Scouting in Healing

     Whilst rummaging through some papers in the 'History of Healing' cabinet in the church, I found an extremely interesting document, entitled 'Scouting in Healing'.
      The first scout troop in Healing was formed in about 1920, by scoutmaster Alfred Robins and assistant Sidney Burgess. The group initially consisted of 21 boys, later increasing to 28 boys and 4 patrols. The troop was particularly active, publishing a monthly magazine and provided a guard of honour at the war memorial on Remembrance Day. The headquarters were based in an ex-army hut (purchased from the searchlight battery) on land belonging to the water company.
     The troop continued to flourish until the death of Mr. Robins, when it began to decline for lack of leaders. It was then that the district commissioner, Captain Joules, took over with the assistance of Tom Clark and Bill Boswell as assistant scouters. At this time, the scout hut had to be sold, and the troop was moved to the loft above the garage of Mr. Ernest Kirman. During the war, the troop had to be closed down due to lack of leaders.
     In 1946, Colonel John Wintringham of Humberston approved re-forming the troop, this time with Tom Clark and Murch Winship in the hut at the British Legion Field. This land was given by Lord Portman. Some of the boys who attended the scouts were Ronald Dye, Norman Chatburn, and Barry Clark.
     Afterwards, there was another move, this time back into the hut near the searchlight battery. For many years, this was the scout headquarters, until 1951, when Tom Clark moved out, meaning it was difficult to find scout leaders.

Regards,
James