Gardiner Troop

History of 3rd Ashtead Scout Group - and Arnold Gardiner

By Malcolm McKee in 1st Ashtead Scout Group

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

 

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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)