Centenary

8th St Marylebone Scout Group celebrates 100 years of quality Scouting in St John's Wood.

On the 1st October 1921 the first meeting of the 8th St Marylebone Scout Group took place in Capland Street School. Led by Leslie J. Kirby and a few scouters who broke away from the 5th St Marylebone (known as The Dandy 5th). The Group got off to a lightning start with a Boy Scout Troop and a Wolf Cub Pack.

By January 1922 the Group had achieved 3 main goals - received it's official registration from HQ, published the very first edition of the 'Diehard' magazine and also received a letter from the Middlesex Regiment giving permission for the Scout Group to adopt their Soubriquet and be known as 'The Diehards' (we have since been granted indefinite usage of this soubriquet for as long as the group exists).

So here we are some 100 years on, still going strong and to commemorate the event we have a special Centenary badge which can be worn by all members of the Group over the left pocket for the duration of our celebrations and afterwards on your kit bag or camp blanket.

The badge design is based on the original shape of the first Diehard Group badge, depicting the original Scout Logo from 1921 and the current Scout logo. It is a badge to be worn with pride!

Our founder Les (LJK) had a favourite word - stickability and by this he meant that you should stick at what you are doing, never giving up and in turn it helps you to form the friendships which will last a lifetime. The values which our young people learn today are equally as important as those taught in the past, they learn to be self sufficient, honourable, trustworthy, good team players and good leaders all under the framework of enjoying the indoor and outdoor life.

Now that we have passed the 100 years who knows what lies ahead, members the Group have laid a big foundation for it to continue way into the 21st Century and beyond.

There is so much to reflect upon in the history of our Scout Group, so why not browse through our archives? You'll find all the links in the footer, below.

Yesterday is history.Tomorrow is a mystery.Enjoy today, it's a gift -that's why we call it the present!