History Of the Group
The first meeting comprising Scouts only took place in 1912 in the basement of the Vicarage of the St. Julians and Aaron Church which was situated at the time on Caerleon Road, Newport. The group was begun by Mr C.S Stuart who in ensuing the war 1914-1918 served in the black watch regiment. His place was taken by Rev. S. Morgan Jones, although not warranted, assumed control of the group. Meanwhile in 1917, the first meeting of cubs was held under the guidance of Miss Young.
During 1922, the group removed to the Old Church Hall in Durham Road, but a disagreement arose and the Group was requested to leave. Having no other premises the group did not disband but continued to meet under a street lamp at the corner of Stafford Road and Durham Road, eventually in 1924 as a result of the support of the parents of the members an old carpenters shop in Croydon Road was purchased for £80.00 to serve as headquarters. Incidentally as a result of this sale to the Group, the carpenter concerned was saved from bankruptcy proceedings.
Great panic arose in 1928 when it was found that the headquarters had been blown down during a heavy gale. Undaunted, however, the place was rebuilt entirely by the boys themselves and not only rebuilt but extended.
A great milestone was reached in 1933 when the Twenty First Birthday dinner was held in Westgate Hotel and a long report of this function was printed in the South Wales Argus.
During 1938 notice to quit was received from the Fernbank Estate as Croydon Road site was required for required for building for building purposes. However, an alternative site was offered which was, in fact, our present site. Therefore, in July 1939 after the new site had been prepared, the headquarters in Croydon Road were dismantled and carted to Bank Street, to be re-erected. An amusing story may be of interest at this point because the dismantled sections were loaded on a lorry which belonged to a Group member. During the journey to Bank Street, the weight of the sections was so great that the front wheels of the lorry arose in the air. However, the lorry proceeded down Bank Street with its load supported by a crowd of boys to keep the wheels in contact with the road.
Despite the intervention of the war years 1939 – 1945 the Group continued to run under Mr. J. Rudd.
The Group has always been active. Several of its members have represented the Group in various sporting activities throughout the years and for some time the annual swimming gala for the Scouts and Cubs in the town was organised by the group. The Rover Crew were particularly well known in Scouting Circles for its various exploits and stories in this connection are numerous. A note of interest here, A deck cabin which came originally from H.M.S. Collingwood, the ship on which late King George VI served his apprenticeship was purchased in 1933 and erected alongside the River Usk at Kemys Inferior for overnight stops by the members. However, this was destroyed by vandals some years ago and completely burned.
Members of the Group have accepted and are accepting administrative duties for the County and Newport Scout Councils.
After a very long and very eventful service to the group, because of old age it became necessary to replace the headquarters building. Consequently the long trek began to raise sufficient funds to purchase a building. Eventually, in September 1972, work commenced on the foundations of our present headquarters.
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