Baden Powell at the jamboree in 1924

We are keen to hear from former members of Ticehurst scout group. We have been told that Ticehurst scout group dates back more than 80 years. Official records at Gilwell Park suggest the official inauguration date was May 1956. this means that 2006 was the official 50th birthday for the scouts. (unless you know better) Please let us know.
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The checkered history below outlines the fortunes of a village group almost anywhere in the country. We hope our continuing success is an inspiration to those groups that find it difficult.

A potted history of 1st Ticehurst scout group 1922-2008

Scouting started in Ticehurst during 1922 with the help of Admiral Harper who lived at the Yett. The group met in a cottage opposite the church. It later moved to a small wooden building opposite the old laundry in Lower Platts, that had previously been used as overnight accommodation for laundry staff, and from there to the drill hall (now the Donside plastic co.). Admiral Harper was succeeded by Albert Colvin and Robert Field.

Ticehurst troop attended the Wembley jamboree in 1924 and the following year went camping in France. The troop closed down in 1935,

The registration form from 1956

Ticehurst wolf cubs reformed in 1956 led by Mr Ernest Wickeson as cub master, part of Battle District. It met at the old Ticehurst school In Church Street (now a housing estate). Looking at the form it seems that the pack was 22 cubs strong before registration. At the beginning of 1957 Mrs B Simms took over the wolf cub pack.

Started by Mr Wickerson, scouts flourished. After being assisted by Mr Komiliades for a while in 1962, Mr Walter Brown took over in 1964 along with J.A Brown. Local favorite and correspondent June Waddingham assisted by Pat Wood became the cub leader in 1970. At the same time HE Howard became and assistant scout leader. Scouts rested a short time later until in 1978 Peter Collins and Tony Warlow restarted the troop once more. Meanwhile the wolf cubs continued and was taken over by Derek Buckley.

The 1981 reorganisation of districts in East Sussex significantly changed the scout district divisions. Battle district had become Senlac division (Battle and Bexhill) and Ticehurst part of a bigger district forming a wedge from the north to the south of the county. combined groups from the former Uckfield and Crowborough districts to form Ashdown district . A short while later and Ticehurst was moved from Senlac to Ashdown to form a landlocked district forming the north border of the county.

The group flourished in the 80's bucking a national trend. John Sullivan took on the Group scout leader mantle in 1982 to be superceded late by Margaret Polland. On her departure she went on to bigger and great things in the UK scout scene becoming the national child protection commissioner until her retirement in 2007.

During this period Ticehurst scout group had no H.Q of its own but "Ticehurst House" let the troop use the empty property in their ground "Highlands" Many a grand fete was held in the Ticehurst House grounds with openings by celebrities such as John Inman, Little and Large and Mollie Sugden from "Are you being served" and monies raised helped buy and build the present H.Q. in Pickforde Lane which the group moved into during 1983. The wooden scout hut was purchased from the land registry offices in Tunbridge Wells where it formerly was used as the social club.

Peter Collins was keen to involve all age groups and pitched for a venture group to cater for the 16-21 age group. He arranged a meeting in the Bell pub at the end of October 1984 to gauge interest and a venture unit was created. Tony Mycock and Neil Moss became leader and assistant respectively. By 1986 Tony Warlow had taken charge of the venture unit but by the end of 1987 it seemed to have run out of momentum and faded away.

During the 90's there were numerous leader changes, Tim Flynn, who had been running scouts since 1982 and Tony Warlow , passed the baton to respected local farmer Rob Newington, still one of our great supporters. Jackie Hemsley ended the 90's as scout leader with Jim Hunnisett as her assistant at that time we think the only female scout leader in the district. Ticehurst was the first group in Ashdown district to introduce girls into all sections thanks to Barbara Brown. Most other groups did not become co-ed until 2007 when the "One world one promise", 100 year celebration occurred. Joining the group in 1994, Barbara also introduced the new 6-8 section of beavers which flourished under the guidance of Simone Allen who took on the beaver colony in 1996.

Leaders 1979 - 2000 (we need more information guys!)
Beavers: Barbara Brown Simone Allen
Cubs: June Waddingham and Pat Wood.Derek Buckley, Maryan Warlow ,Richard Lavender, David Florey, Carol Joyce
Scouts: Peter Collins and Tony Warlow, John Sullivan and Tony Warlow, Margaret Poland, Jackie Hemsley, Rob Newington Tim Flynn
GSL's John Sullivan, Margaret Poland, Tony Warlow

Camps.
The first camp in 1979 was at Broadstone Warren, and being in Senlac the next few years we camped at Wittersham with Roy Bailey and the Robertsbridge scouts.he Executive planned to have every fourth camp abroad and these were at Guernsey1987, Holland 1991, Canada 1995, Normandy 1999.with camps in between held at Great Tower ,in the Lake District, Ross on Wye (Bibblins) New Forest , Wales, and many held at Hammerwood near East Grinstead where Ticehurst helped clear up after the Hurricane, sawing up and stacking fallen trees. Many of our scouts qualified for the Hammerwood scarf camping over 25 nights. Camps were also held at Blackland Farm and many a weekend at Rob Newingtons woods.

Recent history 2000-2006
By Tony Thompson

The group settled down after the millennium to absorb the new image of scouting. Nationally scouting was in a decline and the head office set up a major review of what scouting was about. Apart from image changes, particularly in uniform, the major age range changes meant that scouts moved on to explorers at 14 and venture scouts were no more. This had a disastrous effect on the group since many of our scouts were leaving just as they became skilled. Even with superhuman efforts from Jim Hunnisett, at one time running cubs and scouts on his own the group dwindled to a low in 2004. However, after some team changes and great support from the exec, the group rose from the ashes once more to host beavers, cubs and scouts once more.In 2006 a new explorer group was started and found its home with us too. Our group continues to do amazing activities and promote outward bound activities and community spirit. Along with our own fortunes, scouting itself has bounced back and numbers nationally are increasing every year.

Leaders: 2000>Present
Beavers: Simone Allen, Jed Herman and Aileen Barrass, Kate Welch and Fran Roberts
Cubs: Carol Joyce, Jim Hunnisett, Darren Nicol and Lee Perry, Rosie Burford and Dan South
Scouts: Jackie Hemsley, Jim Hunnisett and Tony Thompson, Paul Binnie
Explorers: Richard Johnson and Simon Baldwin, Rob Burdon and Simon Baldwin
GSLs Tony Thompson, Liz Yates, Tony Thompson

Adventures
With the focus nowadays on nationally recognised skills and awards our adventuring allows our leaders and young people to seek national awards. We have focused as usual on enjoying ourselves in the spirit of scouting for personal development of young people. Continuing the camps in local fields and woods like The Newingtons and Harrisons.

2000 - Whiligh, Millennium camp
2001 - Gilwell Park, Whiligh
2002 - Gilwell Park
2004 - Buckmore Park
2005 - Flimwell,Whiligh, Blackland Farm, Belchamps
2006 - Flimwell, Whiligh, Frylands Wood, Etchingham
2007 - Symonds Yat, Flimwell, Whiligh, Martlets Laughton, World Jamboree, Bodwarts (Bodiam)
2008 - Winter camp Gilwell, Rotherfield, Whiligh, Gilwell Park, Great tower Lake District, Blackland farm