Scouts (9 Viewers)

[tommydazzle]

Anybody in the scouts as a kid? For a while I was in the Coventry 7th troop. Our scout hall was in Partridge Croft off Dudley Street. Most of us kids were from the Bell Green area and used to turn up Thursday nights pay our subs and have great fun playing the most terrifying games. This was an urban troop and as far as I can remember we never camped, polished our woggles or got badges for tying knots. The hall was great for indoor British Bulldog and there was a Downs Syndrome guy there who would squeeze the last breath out of you if he caught you and we were all petrified of him. It took the scoutmaster to yell at him to let go before you passed out (happy days). The 7th had a great marching band and joining this meant trips all over including a bands competition in Battersea Park, Lord Mayor's Banquet, the Coventry Carnival and even an appearance in Hello Dolly at the Belgrade. I seem to remember our drum major was a bloke called Paul who could hurl the mace high into the sky and I never once saw him drop it - he did this on the front of the stage at the Belgrade much to the consternation of the front rows. The Cov 7th was a bugle and snare drum band - very loud and a good number in it - ahh the smell of brasso and duraglit, the spit in the mouthpiece, the ground shaking as we let loose all the drums.

The scouts began to be seen as 'uncool' and a middle class thing but this was never going to be the case with this troop as we were a bunch of street urchins who for one night a week got a bit of discipline, had fun and gained some confidence. If any of my scoutmasters/troop leaders are still alive, I salute you all sirs for the time you gave up for us rag tag bunch. Don't know if kids go these days - tried to see on street view whether my old scout hall had gone but couldn't quite make it out.

 

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[Otis]

I went to cub scouts. Used to like it, but on one session there was a really big live international game on TV on at the same time and loads didn't turn up to scouts and the next week the leader went absolutely ape shit at us and I mean literally bawling and yelling.

We all quit en masse after that and never went back.

 

[tommydazzle]

Should be shot for desertion.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I was a choir boy

 

[tommydazzle]

I could never be a choir boy as I was a conscientious objector.

 

[Otis]

I was a choir boy

I was a choir boy and a scout and one of the Woodcraft Folk too.

 

[tommydazzle]

What the hell are the Woodcraft Folk? Are they the paramilitary wing of the Brownies?

 

[Otis]

Woodcraft Folk

The secret wing used to run the 'anti scout badge' campaign, which tried to undo all the good work.

 

[tommydazzle]

Did you do a lot of stick whittling?

 

[Otis]

Did you do a lot of stick whittling?

He didn't like being called 'Stick' so we stuck with Douglas. It was more wedgy-ing than whittling to be quite honest.

 

[tommydazzle]

Checked out the link and must say I do approve of the woodentop folk as it seems an eco-aware kind of outfit.

 

[wingy]

The 53rd Cubs Berkswell
Choirboy St Johns Berkswell
Half a Crown for weddings, not to be sniffed at.

 

[Otis]

The 53rd Cubs Berkswell
Choirboy St Johns Berkswell
Half a Crown for weddings, not to be sniffed at.

Yeah, same here. Got paid for weddings.

 

[Johnnythespider]

Anybody in the scouts as a kid? For a while I was in the Coventry 7th troop. Our scout hall was in Partridge Croft off Dudley Street. Most of us kids were from the Bell Green area and used to turn up Thursday nights pay our subs and have great fun playing the most terrifying games. This was an urban troop and as far as I can remember we never camped, polished our woggles or got badges for tying knots. The hall was great for indoor British Bulldog and there was a Downs Syndrome guy there who would squeeze the last breath out of you if he caught you and we were all petrified of him. It took the scoutmaster to yell at him to let go before you passed out (happy days). The 7th had a great marching band and joining this meant trips all over including a bands competition in Battersea Park, Lord Mayor's Banquet, the Coventry Carnival and even an appearance in Hello Dolly at the Belgrade. I seem to remember our drum major was a bloke called Paul who could hurl the mace high into the sky and I never once saw him drop it - he did this on the front of the stage at the Belgrade much to the consternation of the front rows. The Cov 7th was a bugle and snare drum band - very loud and a good number in it - ahh the smell of brasso and duraglit, the spit in the mouthpiece, the ground shaking as we let loose all the drums.

The scouts began to be seen as 'uncool' and a middle class thing but this was never going to be the case with this troop as we were a bunch of street urchins who for one night a week got a bit of discipline, had fun and gained some confidence. If any of my scoutmasters/troop leaders are still alive, I salute you all sirs for the time you gave up for us rag tag bunch. Don't know if kids go these days - tried to see on street view whether my old scout hall had gone but couldn't quite make it out.

The hut is still there I believe, it's at the back of my in-laws house. I think Partridge Croft is off Gayer street which is the other side of Proffit ave to Dudley street.

 

[Gazolba]

I was in the Sea Cadets. HMS Argonaut. Do they still exist?
We used to meet at the old Coventry Ordnance Works.
Marched in a lot of parades around Coventry with our marching band of Bugle and Drums.
We were a very stirring sight, or so I thought at the time.
Can't say I learned much except how to tie a few knots like the bowline and sheet bend.

 

[tommydazzle]

I actually wished I had learned some good knots as I'm pretty crap at tying things on the roof rack etc. Would like to know that lorry driver's knot that self tightens but can be released with a quick pull. Always resort to those ratchet straps - seem a bit overkill sometimes.

Did the HMS Argonaut sail the Coventry Canal?

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

The 53rd Cubs Berkswell
Choirboy St Johns Berkswell
Half a Crown for weddings, not to be sniffed at.

My father in law was a leader down there for years but passed away earlier this year. I’m sure you’ll have known him.

 

[tommydazzle]

The hut is still there I believe, it's at the back of my in-laws house. I think Partridge Croft is off Gayer street which is the other side of Proffit ave to Dudley street.

Yes you're right Johnny, was trying to retrace my steps from my old house. Amazed that it's still there. It had quite a large field to the rear where we used to do band practice. Definite lookup on my nostalgia trip.

 

[ccfctommy]

I went cubs then scouts. 24th 91st it was, or something like that. Bell Green Community Hall off Hall Green Road. Was a good laugh.

I went to cub scouts. Used to like it, but on one session there was a really big live international game on TV on at the same time and loads didn't turn up to scouts and the next week the leader went absolutely ape shit at us and I mean literally bawling and yelling.

This happened to me in Cubs! We missed it on Mondays for and England game in World Cup '98. Might have even been the Argentina game. Akela was not amused even though she was (maybe still is) a City ST holder and we presumed she would watch also...

 

[wingy]

Bun fights at the Christmas party!

 

[wingy]

My father in law was a leader down there for years but passed away earlier this year. I’m sure you’ll have known him.

We'd be talking mid to late sixties.
The guy I actually remember was a chap called Mr Teague (Mick)I think.

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

We'd be talking mid to late sixties.
The guy I actually remember was a chap called Mr Teague (Mick)I think.

Lol was his name but yes that was him. His dad did it before him too

 

[ccfctommy]

Just clocked the Scouting Coventry website and alas the 24th/91st group is no more! :-(

 

[Otis]

Lol was his name but yes that was him. His dad did it before him too

Do you mean lol or lol?

 

[wingy]

Lol was his name but yes that was him. His dad did it before him too

Lived on Duggins lane and used to cycle down.

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

Lived on Duggins lane and used to cycle down.

Showing your age there Wingy.

 

[Gazolba]

I actually wished I had learned some good knots as I'm pretty crap at tying things on the roof rack etc. Would like to know that lorry driver's knot that self tightens but can be released with a quick pull. Always resort to those ratchet straps - seem a bit overkill sometimes.

Did the HMS Argonaut sail the Coventry Canal?

All the Sea Cadet units were attached to a Royal Navy ship, ours was HMS Argonaut, which had some connection to Coventry.
I believe that ship was scrapped from the fleet and no longer exists.
They did teach people how to row and they had a boat which went up and down the canal.

 

[Mr Panda]

Scouts was great. We never did anything normal like earn badges, we just played games which often inflicted pain.

One game we played was known as 'Monkey's fist'. Some lad would swing a thick rope with a large knot at the end of it whilst everyone stood in a circle and jumped over the 'fist' to avoid a broken leg.

Good times.

 

[CJ_covblaze]

31st Coventry. Had some great weekends at Rough Close, Bosworth and loads of other places. Went from Beavers right through to Ventures. Bloke called Kev ran the Scouts and a lady called Mary was involved for decades at all levels.

 

[bezzer]

I was in the 3rd Coventry. Our hut was off Bromleigh Drive. I only made it to a Seconder during my time there.
Was always a great laugh and like what's already been mentioned above, we used to pay some great, if painful games.
Church Parade and Remembrance Sunday were always a laugh unless it was raining.

 

[Marty]

I went, I used to love it too, started as a 'Beaver' and went all the way through to adventure scout and quit when I was about 16. My mum still puts out at Christmas the snow globe I made for her when I was about 7. The stuff I learnt has really only been useful once, got lost out camping and I was able to navigate back using the stars.

I went to the one at Christ the King school. 77th I think?

 

[skybluesam66]

any play in the coventry scouts football league
i played for 47th
back in the 70s you would get a fairly sizeable crowd at those games

 

[tommydazzle]

Gang show at the Coventry Theatre I seem to remember.

Another game we played entailed the hall being strewn with chairs and benches some forming a wall to wall barrier. Each person then had a timed run to retrieve a bunch of keys from the opposite end of the hall. This was done in complete darkness with the opposing team hurling bean bags at where they thought you were. You crawled in absolute silence towards your goal but had to shout out if you had been hit and then it was the next person's turn. Can't imagine this kind of thing being allowed now but it was great fun and somehow we never ended up in A & E.

 

[ccfctommy]

Gang show at the Coventry Theatre I seem to remember.

Another game we played entailed the hall being strewn with chairs and benches some forming a wall to wall barrier. Each person then had a timed run to retrieve a bunch of keys from the opposite end of the hall. This was done in complete darkness with the opposing team hurling bean bags at where they thought you were. You crawled in absolute silence towards your goal but had to shout out if you had been hit and then it was the next person's turn. Can't imagine this kind of thing being allowed now but it was great fun and somehow we never ended up in A & E.

Jesus, we did that, or something really similar!

 

[tommydazzle]

Makes you wonder whether the author of The Hunger Games was an ex-scout!