Isle of Ely / Ely

Cambridge District Scout Archive

1911 – date

Cumulative notes

 The Beginning

Ely District appears to have been formed in 1911.

Two troops are known to have stepped out of the very large Cambridge District at this date:

• 2^nd Cambridge District            (1^st Ely)
• 7^th Cambridge District             (Sutton)

Oddly one troop and pack was formed in 1914 but is recorded as having transferred to Ely District in 1916.  This is Little Downham north of Ely

• 19^th Cambridge District          (Downham, St Leonard’s)

Reports about the 1911 Cambridge Rally mention

• Soham Troop
• 1st Wisbech

But it is not known if they were part of Cambridge District or became part of Ely District at this date.  A Wisbech District started at an unknown date but Wisbech St Mary and Wisbech St Paul were Ely Parish’s alongside March, Chatteris, Wilburton and Littleport.   It is possible that they were part of Ely District before Wisbech District started.

• 6^th Cambridge District is assumed, the 5th and 7th existed, but no name has been attached to this number nor is it clear that it was a troop near Ely.

Growth

The 10^th Ely (Kings School) started in 1916 with Headmaster T J Kirkland as SM.  They were active in 1921 acting as Guard of Honour to the Crown Prince of Japan.  See ‘The Elean’ for details.

The following is taken from letters to County Secretary (Prof.) Patrick Duff.  He was County Sec from 1945/6 to 1974 and the only source of the details of these Cambridgeshire Districts within Cambridge District Archives. Some early annual reports/ contact lists remain.

In 1948 it was confirmed or agreed that warrants be passed directly to Cambridge and Newmarket Districts and those of  South Cambs., West Cambs., March, Wisbech and Ely go through PD.  There is some peripheral mention of Cambridge or County material, and a few about Newmarket.

The dates do not suggest the founding date for each group but the dates in which they were mentioned.  All they give is a date at which it was active.

Isle of Ely / Ely           Founded 1911

Rechristened Ely c 1947.  Note 1950 HQ wanting someone ‘helping to Revive Ely District’ (re someone living in Ely but ASM 1^st March)

• Sutton in the Isle founded 18/11/1943, 22616 Ely & District Open.  All three leaders were based at RAF Mepal, Ely, all of 75 (NZ) Sqd. RAF.  Base closed 1963

• Sutton in the Isle                                             1951 (renewed scouting)  ‘54, ‘55, ‘56
• 1^st Ely                                                               CSM School Gp  1954  1955    1965 ‘73
• 1^st Littleport                                                    1956
• 2^nd Ely                                                             1956
• 3^rd Ely                                                              1965
• 4^th Ely                                                              1965
• 5^th Ely                                                              1965
• 10^th Ely (Kings School                                     1965    ‘73
• 1^st St Leonard Little Downham                       1958    1973
• 1^st Little Downham                  1973
• 1^st Soham                                                        1963    Lionel R Hart
• 1^st Haddenham                                                1967    1968    1971    1974(restarted ’74 after a lapse of 1 or 2 years)
• Ely District Rover Crew                                   1956
• 1^st Witchford                                                   1960
• Stretham Gp                                                    1961
• 2^nd Soham                                                        1974
• 1^st Mepal                                                         6/1973 Pack (Initial title 2/73 Mepal & Witcham – not reg as such)
• 1^st Sutton                                                         1972    1974
• 1^st Stuntney (pack)                                          1974
• Ely VSU                                                            1974    (ADC VS Newmarket & Ely same person)

Clearly numbers are missing, the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Ely very obviously so.

DC      

• No DC 1956
• DC       Ernest Wimpenny                   19/6/1958
• DC       Lionel Hart      ?          (Soham)           1968
• DC       Rev Edward de Toësny Wingfield Longford ex DC of Ely (no dates)

JWR Archivist Mar 2023