In 1970 we bought a fibreglass dinghy and two more kayaks. Replacement transport for the coach, new Bingo equipment and repair of the boat store were also necessary. Alterations to the HQ were being carried out at the Wardroom end and we obtained a grant of £35 for boats plus a donation of £36 for delivering pamphlets. The Spring Fair made a profit of £40 and the Summer Fair added £70. Fund raising was successful and the standard of badge work and sporting activities was high. Patrol leaders enjoyed a weekend caving in the Mendips and the Cubs walked from Richmond Park to Wimbledon Common to see the windmill not the Wombles. We celebrated our 40th birthday with a dance at “The Cricketers”, Feltham.
1971 saw the return of the Mercury Venture Scout Unit to the Third Osterley, bringing our membership to 37 Cubs, 44 Scouts and 11 Venture Scouts. A hut for the Venture Unit was obtained and cost £20 to erect. £54 was received from the local donkey derby and £36 from the Mayor’s Fund. This and more was required for repairs to the boathouse and replacing the ceiling tiles for the HQ with hardboard. The camp sheathing was in poor repair in 1972 and extensive work was necessary amounting to over £5,000.
On October 1973, after 22 years of Sea Rangering in the Guide Movement, SRS “Reclaim” opted to join the Sea Ranger Association. This enabled them to continue the Sea Ranger tradition and keep their name and identity. A Service Crew formed by many ex Rover Scouts was started in 1973 and the HQ received a considerable “face lift”. By including partners, a valuable social outlet was formed for older members, and they meet to this day on a monthly basis. The “Three day week” was with us but Bingo kept going although giving us a smaller income. The Thameside BP Guild gave much assistance on major work such as providing new water and electric mains. Venture Scouts had increased to 14 by 1974, and their activities could be listed in alphabetical order from A - Z. They earned money too, and brought a barracuda kayak for £135.
The next major change on the site was the proposed Flood Defence Barrier by the GLC. This was to involve borehole tests and the building of lock gates on the River Crane near the road bridge. Access would be required on a regular basis by payment of a yearly wayleave. A bad case of contamination of the River Crane with “inflammable waste” was recorded. Major repairs to the site and river banks prevented outdoor fund raising and priority was given to ground clearance. By late 1974 the GLC Flood Defence and Gauging Station was nearer to a decision. “A new site couldn’t be found and the Isleworth Base had engineering advantages”.
The Group accounts were in a “solvent position” and £20 was given to the B P Guild in appreciation of the work they had done for us. A Scout was sponsored for a trip to Norway for an international camp. Security of the building was reviewed after a break-in on 7th October 1974. Apart from the damage we lost 2 loud speakers, an amplifier and headphones. A reassessment of our insurance was required, and the overall cover was increased to £26,000.
The wide range of activities enjoyed by the Venture Unit was reflected in their request for an archery safety net and caving ladders. The BP Guild obtained a hut to be used as an extension to the existing Venture Hut.
The death of Scout Leader Steve Tibble occurred in February 1975, when he was shot while assisting two police officers in the execution of their duty. The Steve Tibble Award, provided to the Group by Wilkinson Sword, is presented annually for service, in his memory.
In 1975, the houseboat “Osterley” sank and had to be broken up. Another houseboat was removed and we advertised for replacements to maintain our revenue. We also spent £2,000 providing mooring piles to ensure that further disasters did not occur.
The stolen stereo and public address system was replaced in 1976. We bought 2 new 14’ x 14’ tents and more camping equipment. Bingo receipts were now less than the running cost involved and reluctantly it had to close. The Service Crew decorated the interior of the HQ and improved the toilets. Throughout their existence they have combined work with social events and kept closely in touch with the scouting side. Another break-in resulted in the loss of a number of kayaks. It cost £160 for replacements. A parents’ Open Day was held with a display, exhibition and film show. Many scouting activities have been recorded on photographs and cine film. The modern projection equipment seemed a far cry from the pre-war 1930 days of lantern slide shows.
Late in 1976 the GSL said, “The administration of the Group is now akin to running a small business”. In financial terms alone this was a very true statement and parents were invited to a Group Executive meeting “To give them insight into the administration of the Group”. The Venture Unit now outnumbered the remaining units of Cranford, Hounslow and Heston combined. They made good use of our transit van for canoeing and caving weekends although at times it seemed more like will power than horsepower that kept it going. Yet another break-in caused us to make a much fuller inventory of equipment, boating and camping gear for insurance purposes. Group tee shirts were produced and proved a most popular and reasonable purchase.
To commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 a special badge was issued and supplied to all sections. A Jubilee District camp was held at Chalfont Heights with 80 group members attending. Two Scouts attended the Spithead Review. A census in that year recorded 102 uniformed members and accordingly a capitation fee of £170 was forwarded to the Scout Association. The capitation levy is charged to all Groups annually to help cover the cost of District, County and Scout Association HQ administration. 40 new trees were planted in the HQ grounds. Summing up the year at the AGM the GSL said “Although our 47th year, the outlook of the Group was still young and with an adventurous programme”.
New kayaks and roof racks were obtained in 1978. Evening swimming facilities at Isleworth Baths were made available. This proved most valuable for cub and scout badge work and also encouraged some of the “old uns” to keep fit on a regular basis. A sponsored swim raised money for a double kayak for the Scout section. The Venture Unit also started a newsletter and heralded the 1980s by becoming mixed. Together with the Sea Rangers, facilities offered to boys and girls were by now very comprehensive. Consideration was given to the replacement of the Venture Unit hut and major repairs to the boathouse. The slipway decking was renewed so improving access to the river for water-based activities. Our Group strength was 35 Venture Scouts (some serving with other Groups), 40 Scouts, 36 Cubs and 9 Warranted Leaders.
Throughout our history, fund raising in order to achieve our needs has figured very strongly. We have been most fortunate in the donations and help given to us by private individuals and firms. However, we have worked hard ourselves and our fine HQ is a tribute to the endeavour of our Scouters, parents and helpers. We had come a long way in our first fifty years, and adapted well to major changes as Scouting updated itself. We were on a sound footing for future success.
1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s The New Millennium
Key World Events of the 1970s
- Britain joins common market
- Elvis dies (or does he?)
- First test tube baby born
- First British woman prime minister
