Did You Know

The full name of the founder of Scouting is Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, also known as B-P. He was born on 22 February 1857 at Paddington in London and died at Paxtu in Kenya on 8 January 1941. His memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey in London.

Below are 10 facinating facts about UK Scouting:
1. In 1908 'Scouting for Boys' written by B-P was published in 6 instalments which were then collected together into one book that became one of the best-selling books of all time.
2. On 22 August 1908 the first proper Scout camp took place at Humshaugh in Northumberland .
3. In 1910 B-P set up the Girl Guides as a sister movement to Scouting.
4. In 1920 5,000 Scouts attended the 1st World Scout Jamboree Olympia in London.
5. The famous Bob-a-job Week is launched in 1949.
6. The World Scout Jamboree returns to England in 1957 and is held at Sutton Park near Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire, attended by 30,000 Scouts from 80 countries.
7. In 1987 250 scouts from greater London North East area cooked the worlds largest sausage, a staggering nine miles and briefly entered the record books.
8. In 1989 hats are abolished following a consultation about uniform with the membership.
9. In 1990 the decision is made to go fully co-educational and B-P's vision of a youth organisation for boys and girls is born, in 2007 14% of UK members are female.
10. Eurojam is held at Hylands Park in Chelmsford in 2005 attended by 10,000 Scouts from 68 countries.

"All people in all countries wish for peace, happiness and prosperity. It may take us time before that dream is realised, but this and other Jamborees are all steps towards that worthwhile end. Let us promote them with wholehearted energy"

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