HISTORY
Updated 28 Feb 2010
Our District was formed on the 1st April 2000 by the merger
of Blyth, most of Seaton Valley and the 1st Seaton Sluice from Whitley Bay.
As a result the new District matched the boundary of Blyth Valley Borough
Council (1974 to 2009). Many of our groups have long and proud histories, and can trace their origins to
the earliest days of Scouting.
Our area might have been better known had it not been for rain. In 1908 Baden-Powell planned to hold his first Scout camp in Northumberland. (The 1907 at Brownsea Island was not a Scout camp, but was an experiment where B-P put his ideas to the test.). The camp was planned to last two weeks, with the first being spent near Fourstones, just north west of Hexham. The second week was to be near the beach at Blyth. Due to the heavy rain the steam transport could not get to the first site and so it was decided to stay put. The site in Blyth was used for many years by the Boys Brigade from Glasgow to hold their big annual camps.
The Brownsea Island camp in 1907 was not the first Scout camp. Baden-Powell organised the 1907 camp as an experiment, at which he could test our some of his ideas. Most of the boys who attended were already members of the Boys Brigade.
Being in Northumberland, our District is located in a beautiful part of England, and is steeped in a rich history. The oldest know house in the country is situated a few miles to the north of us, the Roman Wall is only eight miles away, and we have more castles than any other county.
Blyth Valley is the second largest District in the Scout county of Northumberland. The District is located in the south east corner of Northumberland, which is the northern most county in England.
There are two main towns in the District, Blyth being the largest and Cramlington the newest. In addition there are several villages including Seghill, Seaton Delaval, Seaton Sluice, Holywell and New Hartley.
The area was once
dominated by the heavy industries of coal mining and shipbuilding.
However, in the past thirty years all the mines have been closed and all of the
sites have be reclaimed. The local authorities have been successful in
attracting light industries.
Northumberland Scout County - The County is made up of the area administered by Northumberland County Council, Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside. Its badge is based on the County's flag, which can be traced back to ancient kingdom of Northumbria. Blyth Valley Scouts wear a single badge made up of the District and County Badges. Anyone wishing to purchase a badge should contact the District Treasurer or CW Tents.
The badge of
Seaton Valley Scout District, which ceased to exist on the 31st March
2000. The crest shows the strong link which once existed with the
mining industry. There were numerous coal mine in the area, and as
new shafts were dug they tended to take the name of something currently in
the news. Hence we have Klondike, Arcot, Plessey, Nelson and many
more.
Blyth was the other District which merged in April 2001. As a port it has a long history of its own. Its main export was once coal, much of which came by track-way from inland.
Blyth District's badge was almost the same as that of the new Blyth Valley, but with a white background.
Scouting Memories - The District has
a long history of Scouting. At the annual general meeting on the 14th June
2001, the principle guest (the Deputy Mayor of Blyth Valley) presented a
postcard sent from the 1936 Jamboree at Raby Castle.
The postcard had been found in his house and he was keen to know if anyone could
add to the story. It was produced at the camp and the script on the back suggests that
the sender is in the picture.
Until very recently there were former Scouters who had walked from Cramlington to the Raby Castle camp with their troop. Their equipment had been packed on a trek cart, which they pull and pushed themselves.
Set out below is a transcript of Billy's message to his parents sent on the 7th July 1936. For younger readers you might like to know that a shilling is 5 pence in modern money. In 1936 a shilling was a lot of money.
The picture to the right shows Lord Baden-Powell at the Jamboree. Billy would have seen B-P first hand, and it would have been like seeing a superstar.
On the back of the picture is written
LORD - BADEN
- POWELL
AT
RABY CASTLE JAMBOREE
7th AUG 1936
Dear Ma & Dad & Mary
I hope you are all well. The photo was taken when we were playing at
quoits you can only see the side view of me but its good enough.
I am quite well & having the time of my life. I would be grateful if you
could spare me a shilling more as milk etc is 3d a glass & fruit 1!/2d
each. Weather not so bad. Billy
The first
District Commissioner for the combined Blyth Valley was John Harvey.
Having been the DC for Seaton Valley for almost four years, he oversaw the
creation of the bigger district. John Lovat, the last DC of the
former Blyth District, chose to take a well earned retirement.
In February 2003 John handed over to Dave McClen, who had previously been both his right and left hand man. At the end of 2009 Dave handed on the responsibility to Neal Armiger.
This picture to the left was taken at a presentation made John at the District AGM in May 2003. To the right is Dave.
During the 1950s a young lad called Ronnie Campbell was a very keen Scout, who went on to become the MP for Blyth Valley. Click on Ronnie's picture to go to a page with some memorabilia of his Scouting days.
Val Smith -For many years Val was Akela of the 1st Cramlington
and set a high standard. She followed in the
Scouting footsteps of her father Alf (another legend). Val
continued to support Scouting and until her health became too poor,
she annually presented the Alf Smith Award and the AGM. Sadly, on the 31st August
2007 Val passes away. Her funeral was held on the 10th September
at St Nicholas, Cramlington, and was attended by her many friends from
inside and outside of Scouting.
Click on Val's picture to find more pictures of Alf, Val and the 1st
Cramlington.
Pictures lent by
Mrs. Joan Robinson
from
the collection of
Reg Pidgeon.
Pictured Left
The New Hartley (Lord Hastings's Own) Scout Group is presented with new
flag, bugle & drums by Captain Keating of Seghill (far right), the
founder of the troop, William Hathaway, is lying on the grass at
the front.
I wonder what happened to the Flag Bugles and Drums?
The 1933 picture of the Scouts shows some of the from New Hartley Scout Troop on a camping trip to Gilsland. Pictured at the Popping Stones are Stan Edwards left, who later emigrated to Rhodesia, Reg Pidgeon second left and Bill Dobbins standing right the two others are unidentified.
Three pictures showing the 1st Seghill Welfare taken in the 1960s.
Margaret Cocks and Cubs
