Sunday 14th December this year sees the 80th Anniversary of the First Meeting of the 91st Scout Troop. The Scout Leader was then the late Reverend Keith Preston and his Assistant Oliver Anstey. It all started in early 1917 when in a church meeting the subject of a Leakage Report was brought forward. Boys were leaving the Sunday School to join a Uniformed youth organization in another church and it was felt that Horfield Baptist should have such an organization. Having no previous experience, the two founded the 91st Scout Group and together with a copy of ‘Scouting for Boys’ and plenty of faith they set out the foundations of the group and made a success of it.
Three years later in April 1920 the Cub Pack was started but only lasted for 18 months. It was restarted on January 3rd 1923 by Miss Elsie Parson who remained it’s Leader for 27 years and was awarded the medal of merit for service for Scouting. The Beaver Colony was first discussed in a group executive meeting by the then Chairman Roy Jones and started on 2nd July 1987 with Christopher Kerslake as leader with help from Anita Stradling.
At the peak there was also a very good marching band which was started in 1956 but only lasted until November 1981 because of lack of members and leaders.
With help the 91st will continue for another 80 years but we are always looking for helpers and leaders. Current vacancies are for a Beaver Leader and Cub or Scout Leader as well as assistants in all Sections.

The 91st Band in Competition 1963
Pictures courtesy of Ted Sparkes