The Birth of the 23rd Croydon (1st South Norwood) Scout Group
In 1908 a group of boys under the leadership of Ernest Driscoll started meeting on Monday and Thursday evenings at Enmore Road South Norwood, calling themselves "The East Surrey Scouts".
Their weekends were normally taken up with Scouting games at Shirley Hill's and frequent camps at West Wickham .
In September 1908 Baden- Powell had to set up an office to deal with the countless enquiries that were pouring in about the movement but it was not until May 1909 that our group became registered with the Scout Association and from 23rd May 1909 the Group became known as the 1st South Norwood (23rd Croydon) Boy Scout Troop.
In those early years our group scarf colour was plain green known as Scout Green, and still remains the same to this day, it was also during this time that the Group Motto “Non Nobis Solum” meaning Not for ourselves alone was adopted.
The troop also met at the Dr Barnardo's home from where it recruited boys. Barnardos was at 145 Portland Road South Norwood now long since gone and was opposite the corner in Harrington Road to the Shell Garage.
During The First World War our Group provided Scouts for home wartime service and at times throughout the war we had Scouts on duty patrolling the beaches at Dungeness in Kent and guarding railway bridges in Croydon.
We have since 1908 provided unbroken Scouting and service to the community, a journey that has taken us through two World Wars and over and through the hurdles of present day living to where the group is now. So where are we now?
The 23rd Croydon (1st South Norwood) Scout Group (how we are known by today) is as active or even more so than we were in 1908. We are a co-educational group which means that we are open to boys and girls and whilst upholding the fundamental principles of Scouting our Leaders are providing the girls and boys with interesting , exciting and appropriate activities that are as relevant to our youngsters today as they were at the beginning of the century.
If you would like to learn or know more about the group's history please click on the following link.
In 1908 a group of boys under the leadership of Ernest Driscoll started meeting on Monday and Thursday evenings at Enmore Road South Norwood, calling themselves "The East Surrey Scouts".
Their weekends were normally taken up with Scouting games at Shirley Hill's and frequent camps at West Wickham .
In September 1908 Baden- Powell had to set up an office to deal with the countless enquiries that were pouring in about the movement but it was not until May 1909 that our group became registered with the Scout Association and from 23rd May 1909 the Group became known as the 1st South Norwood (23rd Croydon) Boy Scout Troop.
In those early years our group scarf colour was plain green known as Scout Green, and still remains the same to this day, it was also during this time that the Group Motto “Non Nobis Solum” meaning Not for ourselves alone was adopted.
The troop also met at the Dr Barnardo's home from where it recruited boys. Barnardos was at 145 Portland Road South Norwood now long since gone and was opposite the corner in Harrington Road to the Shell Garage.
During The First World War our Group provided Scouts for home wartime service and at times throughout the war we had Scouts on duty patrolling the beaches at Dungeness in Kent and guarding railway bridges in Croydon.
We have since 1908 provided unbroken Scouting and service to the community, a journey that has taken us through two World Wars and over and through the hurdles of present day living to where the group is now. So where are we now?
The 23rd Croydon (1st South Norwood) Scout Group (how we are known by today) is as active or even more so than we were in 1908. We are a co-educational group which means that we are open to boys and girls and whilst upholding the fundamental principles of Scouting our Leaders are providing the girls and boys with interesting , exciting and appropriate activities that are as relevant to our youngsters today as they were at the beginning of the century.
If you would like to learn or know more about the group's history please click on the following link.
