1st Coddington Scout Group
The Scout Group was founded in 1938 by Bishop Cyril Bulley, priest in charge of Coddington and was originally 1st Coddington [All Saints].
The Scout Leader, or Scout Master, was George Morrell, assisted by Bob Herbert.
The Troop faded in 1942 until, in 1946, the Troop was reformed and led by Ken Maltby. The Troop met in a barn on Vale Farm owned by the Handbury family.
The Registration of the Group took place on 1st April 1950. The Priest in charge at the time was the Reverend Craddock Watson.
Ken Maltby resigned in November 1952 when called to do his National Service.
Harold Trevor Town from May 1951 to 20th February 1958 was Assistant Scout Master at 8th Newark [Salvation Army]. He then moved to 1st Coddington [All Saints] as Group Scout Leader.
During the early years he ran both Cubs and Scouts, in June 1960 he took a group of 12 Scouts and 1 Rover to camp at Walesby Scout Camp site. He finished his Woodbadge training on 6th February 1964 and was presented with his certificate on the 8th June 1964.
In 1966 Mr. Town was awarded the Medal of Merit. In 1967, according to the Annual Census Report, the Group had 12 Scouts and 12 Cubs. At this time the Southwell Diocese, through the Rev. Peter Wright, was approached by Mr. Town to ask if the Group could take over the old village school as their HQ.
In 1969 the Group, led by Trevor Town, officially open the School as the permanent Headquarters of 1st Coddington Scout Group. At this time the administration included the following people: -
G.S.M. Mr. H T TOWN
S.M. Mr. R DICKINSON
A.S.M. Mr. D SEIBOTH
C.S.L Miss G BURGESS
A.C.S.L. Mrs. P HAMMOND
COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN Mr. P HAMMOND
SEC & TREAS. Mr. S STONE
MEMBERS Mr. G JOHNS
Mrs. HEWITT REV. P WRIGHT
Mrs. SCARBOROUGH Mr. R CHECKLEY
Mrs. F MOORE Mrs. R ELLIOTT
Mr. J MOORE Mrs. J KNOTT
Mr Town retired from active scouting in March 1974 and was followed in 1971 by Mr Tony Nash who has supplied a large amount of the information. He remained in charge until the early 1980's.
During the 80's the GSL post was held by Rodney Cousins, who became District Commissioner, Mike Clark and Bob Archer. These gentlemen between them kept the flag flying and the building in one piece despite the efforts of nature and kids.
The group was taken over by Dave Hedge in 1992 at the same time that the group started to raise money to buy the property at a cost of £15000. In June 1994 the building became the property of Coddington Scout Group and became a Trust with 4 Trustees.
The Venture Unit was started in this year and John Collier moved from Scout Leader to Venture Leader and it was also the first occasion that girls were permitted into the group.
The Beaver colony was started by Jean Gardner, L Gresko and Maggie Clark in 1985, as soon as Scouting lowered the age of admittance, 6-8yrs. It has been very well attended ever since then, always running with a waiting list.
In 1993 after 10yrs of strong leadership the Scout Troop had a number of older lads who wished to carry on in Scouting. The Scout Association had introduced a new Section for the 15 to 20 yr olds called Ventures.
John Collier, who was Scout Leader at that time saw there was the need to start a Venture unit at Coddington & handed over the troop to his assistant Adrian Parrett. It also coincided with the girls being introduced to Scouting. Rosevale Ventures was born. Named after the Farm where the first Scout camp was held many years before.(1930's)
John Collier was assisted by Barbara Rawlin and Kate Fuller.
In 1997, Barbara Rawlin, who had been helping with Cubs for about a year, took over the Pack and Jane Hedge moved to Ventures.
In 1994 the Beaver Colony was taken on by Jill & Bob Skelley & they were joined in 1998 by Hazel Robinson.
In 1994 John Collier had set up the Duke of Edinburgh Award section helped by Marin Appleby & Neil Fuller. It was very successful so in 1996 he left the Venture Unit to concentrate on D of E. One of only 4 in the whole of Nottinghamshire to be run from a Scout Group.
1997 saw the Troop run by Ian Todd & Andrew Appleby until in 2003 Ian Todd became ADC Scouts for the District. Andrew then ran the troop until work called & in, 2003, he handed over to Chris Phillips & Mark Ryder.
In 2000 three people who started in Beavers at the age of 6 and went on in Scouting to Ventures earned their Queen's Scout Award. Andrew Appleby, Graham Wells and Peter Robinson were invited to the Guildhall London to receive their Award from the Chief Scout George Purdey
In 2002 the Scout Ass. changed the age ranges of the older sections and Ventures disappeared replaced by 14-18yr Explorer units.
2005 saw Chris leave due to work transfer & Mark took on the task.
Between 2000 & 2004 the Beavers were successfully manage by Emma gartside, Peter Robinson, Nicola Carter & Zoe Medley.
In 2005 Dave Hedge reached 65years & handed over the GSL duties to Laura Bennett who was also Beaver Leader. Also Jane Hedge retired & handed on the Cub Pack to Barbara Rawlin
Explorers met as a District unit but in 2006 The Scout Group was asked by the members to form our own Unit and, with the blessing of the DC, the Unit formed with Pam Page taking on the task of Unit Leader.
List of Leaders from 1969 onwards [ apologies for any missing names]
Group Scout Leader
1969 Harold Town
1984 Mike Clark
1990 Bob Archer
1993 Dave Hedge
2005 Laura Bennett
Scout Leader
1969 Reg Dickinson
Alan Draycott
1972 David Seiboth
1975 Martin Searson
1976 Mr Rossington
1978 No Leaders - no scouts
1979 Alan Draycott
1980 Rodney Cousins & K Wright
1982 No Leaders - no scouts
1983 Graham Hughes
1985 Brian Horton & Chris White
1992 John Collier & Adrian Parrett
1994 Adrian Parrett
1997 Ian Todd & Andrew Appleby
2003 Andrew Appleby
2005 Chris Phillips & Mark Ryder
2006 Mark Ryder
2007 Mark Ryder, Asst. Alan Gosling & Stuart Buchan
Cub Leaders
1969 G Burgess
1976 Mrs Hammond & Mrs Hewitt
1977 Alan Draycott
1983 D Lambert
1984 Graham Worthington
1987 Jane Hedge, Dave Hedge
1989 Jane Hedge, Heather Chamberlain,
Adrian Parrett & Andrew Rawlin
1997 Barbara Rawlin & Helper/ Chef Peter Richardson
Beaver Leaders
1985 Jean Gardner & L Gresko
1986 Jean Gardner & Sue Shaw
1994 Jill & Bob Skelley
1998 Hazel Robinson
2000 Emma Gartside
2001 Peter Robinson & Nicola Carter
2002 Nicola Carter
2002 Zoe Medley
2004 Laura Bennett
2007 Sue Stott
Venture Unit
1994 John Collier & Barbara Rawlin
1997 Jane Hedge & Kate Fuller
Closed by re-organisation of Scout Movement age grouping.
Explorer Scouts created [14 - 18] run by District until 2006.
Explorer Unit [Became part of Scout Group 2006]
2006 Pam Page