. Also Brownies report by Margaret Raynard (Brown Owl), Cubs report – Ray Vaughan, Scouts report – John Vousden Deputy GSL. Group had whitsun camp at Sarness Farm, Waltham.
Bridge still included on Worthgate accounts 1986 but not 1987
Note – 1983 Worthgate HQ looks a very dilapidated state from outside !
Worthgate AGM report 1989 – Maurice Raynard Group Chairman, Richard Prosser (1976) GSL, David Ireland ASL, Ray Vaughan CSL, Pearl Gower, Angela Laughton ACSL.
Worthgate 1993 inc Richard Prosser GSL, Nicholas Andrew CSL.
Debbie Barker Treasurer until 1996, Group closed 1997.
Worthgate
1999 April – Group relaunched and re-registrered with Cubs and Beavers – CSL Jackie Terry (previously at 14th C 1993), BSL Neil Terry, Chairman Martin Hyde, Treasurer Mike Blamires.
1999 Sept – add Terry Sherman ACSL (previously at 14th C 1995)
2000 January census inc x2 Cub Leaders, x1 Beaver Leader, x2 Helpers, x16 Cubs, x12 Beavers
2000 – GSL/CSL Jackie Terry, ACSL Terry Sherman, ACSL Helen Harrison, BSL Neil Terry, Chairman Martin Hyde, Treasurer Mike Blamires (up to July 2001), Fundraisers Caroline Potts, Linda Thornton, Lorraine Beat. Fundraising included Webb Ivory.
2001 – GSL/CSL Terry Sherman, Treasurer Ted Goff, Beaver Leaders Neil Terry & Catherine Hornsby
2002 Feb – CSL Terry Sherman, ACSL Caroline Potts, Beaver Leaders Cat Hornsby, Neil Terry, Chairman Jane Arnott, Secretary Alison Packer, Treasurer Ted Goff.
2003 – CSL Terry Sherman, ACSL Caroline Potts, ACSL Sue Ebbs. Cub trip to HMS Belfast.
2004 December – Scouts invested by Robert & Kim
2005 – SL Robert Lawler, ASL Kimberley Campbell, CSL Terry Sherman, ACSL Caroline Potts, BSL Neil Terry, Katie Potts Beaver Helper
2006 included Terry, Caroline, Kerry, Neil, Sarah Ford, Katie, Robert, Kim,
Sept 2006 – Clive & Hayleigh Phillips, Neil Terry noted missing.
2007 Sept – included Terry, Caroline, Kerry, Melanie Leonard, Katie Potts and Treasurer Simon Meadows, Secretary Mark Gurr. Plans for new kitchen and new fence in progress.
2008 – Cub Leaders Terry & Caroline, Beaver Leaders Melanie Leonard & Katie Potts, Chairman Damien Boden.
2009 – inc Terry Sherman, Caroline Potts, Katie Potts
2010 – inc Caroline Potts, Katie Potts.
2013 – inc GSL/CSL Caroline Potts, BSL Katie Potts, ABSL Emma Elliott, SL Sean Reilly,
Section Assistants: Britta Osthaus, Emma Bull, Paul Comper, Tracey Burr, David Playfair
Helpers: Ian Hocking, Alison McGuigan, Sharon Gair, Danielle Comper, Michelle Crowther, Martin Crowther, Julie Hill, Justine Heckley, Will Hardman, John Shepherd, Mark Patch, Maggie Gurr, David Simpson, Laura Newman, Jason Messenger.
Young Leaders; Jacob Twyman, Lawrence Playfair.
Chairman Sally Heath, Treasurer Michael Bean, Secretary Tracey Burr.
2022 – GSL Caroline Potts, AGSL Katie Potts, Chairperson Alison Grant, Treasurer Sharon Gair
Largest the group has been with 41 adult volunteers and 153 registered young people.
Squirrel Drey, 2 Beaver Colonies, 2 Cub Pack, Scout Troop and linked Explorer Unit.