11th/9th Cambridge – Outline History

Cambridge District Scout Archive

1959 – date

Amalgamation           11^th/9^th Cambridge                                        1959                (17761)

‘In 1960 Charlie Wood was in failing health. He rang Alan McKenzie, Scout Leader of the 11th Cambridge Scout Troop and asked if the two troops could be merged. The combined troop was to be known as the 11th/9th. Soon afterwards in March 1961 Charlie Wood died.’ (From Jonathan Yates History 2003)

The 9^th had been inoperative for 18 months at this date and HQ regarded this as a change of name not an amalgamation.  The date of amalgamation was 27/08/1959.          The HQ number did not alter with the amalgamation, something that tended to occur with fundamental changes in a group.

The years between 1959 and the start of Alan McKenzie’s archive records from 1969 are not well documented in the central archive.

1966

In 1966 the Group were looking for a new place to meet.  The Lilley family had provided space at 11 West Road for over 30 years.  It was with the death of Mrs. Lilley that the group needed a new meeting place.  The 9th’s HQ in Mill Lane had been lost to University expansion.  They were to start meeting at Castle End Mission on Pound Hill, ahead of the opening of Newnham Croft Scout and Guide centre in 1975.  Jonathan Yates described it as ‘rather drafty’.  An in-house magazine the ‘Pound Hill Pioneer’ ran during this period.

Amalgamation II        2^nd Cambridge (Newnham) Cubs      1968

In September 1968 an amalgamation with the 2^nd Cambridge was approved by District.  It was stated that the 11^th/9^th should form a Cub pack and the 2^nd be cancelled.    The 2^nd Cambridge (Newnham), long established in Newnham and associated with St Mark’s Church, had not run a troop since reforming post WW2.  This coming together of the pack and troop, whilst not as feted as that of the 11^th and 9^th, was a significant development in the group – no Cambridge troop survived beyond this date without an associated pack, except those in secondary schools.

Whilst the Group did not move into the new building in Newnham until 1975 blueprints to build on the Newnham Croft site were in existence by 1969.

1975

The new HQ was opened at Newnham Croft School.  It was built with a fund in part provided by ex. DC and CC and long term SL of 9^th Cambridge Rev C T Wood, Dean of Queens’.  The Scout and Guide centre housed Guides and Brownies from the start.  The in- house magazine became the Croft Courier, newssheet of the Newnham Scout and Guide Centre.

Camping

A list of camps was compiled for the years 1946 – 1976.   In some years only one or two camps were recorded and often just locally.  It may be that these were retrospective recollections and not contemporaneous records – the small camps assumed but specifics forgotten.  However, the Summer camp of 1969 was at Abington and no other camps were recorded that year.  It may be that the Troops camping skills were at low ebb.  The County camp (competition) was often recorded as were Morley Trophy camps.  One boy attended WSJ 1975 Norway.  The Troop did not camp abroad.

Notable Leaders

Three members of the 11^th, 9^th and 11^th/9^th leadership team stand out

• Rev C T Wood                                                 DC, CC, SL 9^th                          9^th
• Lt Col Mainwaring MC, MA                DC, CC, Silver Wolf                 11^th/9^th
• F A J (Alan) McKenzie (often rendered Mackenzie even ‘in house’ and known as Mac.)                                                     DC, CC, Silver Wolf                 11^th, 11^th/9^th 

Rev C T Wood was entirely associated with the 9^th 1910 – 1961.  His influence is still felt today. He proposed that the Cambridge Scout Association have its own headquarters. As a result premises in Grafton Street were acquired. These were later sold and the present District Headquarters in Perne Road purchased. He was also instrumental in the purchase of land at Abington as a county campsite.

Col Mainwaring clearly had a scouting history whilst a member of the Army but before his relatively short association with the 11^th/9^th.  His Silver Wolf suggests a 40+ year involvement, predating his Cambridge associations.

Alan McKenzie was involved for 77 years from 1932 until 2009, but for WW2 service.  His essential role is recognised by the addition of a flash of McKenzie tartan on the group scarf.

JWR Archivist Jan 2023