I was 12 years old and in the Sunday School, when on 5th May 1946, Rev George Cotterell started the group. I stayed on for 7 years or so becoming the first troop leader in 1949  and assistant scoutmaster in 1951. I think the cub group started in about 1951 when Mr & Mrs Stevens joined us, she taking on the cubs, he becoming leader of the fledgling Senior Scouts and later, Group Scoutmaster.

The first scoutmaster was Stanley McGill from South Norwood, soon joined by Vic Atherton who was the mainstay of the group for about 7 years. Both gentlemen are long since gone. Other valued contributors were David Masters and Alan Pierce.

At the first meeting a lad named Henry Jones said he would bring some friends from Davidson Road School. True to his word, he brought along Bill Evans, Roy Turner and Ian Harvey on week two. Bill was my oppo and friend until National Service closed his scouting career but our friendship continued in later life.

In 1946 the Sunday School Superintendent and Youth Club Leader was Bert Berlin, a successful local house-builder who shortly took on a small farm at Chelsham which he generously made available to the group for outdoor activities, particularly week-end camps. When we were 14/15 yrs old we would camp at least once each month right through the winter. Our first full summer camp was held near Haywards Heath in August 1948.

I have a couple of personal snaps that can be found below. Others could no doubt be unearthed later and added to this page