Cambridge District Scout Archive
In 1963 the 20th Cambridge was named as District Senior Scouts and that over the past year 43 Scouts from 13 Groups had attended meetings. The records of this registration have not yet been located and further details of the Troop are missing.
In 1964 and 1966 it was recorded that the District Senior Scout Troop was based at Perne Road. They were recorded on Census returns in 1965, 1966 and 1967 but without numbers, members being attached and counted by their home Troops.
A number of uncut 20th name tags are in the 5th Cambridge (Perse School) Archives. They give no more than ’20th Cambridge’. They were amongst other artefacts associated with Bob Eden once of the 5th who, with David Loades also of the 5th, ran an ‘experimental’ District Senior Scout Troop. In the Perne Road headquarters a large wooden chest resides with 20th Cambridge Scouts Seniors painted on the lid. Evidence that some resources were held by the Group.
The ‘experimental (and somewhat unofficial) group’ referred to by Bob Eden was clearly accepted by District. If it was a non standard format, for co-ordinating district wide Senior Scout events or sharing skills across groups, nevertheless the district felt confident enough to record its existence in the annual HQ census.
In 1963 there were only 14 Troops with Senior Scout Troops. To attract members from 13 of them demonstrates both a widespread knowledge amongst GSMs and SMs and a willingness to pass this on to the Scouts.
The end of Senior Scouting and start of Venture Scouts in 1967 ended the District Senior Scouts. David Loades completed his PhD and by the end of the 1960’s was teaching at other universities.
The 20th number has not been used since.
JWR Archivist Aug 2022
Cambridge District Scout Archive 