37th Cambridge (Swavesey): Outline History

Cambridge District Scout Archive

This Scout Group is the only one to use 37th Cambridge.  A Swavesey troop was in existence as the 10th Cambridge District in around 1918 – 1919 and a pack in 1918.  They were both gone by 1922 when the number was used by Gamlingay and probably a couple of years before.  

The 37th Cambridge (Swavesey) existed for two periods before becoming 1st Swavesey.  

  • 1929 – 1930
  • 1956 – 1959    which continued unbroken as 1st Swavesey.

1929 – 1930

Recorded as a re registration on 29/8/1929 there are no details of an earlier registration.  This troop returned census figures for Cubs and Scouts for 1929 and was recorded as being defunct in 1930.

  • Mr Charles Wood Headmaster          Swavesey
  • Mr C Vincent   Assistant Editor Cambridge Independent
  • Rev C F Stebbing

Census returns

  • Cubs 1929
  • Scouts 1929

1956 – 1958

This iteration returned census figures for Cubs and Scouts for the years 1957 – 1958 only.  It held the HQ number 32640.

It is recorded as being founded in 1956, orange scarf, and both Cubs and Scouts meeting at Taylors Lane

  • A I Lee             Scouter I/C

Census returns

  • Cubs 1957 – 58
  • Scouts 1957 – 58

1st Swavesey/ Swavesey

1959 – 1967 and 1979 –

It is not clear if this was a formal re registration of name, the HQ number stayed the same, or a local change in usage.  The switch to ‘1st Village’ or ‘Village’ was seen across much of the District around this date.   As 1st Swavesey (occasionally Swavesey) they returned Census figures for

  • Cubs    1959 – 1967
  • Scouts  1959 – 1961

And again

  • Cubs    1979 – 1984
  • Scouts  1983 – 1984

Figures ended in 1984.  In 1983 the large Cambridge District split into three and Swavesey moved into Cambridge: Crafts Hill District and out of the records of Cambridge District.

JWR Archivist July 2022