History

1930s (Early group formation)

Although the Group was not registered until 1946, the Group records mention the Troop was active in 1935 until 1938 when leaders were called up for war service, at this point they were meeting at All Saints Church.  The first recorded leader was Assistant Scout Master  P P Plunket in July 1938.

1939 - 1945 (Second World War)

The Troop carried on for the duration of the war under the watchful eye of C W Hawkins and Brother Cuthbert of Alton Abbey.  In 1945 the Troop was revitalised under the leadership of Messers Owen and Spencer, meeting at the Iron Room in Queens Road behind All Saints Church.

1946

3rd Alton (All Saints) formed on 10th July 1946 under registration number 24647.

1948

In 1948, the Troop moved to the All Saints Parish Room in Tower Street with Assistant Scout Masters K Morris and H R Self.  However, without adult leadership the church decided they couldn’t stay. Thus, meetings were held outdoors until 1949.

1950

W J Lailey was asked to become Scout Master, receiving his warrant in March 1950.  The Troop returned to Tower Street.

1952

The first Wolf Cub leaders mentioned are Wolf Cub Master P R Bishop and Assistant Wolf Cub Master Mrs R O Lailey on 13th June 1952.

1953

The first Queen’s Scout of the Alton District was John Rowell in 1953.  The scout troop won the Alton District Boys Scouts Challenge Cup (Tupper Cup) in 1953 and 1956-1960.

1954

The Cub packs also had success winning the district cub totem (George) in 1954, 1962, 1967 and 1969.

1956

The scout troop won the General Molesworth Cup in 1956 and again in 1957.

1957

On 17th June 1957, the Group’s name changed to 3rd Alton, remaining under registration number 24647.  The Group Executive purchased the All Saints Parish Room for £200, district commissioner John Stevens putting up the money.

1959

Under the leadership of Scout Master “Skipper” Lailey the troop won the County Emlyn Camping Competition for the Alton District in 1959, the first group in the district to do so.

1963

In 1963, Roger Street represented the district when he attended the World Scout Jamboree in Greece.

1969

H R Self became the first recorded Group Scout Leader in 1969.

1970

The Endurance Venture Scout Unit formed on 29th April 1970 under registration number 44282.  Originally meeting at Alton College, they later moved to “The Loft” at The Den.  Miss S Cunningham and M Robinson ran the unit, which later became the 3rd Alton Venture Unit.  This, like most Venture Units, opened and closed from time to time until the HQ reshuffle turned ventures into explorers in 2002.

1976

Cub Packs St Andrew’s and St Patrick’s were formed in 1976.

1977

The Group purchased a section of the old railway embankment in Chawton Park Road in 1977 after the threat of the compulsory purchases of the Tower Street building for a new road.

1978

St George’s Cub Pack started in 1978.  A second Scout Troop also started in 1978, but closed some time before 1984.  The St George’s Cub Pack also closed some time between 1978 and 1984.

1983

The venture scout unit was awarded a Queen’s Scout Award, the highest award a junior member can gain, in 1983 to Gordon Revell.  A further 3 of these awards were presented to 3rd Alton venture scouts 1985 to Sarah Revell and in 1986 to Martin Collinson and Stuart Withey.

1984

In 1984, Tower Street was sold and the Scout Troop met at Beech Village Hall while the Tiger Cub pack met in Holybourne and Lion Cub pack met in the church hall on Albert Road (now a residence and under private ownership).  The cub packs won the Alton District Cub football trophy in 1984.

1985

Upon the completion of their new building in 1985, the Scout Troop and 2 Cub packs (Tiger and Lion) moved to the former railway embankment site on Chawton Park Road.  Due to the names of the Cub packs, the HQ on the Chawton Park Road embankment site was named “The Den”.  The site of The Den was a railway bridge that carried the line to Basingstoke.  The line closed in 1932 although coal traffic continued to Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital until 1967.  The demolition of the railway bridge took place on Monday 20th November 1972. The badge on the back of the group scarf represents this bridge (not the bridge at the Butts).

1988

Beaver Scout Leader Mrs F Chapple and Assistant Beaver Scout Leader Miss N Guy started Merlin Beaver Colony in 1988.  Medals of Merit were awarded in 1988 to Group Scout Leader Bryan Hughes and his wife Lynn, who was the Tiger Cub pack leader.

1994

3rd Alton started life in Alton District and was transferred to Rotherfield District on 1st April 1994 when the Alton District was dissolved.  The Endurance Venture Scout Unit also transferred districts on this date.  A second colony, called Kestrel, was started in 1994. The cub packs won The Rotherfield District Cub football trophy in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2005.  

1996

Merlin Beaver Colony closed in 1996.

2002

Lion Pack closed in 2002 due to lack of Leaders.

2007

In 2007, the group was listed as having a Beaver colony, Cub Pack and Scout troop meeting at The Den, Chawton Park Road, Alton.