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Memories of  Usworth & Washington

Scouts, Cubs & Guides


Washington Scouts

Victoria Road - 1916

March Victoria Road

Washington Scouts marching down Victoria Road towards The New Inn Corner - 1916

The Terraced Housing on the right is New Rows.

[ No Forte's Café / Billiards Room or Ritz Cinema yet! ]

Victoria Road 1

New Rows  -  Victoria Road leading to Front Street  -  New Inn  -  Alexandra Theatre, later Regal Cinema

[ This Wonderful Image was contributed by Washington History Society. ]

1st Washington Scouts, Brownies & Rangers

1st Washington Scouts Drum Section - circa 1947/48

Standing (L-R):  Stan Philips, Tom Perkins (wearing the Big Drum harness), Bill Thompson,
Stan Beetham, Harold Glendinning, Norman Applby, Derick Preston, ? Oliver.
Seated (L-R):  Ronny Adams, David Oldroyd, Ray Browell (Band Leader), Hilton Smith, Billy Wilson.

The Scout Hut in the background was demolished in 1965 and a new HQ building on the same site opened in 1967.
The Big Drum on the bottom of the pile of drums is over 100 years old and is still in existence.

Washington Brownies

Washington Rangers - 1930s/40s

[ Above Photographs & Information:  Thanks to Washington History Society. ]

1st Washington Scouts & Cubs

1st Washington Scouts HQ - Glebe Crescent, near Glebe School - 1941
This Hut was used as a Special Constable's Post during WW2.

[ See Notice, left of door. ]

1st Washington Scouts and Cubs - Geoffrey Newall Hut, Glebe Crescent - 1947

1st Washington Scouts and Cubs - c.1950.

Washington Cubs

[ Earlier than the 1941 Picture above? ]

1st Washington Scouts

GANG SHOW
Washington Miners' Welfare Hall

WASHINGTON 'F' COLLIERY MINERS'S WELFARE HALL

For more information about this important 'Social Venue', go to:  What's Where / Collieries / Mining Collection 2.

1st Washington Scouts & Cubs

1958

1953

1930

1st Usworth Cubs

1st Usworth Cubs took 3rd place in the Tug-o-War at a jamboree in Chester-le-Street - 1953

[ Thanks to team member, Tom Copeman. ]

Usworth Cubs c1965

1st Usworth Cubs - 60th Jubilee c.1965.  Akela: Jean Dickson.
Photographed in Scout Hut, left of Usworth Miners' Hall.

[ Thanks to Tony Jackson - Back Row, 2nd from right. ]

Usworth Cubs with Bogie

1st Usworth Cubs - A Fine Body of Men.

[ I was an Usworth Cub when they were based in St. Michael's Church Hut.  Jim ]

•   •   ◊   •   •

Usworth Cubs - Press Cutting

Usworth Scouts / Cubs - Silver Jubilee & Headquarters Locations

[ Newspaper Name & Date unknown, but probably 1951 + 25 = 1976. ]

Comments from Ernie Guy

I was a member of Usworth Cubs from the late 1940s to the early 1950s.  At that time we met in a large Wooden Hut squeezed within the
fenced area of St Michael's Church, Edith Avenue.  After I left they moved into new premises next to Usworth Miners Hall.
In the above press cutting photo, I'm 2nd left, top row. Malcolm Smith is 1st left and Billy Naylor, 3rd left.

•   •   ◊   •   •

Saint Michael's Church

SAINT MICHAEL'S AND ALL ANGELS
The junction of Edith Avenue, Manor Road and Waterloo Road.

In the 1950s, there was a large Meeting Hut in the Church grounds, behind those Gates.
Usworth Scouts & Cubs met here until their dedicated Hut was built near Usworth Miners' Welfare Hall.

Saint Michael's Church Hut

SAINT MICHAEL'S MEETING HUT
CHURCH MEETINGS,  MOTHERS' UNION, SCOUTS etc.
Edith Ave
(bottom-left corner) leading to St Michael's Church and the junction with Manor Rd and Waterloo Rd.

Scout Hut

MEETING HUT BEHIND EDITH AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH
Between the Flag Poles - Viewed from Usworth Welfare Park

[ Thanks to Photographer Ernie Guy. ]

1st Usworth Scouts

BUILDING USWORTH SCOUTS' HUT
I was a Member of 1st Usworth Scouts from 1954 to 1960.
The above picture was taken c.1959 outside the new Scout Hut which we were building next to Usworth Miners' Welfare Hall.
I am on the left and Frank Rutherford is on the right.  Mrs Joyce Scarr, mother of Cub Billy, is centre.

[ Thanks to Dr Ken Reay for the above photograph and comments.   A Must Read: What's Where / People / Dr Ken Reay DSc. ]

Map - 1st Usworth Scout Hut

AERIAL VIEW OF USWORTH SCOUTS' HUT - 1964
Moving East along Manor Road, the Scouts Hut is the first building on your left, alongside Usworth Miners' Welfare Hall.
Can you identify other items of interest e.g. Sections of Usworth School - The Parkie's House - St. Michael's Church - Post Office?

[ Photograph courtesy of Washington History Society. ]

Usworth Miners' Welfare Hall

USWORTH COLLIERY MINERS' WELFARE HALL
The 1st Usworth Scout Hut was built close to the far side of the haystack.
Usworth Colliery Senior School was built on the right-hand side of the Welfare Hall.

For more information about Usworth Welfare Hall, go to:  What's Where / Collieries / Mining Collection 2.

•   •   ◊   •   •

Usworth Scout Camp

SUMMER CAMP IN THE TYNE VALLEY - c.1959
L to R: Joe Buckham, Brian Embleton, Harry Reay (my brother) and Frank Rutherford.
At this time Joe Gillespie was Group Scout Leader and Arthur Watson was Scout Master.

[ Thanks to Dr Ken Reay for the above photograph and comments. ]

1st Usworth Cubs & Guides

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh
Washington Sports Centre
( 1977 )

1st Usworth Cubs meet H.M. The Queen during her 1977 Jubilee Tour - 25 years since her accession.

Cub Jeremy Hodgson is 1st Left.

[ Thanks to Margaret Hodgson. ]

Usworth Guides

The Duke of Edinburgh

•   •   ◊   •   •

Visit - Prince Henry

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was the youngest son of George V and Queen Mary.

The Boys' Club was in The Geoffrey Newall Hut on Glebe Crescent.

[ For more information about Prince Henry's Visit, see Top Menu. ]

Queen's Scouts

1967

Queen's Scouts

The grey press cutting only names four of Washington's newest Queen's Scouts.
See the later (yellow) edition for Number 5.