The new decade opened with a burst of activity on all fronts. Senior scouts gained successes on Venture and Helmsman courses and obtained the highest points for badge work in the District. They built more kayaks and helped decorate the Hounslow Nurses Home. New flags were purchased for the sections and a Riverside Rag was held. Brick cards were sold to raise money for building materials, and verbal confirmation of acceptance of the HQ plans were received from the Council. Town and Country Planning required the site to be well screened with trees. Bonfire night took the unusual form of a Viking Funeral when a whaler was burned. Model tramways and railways were exhibited at the Christmas Fair. A message delivered at the AGM was “We must cater for young men outgrowing Senior Troop age. This can be done by supplying the ash trays and pipe racks and a good Rover Scout Leader”. Although Tom Black required neither pipe rack nor ashtrays himself, and few were aware of the potential dangers of smoking at that time, he formed the new and last Rover Crew on 17th October 1960. Many long lasting and valuable friendships were forged within this section.
By July 1961 the concrete foundations for the HQ were complete and “Willing hands” soon erected the steel framework and started on the brickwork. The roof was completed in February 1962. 15 trees had been planted but more were needed. We now had 24 Cubs, 45 Scouts, 11 Seniors, 5 Rovers and 9 Scouters. The GSM remarked, “I am positive that Group Activities sap more energy from the Scouters than any employer could ever hope to bleed”.
Brian Johnson interviewed Third Osterley Boys in his “All Your Own” television programme on April 30th. Our traction engine, duly painted black and orange was seen in good working order. On another occasion its owner used it as a wedding car. Publicity was gained and we received a donation of 10 guineas from the BBC. Whist drives were held again to raise funds.
Work on the new HQ progressed in leaps and bounds. Much work was done professionally but group members did a considerable amount. A grant of £966 was received from the Ministry of Education - half the estimated cost of the new building.
Scouting activities continued and the Rovers attended the National Rover Moot in Walesby Forest, Nottingham. Later, they designed a new Rover Crew flag. The Senior Troop competed in the Arun kayak race, and a kayak cruise covering the 100 miles from Oxford to the Isleworth Base in four days.
Bingo was started in 1963 and this proved very successful. Two boys appeared in the Gang Show with Ralph Reader. Plans were drawn up to improve the Rover den and workshop and we ordered a new fibreglass gig.
The new HQ floor was completed and plans went ahead for the official opening. At first, it was hoped to ask the Duke of Edinburgh to officiate, but although the Palace sent us best wishes for the event, the Duke was unable to attend.
A reception for donors and contractors was held on November. The official opening of the new HQ was at 2.3Opm on 23rd November 1963. The whole site teemed with scouts, parents, officials and photographers as the Hon. Michael Baden Powell (Grandson of the founder of the Scout Movement) declared the HQ open. Representatives from the press were present and reports and photographs appeared in the local papers. “1963 was a year that was arduous and yet most rewarding”.
For services to the Group, G5M Mr. A. E. Young and SM Mr. A. Perry received the Medal of Merit in 1964. Mr. Young also became Base Warden. Although putting much extra work on the Group it strengthened our position in regard to administration of the whole site. Four boys were selected to take part in the Tall Ships Race but withdrawal of a ship caused much disappointment. We were hosts for the St.George’s Day Parade where we displayed our new Flag and our first Annual Dinner in the new HQ was celebrated.
A 32-seater coach, suitably painted in orange and black was purchased for £200 and all sections made good use of it. Cub camp at Beer was so wet that more time seemed to be spent in the coach than under canvas. A previous camp had been so hot that emergency supplies of calamine and insect repellant had to be called for. Our first fibreglass gig “Fairenough” was launched in 1964. It arrived complete with sails, and although not budgeted for, the extra cost was considered justifiable.
The final account for the new HQ was £2,432 13s 4d. Much effort went into fund raising and obtaining further grants to cover boat costs. The summer event theme was “Piracy”. A pair of large wrought iron gates was purchased for the HQ for £5, and plans for the proposed new entrance were approved. The Seniors amalgamated with the Troop for a while as an experiment. A Third Osterley Scout carried the Queen’s Colour at the Windsor St.George’s Day Parade. A lorry was added to our “fleet” to help with camp gear and boat movement. The HQ was home for a while to a troop of Canadian Scouts. Plans were again considered for the proposed new Rover Den. “It was going to cost a lot of money which we have not got at present”. New boats were purchased in 1967 including a double kayak suitable for the Arun kayak race in which 4 crews were entered.
Change was in the air again and publication of the Advance Party Report was awaited. “This may call for a great deal of new thinking in Scouting” was the message from the GSM. Reduced income was causing concern and a new Supporters Association was formed. New crockery was necessary for “visitors” to the HQ and old crockery was made available for a stall at the Summer Fair. The Group won the District Shield and it was a fine moment when we were presented with it at the St. George’s bay Parade.
Change was indeed afoot in 1967, The Advance Party Report of 1966 stated that Cub Scouts were to be aged from 8-11 years, Scouts 11-16, Venture Scouts 16-20 and Rovers were finished. The over 20s were not neglected but expected to give service to the Group and District in Scouting. 3 years was the time limit to change uniforms. Long trousers were on the way. The GSM became Group Scout Leader or GSL.
The new HQ had received considerable vandalism and many windows were replaced with reinforced glass. Our funds were increased by a profit of £159 on the Summer Fair and £32 2s 8d from a jumble sale. A jackpot at Bingo was now legal and this again proved profitable. A visit to the Boat Show and a supper was offered to boys who sold over 100 tickets for the Christmas Fair. A survival weekend camp for patrol leaders included a restriction that only dehydrated foods be used. The cost of maintaining the coach was rising fast and in 1968 it was thought advisable to sell it. The County was carrying out repairs to the riverbank. A sailing dinghy was purchased and the Troop attended a R.N.L.I. fete.
A change in the administration of the Base meant that the lease of the site reverted back to the Group. The boathouse and toilet block were valuable acquisitions. By October 1968 the Senior Scouts had become part of the District Venture Unit. Re-organisation was well under way. In 1969 the lorry was sold for £70 and the coach went in 1970 for £40. Transit vans were to be used for future Group transport. The HQ was insured for £9,000, the boathouse for £2,700 and the toilets for £750. Boats too needed insurance. The true value of our site and amenities was becoming very clear. Vandalism was still prevalent and notice boards were erected by the slipway denoting that it was private property. The new entranceway was completed. The houseboats and Bingo were still a good source of revenue but costs were increasing and finance was bound to figure strongly as the next decade approached.
Most of the changes that formed The Third into the successful Group we know today had by now taken place. We were indeed “Masters in our own home”. Scouting was becoming more technical and greater demands were being put on Leaders. In 1969 Mr. A. E. Young became District Commissioner and Mr. B. D.Fall took over as the fifth GSL since our formation in 1930.
1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s The New Millennium
Key World Events of the 1960s
- Satellite sends first worldwide TV show
- Martin Luther King makes ‘I have a dream’ speech
- John F Kennedy shot in Dallas
- Beatle-mania hits US
- Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life imprisonment
- England beat Germany in World Cup Final
- Sir Francis Chichester sails round the world
- Neil Armstrong walks on the moon
