Happy Birthday Scouts!
Towards the end of 2007, I received an invitation from Norman Gosling.
Norman is a widely known local lad, who has had a lifetime association with the Scout Movement in the Macclesfield and Congleton District. Joining the 3rd Macclesfield (Christ Church) Group as a Wolf Cub in the early 1940s, Norman went on to be Scout Leader in the Gawsworth Group. In later years, he formed a group in Henbury before becoming District Commissioner in 1994. At a time when numerous people plan a retirement, Norman dedicated a vast amount of time to delve through archives of the movement (a difficult task as early records were fragmented) and through newspaper archives dating from 1908. The result of such hard work was the publication of Norman’s first (and he says his last) book that traces the history all Scout Groups that have ever existed locally since the first known gang of youths formed the first patrol of local Scouts. “Big Hats, Shorts and Dyb Dyb Dyb” makes a fascinating read and is dotted with snippets of information that tell us about what was happening on football fields and the cost of a new motor car in the early 1900s and includes visits to Macclesfield by Baden Powell (the movement’s founder) and speeches he made at the time. The book costs £12 and can be bought from Norman at 27 Redruth Avenue, Broken Cross, Macclesfield SK10 3JT and the Scout Shop in West Bond Street on Tuesday evenings.
During his long association with the movement and through the research for his book, Norman has acquired a wealth of memorabilia – enough to fill the spare bedroom of his Macclesfield home. Through the sponsorship of local businesses, Norman was able to establish a local Scout Museum at Barnswood Scout Camp, the local Scout Camp near to the village of Rushton Spencer. The invitation from Norman was to witness the official opening of the museum by local Member of Parliament, Sir Nicholas Winterton.
The Scout Association in Macclesfield this year has reached it milestone centenary year. Norman’s efforts have recorded some incredible events that demonstrate young people power and the contributions that they have made in locally, nationally and internationally. Scouting is very much alive and kicking 100 years after its foundation and has not been afraid to embrace changes that the passage of time has brought about. Like other organisations, local scout groups rely on diminishing adult support, but those adults who are involved enjoy the fun and friendship associated with a worldwide youth organisation.
Happy birthday Scouting and thank you for giving me so many happy memories and longstanding friendships from the times I was part of your great game.
Ian Storer (storerian@aol.com)
