Some bullet points of history from around 1908.
Scouting commenced as we all know in 1907 during an experimental camp held by Robert Baden-Powell at a camp on Brownsea Island.
1908 Scouting in Bromley has started and boys are creating informal groups led by adults interested in the ideals and wishing to help the young men of the town.
1910 the 3rd Bromley are formed and are the oldest surviving group in Bromley quickly followed by the 4th Bromley along Bromley Common
1911 Scouts are becoming active in Chatterton Road / Bromley Common / Shortlands and other areas of Bromley
1912 5th Bromley are officially recorded and founded.
1912 Scout Master Rev. Kay - Curate from St Luke's Church. Meetings held in Elliot Road - Church Hall until 1955
1st camp in Norman Fields (Norman Park). 2nd over at Aynesford Trek Cart used to get to Camp site.
1913 Scout Master Plato Wright
1914-1918 Scout Master G. Lane
1914 - Just before WW1 - 5th Bromley Scouts decide to lead a flag raid on 3rd Bromley Camp. Attempt was failed and lead Scout Lew. Pepper was caught and made to appear before Richard Ayling - A name a few Scouts may have heard of. No more Raiding parties were allowed.Lew Pepper went onto become an Assistant Scout Master.
1914 - Gym Instruction at St Luke's Institute (Now the Church Hall
1914 5th Bromley Scouts protect Telephone lines from Green st Green to Polhill in case of sabotage or spies.
1915 - 1917 - 5th Bromley Scouts help in hospital staged in Methodist Church hall to look after injured Belgian Soldiers.
1917 5th Bromley support Red Cross - Scouts support is excellent - Especially the clearing up after Strawberries and Cream
1917 Camps held in Rookery behind what is now Bromley College. Equipment carried by Trek Cart. Gates were never opened. If shut, all kit and Trek Cart carried over the gate rebuilding the cart and repacking on the far side.
1919 - 1923 Scout Master Jackson
1919 5th Bromley win the 4x100 yard relay race at Sports Day competition
1919 - 5th Bromley Troop relocate to the St Luke's Institute in Raglan Road - Now the Church Hall
1919 5th camp at Wilmington, all equipment transported 18 mile round trip by Trek Cart.
1920 Colonel Turner arrives in Bromley and suggest the Troop change scarf colour to Red and Blue to match his old Regimental colours
1921 4th and 5th Bromley combine
1922 Summer Camp to Swizerland
1923 Summer camp to Italy
1925 - Scout Master Rev. Brockman
1926 - Scout Master Johns
1927 - Scout Master Bob Maynard
Scout Master gives the Scouts a lift perched on his old Austin Seven Car - Health & Safety not yet invented.
1927 5th Bromley Scout Troop meets at St Luke's Church Hall in Elliot road - Scout Master was Bob Maynard
1928 - 5th Bromley win the Annual Swimming competition and lift the Bothamley cup. Ellie Edmondson won the trophy for Life Saving in 2008
1928 Summer camp at St Margaret's Bay in Kent -
June 1929 Gerry Bowyer takes over as Scout Master. Gerry was involved for 33 years of the first 50 years of the 5th.
1929 - Cub Master Miss Bindon
Difficult period due to the economic slump, unemployment and poverty. Scouting and camping on a shoe-string.
World War 2
1930 - Cub Master Miss Ralley, Miss Hunt, Miss Kelly, C. Eldridge, J. Green
1930 Strawberry and Cream camp in Chagford Devon. Created Swimming pool by cleaning out a lake
1930 More camps at Ivy Hatch
1930-31 Rover Scouts first set up - Rover Leader Rev. Brownsell Curate at St Luke's held Troop meetings in a Makeshift hut in Albert Road - Not far from Black Beaver's home. 1st Easter camp in Matthews Farm at Farnborough spent mucking out Cow Shed in the Snow - Much enjoyed by the scouts.
1932 - Rovers held a series of dances and with a generous donation
The Rovers bought a Den from the British Legion and placed it in the orchard next to St Augustine's church - Most Likely the original start for the 23rd Bromley.
1934 5th Bromley Cubs meet at Elliot Road Church Hall and take turns to look after the Totem Pole each week. Some changed the prices on the Chalk boards outside shops for a joke or played Tap and Run - ask your Grandparents that one!
Cub camps were at Ivy Hatch and most cycled there with all their kit on their backs. No one walked back up Poll Hill on the way home - considered too soft.
Ball hames were played at the Church Hall but the Cubs had to turn the sign saying "No Ball Games" around whist the games were being played.
1934 5th Bromley win the District Whitsun Camping competition
Decorated Trek Cart was used in the Bromley Carnival Procession.
1935 King George's Silver jubilee 5th Bromley camp at the Windmill on Keston Common and build a beacon as part of the celebrations.
Whitsun District Camping competition - 5th Bromley A team win and 5th Bromley B team were runners-up.
1936 - After a successful Flannel Dance (No, I've no idea either) money was raised to send members of the 5th the World Jamboree in Holland.
1936 - Cub Master E. Willetts, Miss Collins, Miss Kurn
1937 5th Bromley Rovers with others from Kent visit Kanderstag staying at the International Scout Chalet. Some also went to the Jamboree in Holland
Summer camp was at Highcliffe - one Norman Baldock tried some axemanship skills on his leg and had to come home on a stretcher
1938 Summer show held at the Rookery to raise money for a new HQ.
Bromley Scout Association pushed for "increased international brotherliness" - International HQ made contact with other international groups including the such organizations in Germany.......
1938 Kent Rovers visit Budapest. In Budapest some of the "Hitler Youth were friendly but not for long!
1939 5th Bromley Rovers joined the Local Defence Volunteers (forerunners of the Home Guard - "Don't tell him your name Pike".
5th Bromley Scouts help in practical ways distributing and fitting Gas Marks at Raglan Road and providing firewood for the needy.
5th Bromley Troop wins the District Boxing Trophy for the first time.
1940 - Blackouts were put up at the Church Hall and Troop meetings continued. Skip (Gerry Bowyer) was ill in March with German Measles (Traitor according to Lew. Pepper).
5th Bromley Troop wins the District Boxing Trophy for the second year in succession.
Five members of the 5th Bromley volunteer to be casulties for an ARP exercise. Over an hour spent lying on the ground pretending to be injured with broken bones... finally told no ambulances were coming so they went home instead. (And they called it the Phoney War - Cheek). One label left behind just said - "Bled to Death - Gone Home!"
5th Bromley win the District Camping competition
5th Bromley win the Trek Cart competition
5th Bromley Joint Runners-up for the Commissioners Standard - Chris Day and June Oliver were to win this award in 2002 - first time it had ever been awarded to individual members of the Scouting Movement
Skip went into the Navy but Troop meetings continued despite German Air Raids
5th Bromley played their part in moving bricks on the Trek carts to strengthen Air Raid defenses, Collecting Shrapnel for scrap metal, collecting acorns and Horse Chestnuts for cattle feed.
1941 - Sad death of the Chief Scout and Founder Lord Baden-Powell
*1941 - February 5th Bromley joined the WWW....Not the World Wide Web -
but - Win with Winston or War Weapons Week
*One activity the 5th Bromley acted as Stewards at the T.W.E.R.P.S
Concert party - No, I've no idea again!
*More war work involved installing Morrison Shelters at Bromley Palace
for the widows of clergymen. Some of the staircases were very narrow and the
shelters were very heavy. One such lid fell on the Assistant Scout Master -
Bill Sayer's finger. The ensuing war dance was spectacular and would have
been very successful at any Camp Fire show.
*August - 5th Bromley win the Commissioners Standard
*5th Bromley win the Trek Cart Competition
- 1942 St Georges Day Parade over 50 members of the 5th Paraded including 20 Cubs.
*1942 - 3rd Bromley beat the 5th in the Trek Carting competition by 30
seconds!
1942 - Scout Master J. Doherty - Former Air Man from Ireland
1943 - Skip (Gerry Bowyer) is awarded the Medal of Merit for Services to Scouting.
*5th Bromley win the Bothamley Cup at the Swimming Gala
*5th Bromley were runners up for the Commissioners Standard
*Easter and Whitsun camp at Elmstead Woods - Not far from where the 5th
Bromley Scouts set of for Brownsea Island in 2008.
Easter 5th Bomley take part in the very first "Bob-a -Job" week - Now this is something I do remember taking part when I was a Cub in Sidcup.
5th Bromley Scout Troops take part in dismantling Morrison shelters
*April 5th Bromley start Trek Cart race practice.
*5th Bromley celebrate VE day.. minor problem with a stretch of road
surface getting a little damaged by a celebration Camp Fire.
*Whitsun camp at Sundridge Park... probably where the Golf Course is now.
5th Bromley help support the 23rd Bromley due to a lack of leaders caused by the war.
1946 - Scout Master G. Baker
*Easter camp at Ivy Hatch - The Trek Cart was re-painted and it was the
first camp to seem like "The good old days".
*Parent & Supporters Association was formed.
*St George's Day Parade held at St Luke's.
*5th Bromley receive the Commissioners Standard
5th Bromley win the District Hike competition.
1947?
Easter camp was a tour of the North downs by Trek Cart as Senior Scouts went by Train to Sevenoaks and then hiked with the Trek Cart through the Weald via Hever, Edenbridge to Crockham hill and Sevenoaks.
*5th Bromley join the District at a gathering in Hawkwood Chilehurst. Not
far from Coopers School.
5th Bromley Runners-up in Swimming Gala
5th Bromley winners in Life Saving competition
5th Bromley collect 4,125 jars for the Bromley HQ fund
1948 - Cub Master Miss Payne
Gang Show of Aladdin
Whitsun Camp at North Cray just inside the grounds of Cray Palace.... New place to me. A palace in the Crays?
5th Bromley win the District Camping Competition
*1949
Gang show of Babes in the Wood - The Institute was packed to overflowing
5th Bromley help line the route as Princess Elizabeth visits Bromley.
*1950
Gerry Bower moves to running the Rover Troop - Semi Retirement.
Easter camp near Battle - Weather so bad two Canvas tents were ripped apart. Water boiling on a fire almost impossible.
1951
The old Troop Colours laid to rest in St Luke's Church and the new colours are blessed after 27 years of service... Where are they Now?.
5th Bromley win the Fastest set up of an old Icelandic Tent. Our tent was packed up before some had even got their groups Icelandic set-up.
Dick Witthington was the years Production
Christmas saw the 5th'first official Tintinnablationists .... Totally confused Microsoft..... We still do have a set.
1952 - Scout Master L.Nash - Ex of the 3rd.
Summer Camp at Broadstone Warren
5th Bromley members win the Duncanson Life Saving Award.
Jack and the Beanstalk was the Years Production.
The success of the Pantos raising £241 pounds towards the building of our current Scout hut was the equivalent of collecting over 57,000 glass Jars for recycling in that time.
1953 - November 14th - First Turf cut for the new Scout HQ
Group Chairman and Vicar Canon Hassard Short passed away - One of the first Scoutmasters and Chairman since 1926. Founder member of the AA.
Coronation Day - 5th took part in a massive Bonfire on Keston Common.
1954 - June - Fete held at our new site ontop of the concrete foundations. - Olympic Runner Sidney Wooderson opened the Fete and raised another £55
1955
22nd Feb - First Troop night held in the new HQ to celebrate B-Ps birthday.
St George's Day Parade - Gerry Bowyer awarded a Bar to his Medal of Merit.
July 16th 5th Bromley new HQ was officially opened Mayor Samuel Lane. In the Front Wall of the HQ there is a jar containing the Brief History of the 5th, a copy of "The Scout" and some coins.
1956
5th Bromley win the Griffith Cup after coming Runners-up for the previous 2 years.
5th Bromley Cubs attend the 40th Anniversary of Cubbing.
1st Anniversary of the HQ - Group Sports day held with Sideshows and a Tea Party finished off with a Camp Fire.
After a vote the Scouts change from the old style Hat to Berets
1957 - Jubilee Year for Scouting
100th Anniversary of B-P birth Group attended Thanks Giving service at the Gaumont Cinema - Now Habitat / Carpet right.
Members of the 5th attend the jubilee Jamboree and a party from the Pack and the Troop attend on August 8th.
5th Bromley Bell Ringers appear on TV
5th Bromley win the Griffith Cup
1958
- 1958 - Miss Dacey Cub Leader
1959
1959 - Scout Master G. Etherington
Peter Bowyer presented with Queens Scout Award
Skip and Mrs Bowyer presented with picnic case for 30 years service to the 5th.
Dick Warner gets Queens Scout Award
Summer Camp at Linlithgow, Scotland - Bob Lade's last camp before being a Lighthouse Keeper.
1960
Assistant Cub Master Mrs Kilner.
The Old Rover Den moved to our HQ from its old Home by the 23rd.
5th Bromley win the Griffith cup
5th Bromley Patrol Leaders selected for the Guard of Honour for the Memorial service to Bernard Ayling - Former District Commissioner.
Bad floods affected West of England - 5th Bromley donate 50% of Christmas Bazaar proceeds to support an Exeter Group badly affected.
1961
First Jubilee committee meeting held
5th Bromley retain Griffith Cup
St George's Day Parade - Skip Bowyer invited to the Parade of Queens Scouts and Commissioners and awarded the Silver Acorn.
25 Scouts went to Ivy Hatch for Whitsun Camp
5th bromley Runners uip in the Richard Ayling Competition, Camping Competition and Commissioners Standard
Sports Day raised £100
5th Bromley receive a Plaque for being one of the Founder Groups of B-P House.
1985? Girls start coming to the 5th. First in the District to open its doors
- Charlie Maffham can confirm date?
1999
- 5th Bromley Scouts win the Dorthy Winterton Trophy with the 32nd
2001 - 5th Bromley Scout hut is badly damaged by Fire
2002 -
- 5th Bromley win the Cub Scout Trophy - Ellie Edmondson, Jack Bailey and Joe Burford
2003
5th Bromley Cubs win the "Turning up Cup" for best Attendance
5th Bromley Cubs win Assault Course
2004
5th Bromley Scouts win the Dorthy Winterton Trophy
5th Bromley win the Cub Scout Trophy - Naomi Getting, Laurence Burford
2005
Chris Day GSL and June Oliver BSL awarded the Commissioners Standard - For District Scouting
5th Bromley Cubs win the 10 Pin Bowling Competition
Ellie Edmondson wins Bothamley Cup
Joe Burford awarded Life Saving certificate
2007
5th Bromley attend BromJam
5th Bromley win Swimming Gala jointly with 14th
2008
- 5th Bromley Scouts attend District Centenary Event at Brownsea Island - Leaders form the Catering Team 162 Fried Eggs cooked in one breakfast!
2009
- Chris Eaton, Laurence Burford awarded Life Saving Certificate
2010
- 5th Bromley Scouts win Trophy for encompassing best Rugby / Scouting Team Spirit in Inaugural Tag Rugby Competition
2011
- In 1962 - Ronald P. Appleton, Vicar of St Luke's writes to acknowledge the work of former Curates but in particular the Scout Masters especially Gerry Bowyer for all the great work in helping over 400 boys through Scouting. He mentions - "If the 5th Bromley is not still thriving in 2012AD it will not be there fault". The statement was looking at a time far off into the future... It is not, it is now. And the 5th Bromley are still growing.
There will soon be some history of the 5th bromley on this page.
The website is maintained by John"Mumbles"Edmondson mumbles at gmail.com. You can find the theme that this website is useing at 5thbromley ( in a rar format). The theme is an edited virsion of PhoenixBlue.
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