It is 100 years ago this year that the first Scout Group started in the village. The current group would like to put together a display of photos, information and stories so if you have anything you would like to share with us, please phone Graham on 07962 058118 or email layyourhat@aol.com.

Also the group have some vacancies in all sections at the moment. Boys and girls aged between 6 and 14 are welcome.  Adult helpers are also welcome. For more info, contact Graham on 07962
058118, email layyourhat@aol.com

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1st MIDDLETON CHENEY SCOUT GROUP

Scouts have a long tradition in the village (see below) and we are currently running three meetings a week
 
Beavers            (6 to 8 years)                 Friday 5:45 to 6:45
Cubs                (8 to 10 years)               Wednesday 6:30 to 7:30
Scouts              (10 to 14 years)             Thursday 7:30 to 8:30
 
We have both male and female scouts.
 
We are always looking for adults who would like to be involved in Scouting, either as new leaders, helpers or supporters.
 
If you are interested please contact Graham Hunt on 0796 205 8118 for an informal chat or email me on Layyourhat@aol.com

History

Scouts in Middleton Cheney were probably established early on (circa 1909 -1910) as boys enthusiastically started to form Scout Groups and join this rapidly expanding national movement. Although no records of the group in this village have survived it would seem that Scouting has been practiced intermittently since the organization began. An early photograph c. 1910 shows the Scoutmaster and his wife with sixteen Scouts. By 1911 the number of boys had grown considerably and in a photograph of a parade assembling in Thenford Road there are at least thirty boys. 

The Scout troop met at various venues, either the barracks in Glovers Lane or the old Chapel in Rose Hall Lane. (2)  It is also on record that meetings have also taken place at The Rectory (now Cheney House Residential Home) and an upstairs room at the Dolphin Inn

At one time a Scout Bugle Band existed in Middleton, a concert was given at the primary school in 1914, in aid of Scout funds. A banner was presented to the Scouts by a Miss Collett who lived at Ivy Cottage (later Brasenose Cottage) on the corner of Glovers Lane.

The early days of the Scout movement in the village are also recalled by Mr William Wheeler.

“Mr David Brownsill was the first village Scout Master, in those days the Scout movement had only just started and there was an enthusiastic following. Both of my brothers had joined, but the troop was temporarily disbanded during World War I, the boys had been allowed to have custody of the bugles while the troop was dispersed. As their younger brother I would ‘borrow’ the instrument and have a practice. When the armistice was signed the village was celebrating along with the rest of the country so Austin Tustian and myself took the opportunity to lead a bugle march around the streets. Shortly after this we were asked to return the bugles to the custody of the Scouts. This may, or may not have been a reflection on our musicianship; we thought we were quite good!”