Boy Scouts new HQ (1919)

Post date: Sep 26, 2017 12:10:56 PM

In the Church vestry a scrap book is held with newspaper cuttings marked "in Memory of Edgar Clarke-Smith". Some cuttings have a date handwritten beside them. Many are probably from the South Eastern Gazette. The following is marked as from 18.2.19

BOY SCOUTS

On Monday General Wingfield-Stratford (District Commissioner) attended the opening of of the Wateringbury Boy Scouts' new headquarters, and inspected the Scouts and Wolf Cubs. The new headquarters were formerly used as a Picture Palace, and the premises afford capital accommodation for the scouts. The building is fitted up as a gymnasium, and as it will always be available for the Scouts and Cubs, it will certainly be of great benefit to the Troop. Some few visitors attended the opening ceremony. The District Commissioner was received with a general salute, played by the drums and bugles of the Troop, after which the cubs gave their grand howl , "Eengonyama." Next the Commissioner inspected the Cubs and Scouts, congratulating them, the Scoutmaster (Mr. Edgar A. Clarke Smith ) and the Cub Master (Mrs. E. C. Smith) on their smart turnout. He also gave a short address on the ideas underlying the Scout movement, basing his remarks on the motto "Magna est veritas et prevalebit." After a few words from the Scoutmaster, a vote of thanks to General Wingfield-Stratford was proposed by Mr. George Chambers, and seconded by Mr. Henry Hook. After replying and expressing a hope to visit the Troop again before long, the Commissioner departed amidst cheers from both Scouts and Cubs.