With the Olympic Games fresh in our minds you might wonder – what is the connection between this event and the Sea Scouts?
In 1948, when the The Games were last held in the UK the XIV Olympiad was centered on Wembley Stadium. Here Boy Scouts marched in the opening ceremony holding the boards bearing the names of competing countries.
However, if it had not been for the Sea Scouts, some 200 of them, the water based activities which took place in Torbay, Devon may not have happened at all.
Sea Scouts on duty
90 Sea Scouts were on duty in ‘watches’ all dressed in full uniform including white caps and white gym shoes. They acted as stewards, flag bearers and leaders of the parade.
During the main water activities they had two main commitments at Torquay Harbour and Marine Spa which formed the Games HQ.
Sea Scouts ferried the competitors, complete with all sailing gear, to and from their yachts, they looked after rigging, launching of the Fireflies and supervised the security.
Crewed rescues
Some of the Sea Scouts provided the crews for rescue launches. In one race 19 boats capsized when three miles out to sea and Paignton Sea Scouts provided the rescue launch which was privileged to carry the Olympic Flag and meant that they could be at sea whilst racing was in progress. This boat also carried members of the International Jury.
At the Marine Spa jobs for the sea Scouts included acting as interpreters and receiving the weather signals from the Admiralty.
Sea Scouts on the Isle of Wight
So, to Sea Scouts on the Isle of Wight: On her recent Island visit, one of the duties undertaken my HM The Queen was a visit to an exhibition put on by charities associated with the sea.
Island Sea Scouts were there and one of the members, Barry Groves presented Her Majesty with a book he has written commemorating 100 years of the Sea Scouts. This anniversary will take place in 2013 but in readiness of this event Barry has compiled this history of the movement on the Island.
Book and CD available to buy
Just 100 copies of the book, entitled ‘ A Celebration of the Centenary of the Sea Scout Movement on the Isle of Wight 1913-2013’ have been printed and Barry presented The Queen with copy Number 1. For those wishing to purchase a copy Barry can be contacted on [email protected]
However, as well as the book being on sale a CD, priced at £5.00 per copy has also been produced. This can also be obtained from Barry. Whether it is book or CD all proceeds will go to the funds of the Isle of Wight Scout Council.
So much in 100 years
100 years – what a lot has been achieved by the Sea Scouts in that time and what adventures the boys have had.
Chapters cover all the Island Groups in some detail and there are some excellent photographs of Scouting through the ages. One chapter is based on the life of two brothers William and Kenneth Garnett who spent their summers at Seaview and tells their very interesting life histories. Their names are recorded on the Seaview and St. Helens war memorials.
There is the secret revealed of Baden Powell’s love of the sea together with other interesting facts about Island members including Uffa Fox. Mention is made of the sea Scouts training ships including RSS Discovery and the fact that 7,000 Scouts lost their lives in WW1 and helped the war efforts in both WW1 and WW2.
Events with the Cubs, Brownies and Guides are also recorded and there is special mention of Lord Mountbatten’s connection with the Sea Scouts as well as his connection to the Isle of Wight.
Image: © Charlie Taylor- Cowes
