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A century ago this month, Scouts and Girl Guides in Jersey were filled with excitement as they awaited the arrival of some very special guests – none other than the Chief Scout and Guide, Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.
It was the first time the Baden-Powells had visited the Island and a major moment in the history of Scouting and Girlguiding in Jersey, marked by several events and a large rally at Springfield.
After serving in the Second Boer War and being declared the hero of the Siege of Mafeking, Robert Baden-Powell developed the idea of a Scout Movement, holding his first camp at Brownsea Island in August 1907 and writing ‘Scouting for Boys’ in fortnightly parts in 1908.
Pictured: Robert Baden-Powell developed the idea of a Scout Movement, holding his first camp at Brownsea Island in August 1907 and writing ‘Scouting for Boys’ in fortnightly parts in 1908. (Jersey Heritage)
After that, troops started to form around the country, including the 1st Jersey (St Simon’s) Troop, which was formed under the leadership of Scoutmaster George C H Le Cocq.
In 1910, Baden-Powell formed the Girl Guide movement, with his sister Agnes initially looking after the organisation, before his wife, Olave, was appointed Chief Guide in 1918.
So, it was with great excitement that the visit of the Baden-Powells was announced in the island in 1924.
They arrived on the SS Lorina at St Helier Harbour on the morning of 6 May.
The Evening Post reported: “It is undoubtedly a red letter day in the history of Jersey for such a distinguished General and his wife to visit us, and we feel certain that their brief stay in our midst will have the desired object, not only of encouraging the Scouts and Guides, but of increasing the interest of the local public in their world-wide movements.”
Pictured: The visit was reported in the Evening Post. (Jersey Heritage)
The ship was met by a guard of honour at the Albert Pier, formed by the Girl Guides and officials of the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts themselves were not present by request of the Chief Scout “so as not to place their employers in any inconvenience”.
Baden-Powell received a warm handshake from Scoutmaster George Le Cocq followed by a conversation about the progress of the movement since its inauguration. The Evening Post reporter was obviously impressed by his countenance and commented that “Sir Robert’s energy is only equalled by the wonderful way in which he smiles under all difficulties…”
Pictured: Baden-Powell inspecting the Scouts at Springfield. (Jersey Heritage)
They were taken from the Harbour to Rossmore in Valley des Vaux, where they stayed with Government Secretary Mr Whitaker Maitland and his wife, who was the head of the Girl Guides in the Island. It was here that they held their first event, a semi-private rally of Brownies, which included games or displays demonstrated by the five Packs present.
Later that evening was their first official function, a reception at the Town Hall that was attended by numerous States Members and Church officials.
They were greeted by the Constable of St Helier before Lady Baden-Powell stood up to address the attendees. She talked of the importance of those who ran the Girl Guides proclaiming herself “just a humble worker in the great game of Guiding”.
She went on to talk about the growth of the movement and the fact that it was teaching girls around the world “self-reliance and resourcefulness”.
Pictured: Letter from Lady Baden-Powell about their visit to the island. (Jersey Heritage)
After receiving an ovation, Lord Baden-Powell rose to speak. He talked about the importance of the Scouting movement to make “good, happy, healthy, useful citizens”.
He commented that one drawback to the average education was that it could produce selfishness: “A boy was encouraged to work hard, to beat other boys and obtain prizes, there was very little taught directly for the development of service to others.”
He said the Scout Movement was an attempt to remedy this. “The good turn each day was perhaps a small thing, but they were raising a nation of citizens learning goodwill towards their brothers and to other nations: teaching them goodwill instead of war. They had every colour, every creed and every class, all working on the same basis, same laws and same ideal. If this went on they could not fail to bring peace instead of war.”
He ended his 45-minute address by saying: “There is no more God’s work than the right upbringing of your own and other men’s children.”
Pictured: Lord Baden-Powell on his visit to Jersey. (Jersey Heritage)
The following evening was the culmination of the visit with a Combined Boy Scout and Girl Guide Rally taking place at Springfield. Over 1,400 people paid for admission with a large muster of Guides, Scouts and Cubs packed into the arena.
The programme opened with a combined ‘Rush On’ and the ‘Cub Howl’ before the guests of honour inspected the various sections of Scouts and Guides, who were demonstrating various things that they had learned from their training. This included “games, ambulance display, land swimming drill and country dances by the Guides, tent pitching, gymnastic display, uses of Scout staff, and fire and rescue display by the Scouts”. The Evening Post declared that the gymnastic performance put on by the 2nd Jersey was the most impressive of the lot.
At the end of the evening, Lord Baden-Powell addressed the assembled children. He declared that he was delighted to see them all and commented on the fact that there were a lot more Girl Guides there than Boy Scouts. He congratulated them on the good reports he had heard about both movements.
Pictured: Programme of the Rally on the visit of the Baden-Powells. (Jersey Heritage)
He also told the Scouts that they should do everything to try and attend the big Jamboree that was being held at Wembley later in the year saying, “they must beg, borrow or - (loud laughter) – earn it.”
He said they must continue to do good deeds “cheerily, with no grumps, but because they liked doing it.” He held up Sir Jesse and Florence Boot as fine examples of this. It was reported later that the Boots had made considerable donations to the Scout and Guide Movement to coincide with his visit.
Pictured: The Baden-Powells in Jersey. (Girlguiding Collection)
The ceremony finished with Lady Baden-Powell presenting a medal of merit to Lorna Beauchamp, who had assisted in helping to save someone from drowning at Anne Port the previous year, despite danger to her own life.
As the couple departed, they were cheered by a large crowd who had gathered in the roadway and avenue outside Springfield.
They left the island the following morning to head towards Guernsey, leaving behind enthusiasm for Scouting in the island and many memories of their visit.
For more stories from the archives, you can take a look at the Archives and Collections Online catalogue.
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