From 1939 to 1948 I was a member of the 1st Pocklington Scout Troop and spent many happy hours on scouting activity. My earliest recollection was joining a hike at the age of 8, really too young for the scouts but there was no Cub pack. We may have taken the bus to what was then Ogle's garage on the York road and walked down the road opposite the garage to Allerthorpe, or is it Waplington, Common, then back to Allerthorpe and Pocklington. I regret that my legs gave up at some stage and some of the older lads, including Donald Senior, carried me on their backs part of the way.

Cannot remember where we held our meetings but at some stage we took over the upper floor of a stable block that was in a yard halfway down Regent Street, on the left going south. It was pretty decrepit with rotten floorboards but became a useful venue. There is a house there now. After the war huts became available and someone gave the land down Burnby Lane, I believe, so we had a new venue. A smaller hut was added later and I recall helping Mr Arnold Storm to build the chimney.

At the age of 11 I was allowed to join officially, took my oath and became a member of the Peewit Patrol. Uniform was in short supply in the war so a full set came very slowly. The sales were organised by a Mr Cooper who lived down The Balk. The family ran a Coal Business. How proud I was to get my scarf and woggle!

Our Scoutmaster was Mr L. Sands, who became the District Commissioner at some time. Mr Arnold Storm, who worked in Barclays bank, was one of the helpers for several years. Later Mr Gilyead took over and others whose names I cannot recall. They gave so much to develop the character of many of the boys of Pocklington and give many the only holiday they got at camps.

The camps that I recall were near Bolton Abbey. It rained most days, but we hiked and cooked in it. The one large tent, called The Palace, could take us all for sing songs, instead of sitting round a fire as the sun went down. The photograph (A) could be from that one but where the table came from I am not sure. This photograph was published in the Pocklington Times. My copy has Yorkshire Herald, York, copyright stamped on the back.

Names clockwise from Mr.L.Sands (standing)
                                               
Jim Hall                                               Ian Stark
   ?       North Dalton                           ?
   ?       North Dalton                           Mr. Frear   North Dalton
   ?       North Dalton                           Les Kitchen
“Lizzy”Baines                                     Freddy Barker
   ?                                                                   King
Alistair Cook   Market Weighton          ?
                                                              Max Turner
                                     Scaife      (end of table)

We were camping on the cliffs above Whitby when VJ Day was declared which gave us a grandstand view of the fireworks. A week in North Wales, a site owned by the Scout movement, I think, was notable for the hundreds of midges which tormented us. For a change one was held in old Army huts at Gilling in North Yorkshire. We went by train all the way, sadly no longer possible.

Perhaps the most pleasurable times were weekends spent in Givendale. The Scouts had a hut there where the tents and equipment were stored. Maybe they still have. We would cycle out after school on Friday and return Sunday with our bedding and food strapped to the cycles. Hard work going up the hill but exhilarating coming down. The photograph (B) was taken on the hill and shows Denis Moor, Les Kitchen, Max Turner and myself. Our water came out of a spring, there were trees to climb, branches to chop for firewood, “wide games” over the hills and songs round the camp fire.

Getting badges for various activities kept us occupied as well as training us for life's skills. I recall being taught first aid by Mrs Blight. She was trained as a Red Cross nurse but her, and her husband, ran a grocers shop in The Market Place where a dress shop is now.

From time to time we built bridges, mainly from Scout poles, across the beck down The Green in the time before it was “improved”. Church parades and Remembrance Day parades were held quite often in the wartime.

In order to raise funds I bought bags of logs from the wood yard where Sainsburys is now. Took them home in a trolley belonging to the Troop and chopped them into kindling to sell to local houses. A good mark-up was possible!

The final photograph (C) is of the Troop outside the hut down Burnby Lane in 1947. It may have been published in the Pocklington Post. It was taken by Kay of Pocklington.

?      Jim Hall  Jeff Banks Max Turner

            ?     Meynell Robson   ?          ?          ?          ?

       ?    ?          ?                 ?           David French     ?  ?  John Langstaff
                       
                        Les Kitchen    ?    Mr. Gilyead       ?                Leonard

            Gerald Mouncey ?    ?            Gilyead       ?      ?     James Kidd    ?

Article submitted by Chris Hall 11th February 2021.
(©2021 Chris Hall).