History of 3rd Ashtead Scout Group - and Arnold Gardiner
This
is the verbatim text from a history of 3rd Ashtead Scout Group that I found in
a case with some other 3rd Ashtead artifacts in a case in the scouters
room. 3rd Ashtead had its own proud
history that is now mostly overlooked since it merged with 1st Ashtead. However, with the Gardiner Troop named after
the 3rd Ashtead President, I feel that a bit of the 3rd Ashtead lives on within
the Pelhams.
Malcolm
McKee - July 2012
*****************************
History
of 3rd Ashtead Scout Group
&
Arnold Gardiner
In
1954, Jack Stratford, the Hon. Secretary of the Leatherhead Scout Association
and his sister Joan Stratford (now Joan Gardiner) who was then ADC Wolf Cubs
decided to start the 3rd Ashtead Wolf Cubs as the 1st Ashtead Pack was full to
capacity and there was a need for a Scout Group at the south end of the
village.
Mr
& Mrs Vigor lent the Cubs a wooden garage in their garden on Parker's Hill,
which Mr Clifford Gardiner, together with Mr Stratford converted into a most
desirable small headquarters. In this
venture they had the support of Sir David Cairns who lived in The Warren and
became the Group's first president.
A
Scout Troop was formed when the original 12 cubs became of scout age. It then became necesary to find a permanent
Headquarters site. As the Group grew
they held their meeting in St. Giles School Hall. Mr Clifford Gardiner's brother, Arnold, then
became involved in the Group, and he worked incessantly to obtain the site
where the HQ now stands in The Warren.
The Headquarters was formally opened by Mrs Vigor in September 1966, and
stands very close to the original site where 3rd Ashtead was started.
As
a tribute to the late Mr Clifford Gardiner it was decided in his memory to use
the pun on his initials CGG to adopt a seahorse (as he had done for his own
use) as the Group's emblem, and the seahorse badge is worn on the back of the
scarf. Mr Stratford moved from the
district some years later.
Arnold
Gardiner was Chairman of the Group Executive Committee at the time the HQ site
was acquired, and he organised the many parents and friends who assisted with
the purchase of the hut (at a cost of approximately £1,400). He also obtained offers of equipment for the
kitchen, heating, curtains and lighting for the hall as he had contacts with
people in many walks of life.
Over
the Whitsun and August Bank Holidays of 1966 Arnod Gardiner organised the
errection of the Headquarters with assistance from parents and friends. Two people who can be recalled providing
considerable help with the project were Roy Ballinger and Mike Trembly (still
the Group's quartermaster to this day).
Mr
Clifford Gardiner lived on Ranmore Common for some years until he died, and the
Group had the use of the site next to his house for camping and outings, and
this continued until the early 1990s.
In
December 1991 Arnold Gardiner was awarded the Medal of Merit from the Chief
Scout for his outstanding services to the movement. Arnold Gardiner was Chairman of the District
Finance and Development Committee from its inception until the 1980s. He also received the thanks badge from the
Leatherhead District.
When
Sir David Cairns died, Arnold Gardiner became the President of the Group and
held that office until his death in September 1994. Arnold Gardiner and Joan were married in
1956, and the cubs and scouts sand as the choir and performed a guard of honour
at their wedding.
(This
background information to the formation of the Group and its history was
provided by Joan Gardiner, the Group's first Akela)
