Scouting in North West England - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Scouting in North West England is about Scouting

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

in the official region of North West England

North West England

North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...

. It is largely represented by the Scout Association

The Scout Association

The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...

of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

and some Groups of traditional Scouting

Traditional Scouting

The Traditional Scouting movement refers to a back to basics effort that returns Scouting to a scheme intentionally based on Baden-Powell's own model of Scouting; rejecting the world-wide trend to "modernize" Scouting in order to appeal to more youths. This movement is very popular in Canada and...

including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.

The Scout Association in North West England is administered through 8 Scout Counties.

University of Central Lancashire

University of Central Lancashire

The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...

SSAGO; Lancaster SSAGO, covering Lancaster University

Lancaster University

Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...

and University of Cumbria

University of Cumbria

The University of Cumbria is a university in Cumbria, England. Its headquarters are in Carlisle. and other major campuses are at Lancaster, Ambleside and Penrith. It was established in 2007, with roots extending back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and...

(formally St Martin's College

St Martin's College

St Martin's College was a British Higher Education College with campuses in Lancaster, Ambleside and Carlisle, as well as sites in Whitehaven, Barrow and London. It provided undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the arts, humanities, business studies, teacher training, health and social care...

); Students of Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

Association of Guides and Scouts, covering University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...

, Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...

(JMU), Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool Hope University is a university in Liverpool, England. Two of its three founding colleges were established in 1844 and 1856, the third opening in the 1960s. It is the only ecumenical university in Europe. Based on two campuses, the main campus is located in Childwall and the second...

and Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is, despite its young age, one of the United Kingdom's leading institutions for the performing arts. The university is situated in the English city of Liverpool...

(LIPA); and Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

SSAGO, covering the University of Manchester

University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...

, Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...

, the University of Salford

University of Salford

The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...

and University of Bolton

University of Bolton

The University of Bolton is a university in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It has around 14,000 students across all sites and courses, with 700 academic and professional staff. Around 70% of its students come from Bolton and the North West region...

; all affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation

Student Scout and Guide Organisation

The Student Scout and Guide Organisation exists to support Scouts, Guides, and people who have never been members of a Scout or Guide Association, who are students at Colleges and Universities in the United Kingdom and are interested in the aims, objectives, and methods of The Scout Association...

(SSAGO), are situated in North West England.

Cumbria Scout County

Cumbria is a Scout County concurrent with the political county of Cumbria

Cumbria

Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...

, and provides Scouting

Scouting

opportunities for young people and adults in the area around the English Lake District

Lake District

The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...

, including the town of Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...

, and the City of Carlisle

City of Carlisle

The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...

.

The County is currently divided into nine Scout District

Scout District

A Scout District is an administrative division within some Scouting and Guiding organisations.Districts are responsible for providing programme and support for local Scout and Guide groups, although the precise relationship and structure of a District does vary from country to country.-The Scout...

Barrow In Furness District
Duddon and High Furness District
Eden District
Kentdale District
Millom District
Reivers District
Solway/Derwent District
Western Lakes District
Workington District

District badges as worn on the uniform of Scouting members.

The Rawnsley Shield

The Rawnsley Shield is an annual competition for Scouts in the Reivers District in Cumbria Scout County. Starting in the 1920s its roots go back to Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley who donated the shield to Scouting. The format of the competition changes every year and has been: a camp, where you were marked on activities; a walk to Talkin Tarn

Talkin Tarn

Talkin Tarn is a glacial lake and country park in Cumbria, England. This lake was formed approximately 10,000 years ago by glacial action which formed this kettle hole lake and associated sand drumlins. Rowing and certain other water recreation are popular activities at Talkin Tarn. The rowing...

from Gelt Wood and activities at Talkin Tarn; or, recently, a pioneering contest. The current winners of the Rawnsley Shield is the 25th Carlisle.

Cheshire Scout County

Cheshire is a Scout County concurrent with the political county of Cheshire

Cheshire

Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...

, excluding Altrincham and Sale (Greater Manchester West) and Stockport (Greater Manchester East).

The County is currently divided into eleven Scout District

Scout District

Alderley District
Chester and District
Ellesmere Port and Neston District
Knutsford and District
Macclesfield And Congleton District
Mid Cheshire District
North West Cheshire District*
South West Cheshire District
Warrington East District
Warrington West District
Widnes and District*

In 2012, "North West Cheshire" and "Widnes and District" will merge to form "Mersey Weaver District"

District badges as worn on the uniform of Scouting members.

Alderley District Scout Band

Alderley District Scout Band, formed in 1963 with one bugle and drum, is a traditional marching and display band in based in Wilmslow

Wilmslow

-Economy:Wilmslow is well known, like Alderley Edge, for having many famous residents, notably footballers, stars of Coronation Street and rich North West businessmen. The town is part of the so-called Golden Triangle in the north west together with Alderley Edge and Prestbury...

, Cheshire

Cheshire

. It is in the Alderley Scout District of the Cheshire Scout County. The band takes part in competitions under the TYMBA

Traditional Youth Marching Bands Association

The Traditional Youth Marching Bands Association is an organization related to marching bands in the UK.It was formed in 1983 by a few like-minded friends who felt there was a need for an organisation to cater specifically for youth bands, which project a traditional British image and adopt a...

Traditional Youth Marching Bands Association

(TYMBA) and the British Youth Band Association

British Youth Band Association

The British Youth Band Association, or BYBA, was formed in 1974 by Glen Carter. It aims to promote the marching band activity, to encourage the social aspects of bands and to enhance personal development through all aspects of bands. BYBA has also set up rules for contests, and divided all marching...

(BYBA) rules, winning over 500 trophies including many Supreme Champions.

In 1984 and 1994 the band was invited to play at Windsor Castle in front of respectively Her Majesty the Queen and the Duchess of Kent. They have also appeared in the Royal Tournament, on Television, in the London Parade, the Lord’s Mayor of Manchester’s Parade and toured the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

in 1992 and Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

in 1995.

By 2000, the band has declined to under 10 members, only 3 of whom were under 25, and they could no longer compete. New members were recruited and from October 2003 it began competing again in competitions within TYMBA, and at local parades and fetes . In 2007, the Centenary year of Scouting, the band joined with the 1st Syston Scout and Guide Band to perform at the National Scout St George's Day

St George's Day

St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...

Parade at Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...

in front of the Queen. In November 2008 the band were crowned National Champions at the TYMBA National Finals, 10 years since they had last won the top award.

Cheshire Water Activities

Cheshire Water Activities is an independent organisation which supports Scouting in Cheshire. The Activities team provide training of leaders, and supervision of young people, in various water activities including kayaking

Kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...

, sailing

Sailing

Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...

, windsurfing

Windsurfing

Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...

, power boating

Motorboat

A motorboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.An inboard/outboard contains a hybrid of a...

, and offshore sailing.

East Lancashire Scout County

East Lancashire Scout County covers the industrial towns of East Lancashire.

The County contains 7 Scout Districts:

Blackburn
Burnley
Clitheroe
Darwen
Hyndburn
Rossendale
Pendle

Greater Manchester East Scout County

Greater Manchester East Scout County is one of three Scout Counties based in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...

. The area is divided into 10 Districts,covering the city of Manchester

Manchester

itself, Stockport

Stockport

Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...

, Tameside

Tameside

The Metropolitan Borough of Tameside is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after the River Tame which flows through the borough and spans the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley and Stalybridge. Its western...

, and Glossop

Glossop

Glossop is a market town within the Borough of High Peak in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the Glossop Brook, a tributary of the River Etherow, about east of the city of Manchester, west of the city of Sheffield. Glossop is situated near Derbyshire's county borders with Cheshire, Greater...

. Glossop is situated within the county boundaries of Derbyshire

Derbyshire

Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...

, but has been included in the area due to its close geographical position near the Greater Manchester conurbation.

The County contains 10 Scout District

Scout District

North Manchester and Medvale
Manchester South
Cheadle
Stockport
Goyt
Ladybrook Valley
Glossop
North Tameside
Tameside South Scout District (Denton & Hyde)
Tame Valley

Greater Manchester North Scout County

Greater Manchester North is one of three Scout Counties which cover the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

, and provides a Scouting

Scouting

programme to the towns of Bolton

Bolton

Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...

, Bury

Bury

Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...

, Farnworth

Farnworth

Farnworth is within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is located southeast of Bolton, 6 miles south-west of Bury , and northwest of Manchester....

, Heywood

Heywood, Greater Manchester

Heywood is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Roch and is east of Bury, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north of the city of Manchester. The town of Middleton lies to the south, whilst to the north is the...

, Middleton

Middleton, Greater Manchester

Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...

, Prestwich

Prestwich

Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury....

and Rochdale

Rochdale

Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...

, amongst others. The County Headquarters are in Middleton.

The County is currently divided into fifteen Scout District

Scout District

Bolton East
Bolton North
Bolton South
Bolton West
Bury
Chadderton
Crompton and Royton
Farnworth and District
Heywood
Middleton
Oldham
Prestwich and Whitefield
Radcliffe
Ramsbottom
Rochdale includes the neighbouring town of Milnrow
Milnrow
Milnrow is a suburban town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Beal at the foothills of the South Pennines, and forms a continuous urban area with Rochdale...

. The District provides Scouting for about 600 members in 14 Scout Groups.

Greater Manchester West Scout County

Greater Manchester West is one of three Scout Counties which cover the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

, and provides a Scouting

Scouting

programme to the metropolitan boroughs of Leigh

Leigh, Greater Manchester

Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....

, Salford

City of Salford

The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...

, Trafford

Trafford

The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 211,800, covers , and includes the towns of Altrincham, Partington, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston...

and Wigan

Metropolitan Borough of Wigan

The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. It is named after its largest component town, Wigan and also includes the towns of Leigh, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ince-in-Makerfield, and Hindley. The borough was formed in 1974 and is an...

.

Within the Scout County there are three Scout Groups listed among the 'first troops' founded in 1908:

1st Worsley (originally: 6th Eccles)
1st Flixton (L'Avenir)
1st Stretford (Longford)

The County is currently divided into nine Scout District

Scout District

Altrincham and District
Ellesmere
Lilford District Lilford District Scouts
Sale and District
Salford
Stretford
Swinton and Pendlebury
Urmston and District
Wigan and District

Atherton and Tyldesley and Leigh and District were merged on 1 October 2009 to form Lilford District.

Merseyside Scout County

Merseyside Scout County is a Scout County covering five Metropolitan Boroughs of Knowsley

Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley

The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England. It comprises the towns of Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton, Whiston, Halewood and Cronton; Kirkby, Huyton, and Prescot being the major commercial centres...

, St. Helens

St Helens, Merseyside

St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...

, Sefton, Wirral

Metropolitan Borough of Wirral

The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...

, and the City of Liverpool

Liverpool City Council

Liverpool City Council is the governing body for the city of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It consists of 90 councillors, three for each of the city's 30 wards. The council is currently controlled by the Labour Party and is led by Joe Anderson.-Domain:...

.

The County is divided into fifteen Scout District

Scout District

Allerton
Allerton, Merseyside
Allerton is a suburb of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England. It is located southeast of Liverpool city centre, bordered by Mossley Hill, Woolton, Hunts Cross and Garston....
Bebington
Bebington
Bebington is a small town and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It lies south of Liverpool and west southwest of Manchester, along the River Mersey on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula...
Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
Bootle
Bootle
Bootle is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England, and a 'Post town' in the L postcode area. Formally known as Bootle-cum-Linacre, the town is 4 miles to the north of Liverpool city centre, and has a total resident population of 77,640.Historically part of...

and District
Crosby
Crosby, Merseyside
Crosby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. Historically part of Lancashire it is situated north of Bootle, south of Southport, Formby and west of Netherton-History:...
Fairfield
Fairfield, Liverpool
Fairfield is an area of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England, encompassing streets between Tuebrook and Kensington and stretching to Old Swan. It consists of a variety of houses; there are some traditional red-brick terraces, larger Victorian villas and also the notable and rather wonderful 300...

and District
Formby
Formby
Formby is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It has a population of approximately 25,000....
Knowsley
Knowsley (village)
Knowsley is a large village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It is more commonly known as Knowsley Village....
Picton
Sefton East
Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
St Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...

and District
Wallasey
Wallasey
Wallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
Walton On The Hill
West Wirral
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...

On 1 April 2010 several of the above districts will cease to exist and become new larger districts, including Altside, Liverpool North, Liverpool South Liverpool East and Liverpool Central. This is part of the review that was carried out in the County in 2009.

Within Merseyside county, the Crosby district is also the home of the Crosby Scout and Guide Marina Club

Crosby Scout and Guide Marina Club

The Crosby Scout and Guide Marina Club, established in 1973, is a sailing and canoeing club located at Crosby Marina, in Cambridge Road, Waterloo, Merseyside, at the northern end of the Seaforth Freeport container terminal.-Crosby Marina:...

, who offer dinghy and kayak sailing to local youngsters, based at the newly rebuilt Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre opened in October 2009.

West Lancashire Scout County

West Lancashire Scout County is a Scout County covering half of Lancashire

Lancashire

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

, the other half being covered by East Lancashire Scout County with the two roughly separated by the M6

M6 motorway

The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...

.

The boundaries of Lancashire

Lancashire

were changed in 1974 as part of local government. Shortly after, the Scout Counties in Lancashire changed to reflect these border changes. West Lancashire Scout County was created from parts of the original North West and South West Lancashire Scout Counties. According to their 2006 census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

the Scout County had 9347 members within 154 Scout Groups.

The Scout County is sub-divided into the following eight districts:

Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
Chorley
Chorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
Fylde
The Fylde
The Fylde ; Scandinavian: "field") is a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England. It is roughly a 13-mile square-shaped peninsula, bounded by Morecambe Bay to the north, the Ribble estuary to the south, the Irish Sea to the west, and the Bowland hills to the east...
Lonsdale
Lonsdale
-People:*Angela Lonsdale*Bruce Lonsdale*Christopher Lonsdale*Corrine Lonsdale*David Lonsdale*Derrick Lonsdale*Earl of Lonsdale*Edmund Lonsdale*Frederick Lonsdale, English dramatist*Gordon Arnold Lonsdale*Gordon Lonsdale*Harvey Lonsdale Elmes...
Ormskirk
Ormskirk
Ormskirk is a market town in West Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Liverpool city centre, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston.-Geography and administration:...
Preston
South Ribble
South Ribble
South Ribble is a non-metropolitan district and borough of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Leyland.In May 2007, the council was officially declared "Excellent" by the Audit Commission, gaining its place among the best 5 district councils in the country,-Overview:On 4 October 2007, a...
Wyre
Wyre
Wyre is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Poulton-le-Fylde.The district is named after the River Wyre, which runs through the district...

The Scout County hosts Be Prepared: The Story of Scouting, the first purpose-built Scout museum

Scouting museums

Throughout the world there are many museums related to Scouting dedicated to preserving, communicating, and exhibiting the heritage of the Scouting movement for purposes of study, education, and enjoyment of society. A downloadable world directory of Scouting museums is available from the...

in the UK

United Kingdom

Mountaineering

The Scout County regularly runs a varied number of trips including training weekends in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

around the Cairngorms

Cairngorms

The Cairngorms are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain of the same name - Cairn Gorm.-Name:...

and smaller ski trips to the Alps

Alps

The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....

as well as Scotland

Scotland

Greenland

The Scout County is well known for their mountaineering adventure element of their program. Over the last few years two trips to Greenland

Greenland

Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...

have resulted in some assents of unclimbed peaks. The first trip, in 2004 featured a link up to Waddecar via a Sat phone during the campsite's birthday celebrations with the Chief Scout, the second during 2007 to Ren Land featured a far larger number of participants and a sea kayak element. The trips were approved by the Young Explorers Trust and the British Mountaineering Council

British Mountaineering Council

The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers...

. As well as the mountaineering and adventure side, scientific elements were also completed

International

Away from mountaineering the county also has run in the past trips to Uganda

Uganda

Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...

which aimed to complete a multi-purpose building to be used for health promotions, clinics for immunisation of the local population. The county has participant in International Jamboree

Jamboree (Scouting)

In Scouting, a jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts who rally at a national or international level.The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held in 1920, and was hosted by the United Kingdom...

, EuroJam and international trips to Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

, Belgium

Belgium

and Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

during recent years. They have also attended the Menin Gate

Menin Gate

The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium dedicated to the commemoration of British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of the First World War and whose graves are unknown...

memorials during November.

Ashworth Valley Camp Site

Ashworth Valley, which lies between Bury

Bury

Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...

and Rochdale

Rochdale

, was purchased in 1944 by Rochdale and Heywood Scout Association Districts. It was previously part of the estate of the Earl of Egerton. The comedian/songwriter Mike Harding

Mike Harding

Mike Harding is an English singer, songwriter, comedian, author, poet and broadcaster. He is known as 'The Rochdale Cowboy' after one of his hit records...

included a mention of "Ashy Valley" in his song about a Cub Scout

Cub Scout

A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...

going to camp.

Bispham Hall Scout Camp

Bispham Hall is a 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) Activity Centre situated almost midway between Manchester

Manchester

and Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

, near to the village of Billinge

Billinge

Billinge is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. It forms the larger part of the civil parish of Billinge Chapel End...

Bowley Scout Camp and Activity Centre

Bowley Scout Camp and Activity Centre, established in 1968, is managed by the East Lancashire Scout County of the Scout Association. The site, of 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) of former agricultural pasture, provides both camping sites and indoor accommodation . It has open views to Pendle Hill and the distant peaks within the Lake District National Park and North Yorkshire National Park. Activities on site include climbing walls, archery, rifle shooting, and grass sledges. A new eco-building is being constructed on site, being one of the first commercial/residential centres to be built out of straw bales.

Dunham Park Scout Camp

Dunham Park is a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) mixed woodland camp site located at Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey is a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. The parish includes the villages of Sinderland Green, Dunham Woodhouse and Dunham Town, along with Dunham Massey Park, formerly the home of the last Earl of Stamford and owned by the National Trust...

, near the town of Altrincham

Altrincham

Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...

, some 8 miles (12.9 km) south of the centre of Manchester.

Ennerdale Scout Centre

Ennerdale Scout Centre is owned and maintained by the Cumbria Scout Association County, and is located on the River Eden

River Eden, Cumbria

The River Eden is a river that flows through Cumbria, England on its way to the Solway Firth.-Course of river:The Eden rises in Black Fell Moss, Mallerstang, on the high ground between High Seat, Yorkshire Dales and Hugh Seat. Here it forms the boundary between the counties of Cumbria and North...

near to Ennerdale Water

Ennerdale Water

Ennerdale Water is the most westerly lake in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. It is a glacial lake, with a maximum depth of 45 metres , and at 700 to 1,500 metres wide and 3.9 kilometres is one of the smallest lakes in the area...

. The site only covers around 6 acres (24,281.2 m²), but offers a range of camping pitches, as well as some indoor accommodation for up to around 60 people. This site was previously owned by the former West Cumberland Scout County. For over 50 years, the Oxford University Scout and Guide Group

Oxford University Scout and Guide Group

The Oxford University Scout and Guide Group is the oldest student Scout and Guide club in the United Kingdom, being originally founded in 1919. When Rover Scouts were part of Scouting in the UK, the Group included a Rover Crew, the 13th Oxford...

has had a close association with the camp site, with students camping for a week before and after the summer camping season in the University Easter vacation and the university Summer vacation in September.

Great Tower Activity Centre

Great Tower Activity Centre is located on the eastern shore of Windermere

Windermere (lake)

Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It is a ribbon lake formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the start of the current interglacial. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere...

in the Lake District National Park

Lake District National Park

The Lake District National Park is located in the north-west of England and is the largest of the English National Parks and the second largest in the United Kingdom. It is in the central and most-visited part of the Lake District....

. While it is located in the Cumbria Scout Association County, as from 1st April 2011, Great Tower Scout Activity Centre joined the National Activity Centres programme and is owned and managed by The Scout Association

The Scout Association

. The site covers an area of 250 acres (1 km²).

Greater Manchester North Scout Association Camp sites

Dog Hill Scout and Community Camp Site in Shaw

Shaw and Crompton

Shaw and Crompton is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Beal at the foothills of the South Pennines, north of Oldham, southeast of Rochdale, and to the northeast of the city of Manchester...

, Oldham and Bibby's Farm Scout Camp and Activity Centre near Chorley but administered by the Scout districts in Bolton are available to scouts, guides and other youth organisations in Greater Manchester North Scout County or elsewhere. There is also Giants Seat camp site run by Radcliffe District.

Linnet Clough Scout Camp

Linnet Clough Scout Camp is situated on the Derbyshire

Derbyshire

and Cheshire

Cheshire

boarder near the towns of Marple

Marple

Marple may refer to:As a place:* Marple, Greater Manchester* Marple Bridge, a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England.* Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in the United StatesAs a surname:...

and Stockport

Stockport

Developed from a working dairy farm, Linnet Clough is an all year round Scout activity centre and camp site with facilities for a multitude of outdoor activities.

there are 17 ¼ acres of camping fields surrounded on three sides by woods and plantations of trees to provide shelter and windbreaks on the fields. There are three main fields. There is normally a field warden resident in the camping area. There is a large "Storm Hut" which can be used in adverse weather conditions.

Middlewood Scout Camp

Middlewood Scout Camp is situated near the town of Worsley

Worsley

Worsley is a town in the metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies along the course of Worsley Brook, west of Manchester. The M60 motorway bisects the area....

, near the Bridgewater Canal

Bridgewater Canal

The Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, in North West England. It was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester...

.

Middlewood has a large number of varied size camping pitches, ranging from large sites suitable for district or group events down to small sites suited to patrol camping. The campsite features a modern toilet block with a hot water supply and showers.

Two buildings, Cunliffe Lodge and the Cub Hut are also available. Cunliffe Lodge, the larger building, features a fully equipped kitchen, a main activities/dining hall, three bunkrooms (sleeping 15, 6 and 4), male and female bathrooms and central heating. The Cub Hut features a small kitchen and dining room, a lounge with tables and chairs, two bunkrooms sleeping six and four and a leaders room.

One of Middlewood's main features is the large boating lake, co-leased with Broughton Angling Club. Scouts can use the lake for canoeing, kayaking, rafting and fishing. The site also has a rifle range and a large selection of pioneering poles. The Camp Team run open campfires with songs and campfire stunts on Saturday evenings during camping season.

Moor Crag Water Activity Centre

Moor Crag Activity Centre is based on the eastern shore of Windermere

Windermere

Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...

, near to Great Tower Activity Centre. It provides a base for a wide variety of waterborne activities. Accommodation is available in a residential block at the centre, the Waterside Wood Chalet. Alternatively camping is generally arranged at Great Tower.

The activity centre has 68 m of water frontage along the shore of Windermere, which includes 2 jetties and a boat house / wet dock, which is used to house the control room and safety craft. Canoes, Kayaks and Sailing boats are owned by the centre, and are available for hire.

Ratlingate International Camping Centre

Ratlingate International Camping Centre is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the city of Carlisle, and is owned and maintained by Reivers Scout Association District. The site consists of 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) of camping field, with a further 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) in mixed woodland pitches. It originally had a wooden hut, which burnt down and so was replaced with a building at the top of the campsite which has kitchens, toilets and dormitorys. Nearly all Reivers camps take place at Ratlingate, including the recent Centenary Camp where over 250 people attended. Its woods can hold many activities from backwoods cooking to pioneering, and is regularly used for orienteering competitions.

Tawd Vale Scout Campsite

Tawd Vale Scout Campsite is a campsite of the Merseyside Scout County. Named after the River Tawd, which flows through the camp, it consists of 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in West Lancashire. The site is currently run by the County's ACC Tawd Vale, along with the assistance of a number of volunteers. The site has undergone improvements in 2009.

Waddecar Scout Camp

Waddecar Scout Camp is located in the Forest of Bowland

Forest of Bowland

The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...

, in the parish of Goosnargh

Goosnargh

Goosnargh is a village and civil parish on the north side of Preston, Lancashire, England. The village lies between Broughton and Longridge, and mostly lies in the civil parish of Whittingham, although the ancient centre lies in the civil parish of Goosnargh...

, north of Preston in Lancashire

Lancashire

. The site has a large number of woodland pitches, as well as fields, allowing almost 1,000 Scouts to camp simultaneously. There are also a number of building offering indoor accommodation.

Waddecar has several buildings that can be hired out by Scout Groups and other youth organisations. These include Helme Lodge and Jubilee Base. Waddecar also has several large areas for pitching tents including the Training Field and the recently acquired Bill's Meadow. The site also offers a number of activities, including Abseiling

Abseiling

Abseiling , rappelling in American English, is the controlled descent down a rock face using a rope; climbers use this technique when a cliff or slope is too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection.- Slang terms :...

, Climbing

Climbing

Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...

, an Obstacle Course, Archery

Archery

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...

, Cycle

Bicycle

A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....

Hire, and an Air Rifle

Air gun

An air gun is a rifle , pistol , or shotgun that fires projectiles by means of compressed air or other gas, in contrast to a firearm, which burns a propellant. Most air guns use metallic projectiles as ammunition. Air guns that only use plastic projectiles are classified as airsoft...

Shooting Range.

West Lancashire Scout Association District Campsites

As well as the larger County activity centres listed above, smaller centres are owned and run by Scout Districts. Mowbreck Campsite is run by Blackpool District. Fylde District has an Activity Barn at its District HQ. Lonsdale District has two activity centres: the T.W. Helme Memorial Activity Centre at Littledale and the SilverHelme Activity Centre.

Gang Shows

The Barrow

Barrow-in-Furness

Gang Show is a relatively new Gang Show

Gang Show

A Gang Show is a theatrical performance with a cast of youth members of Scouts and sometimes Guides too, by invitation. Adult leaders and parents help out behind the scenes. The aim of the shows is to give young people in Scouting and Guiding the opportunity to develop performance skills and...

, starting in 1995.

Birkenhead

Birkenhead

Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...

Gang Show, started in 1961, brought the show to London for its 50th Anniversary.

The Blackpool

Blackpool

Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...

Gang Show was first staged in 1961. It has appeared at the Opera House, Grand Theatre & Pavilion Theatre, then from 2005, the Globe Theatre. It was visited by the Gang Show founder Ralph Reader

Ralph Reader

William Henry Ralph Reader CBE , known as Ralph Reader, was a British actor, theatrical producer and songwriter, best known for staging the original Gang Show, a variety entertainment presented by members of the Scouting Movement.Reader was born in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, the son of a...

at the Opera House. It has a cast of over 100 members from all sections of the Scout Association and Girlguiding UK along with leaders from both Associations.

Chester

Chester

Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...

Gang Show started in 1954.

Congleton

Congleton

Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...

Gang Show started in 1972 and runs ever two years.

The Crewe

Crewe

Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...

Gang Show originated in 1938, although the South West Cheshire Scout District had been running an evening of entertainment for attendees of their Annual General Meeting

Annual general meeting

An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...

for many years beforehand. In 1949, it was performed at the New Theatre

Lyceum Theatre (Crewe)

The Lyceum Theatre is an Edwardian theatre in Heath Street, Crewe, Cheshire, England. It originated as a converted Roman Catholic Church in 1876. The church was replaced in 1887 by a purpose-built theatre, which burnt down in 1910. The theatre was rebuilt the following year, and was refurbished...

, Crewe. This venue has continued to 2008, which will mark the 70th Anniversary. The Gang Show was awarded the privilege of using the coveted Red Necker in 1964. Ralph Reader, the man behind the original Gang Show held in 1931, visited the Crewe Gang Show in 1980, and wrote in a letter, "With no hesitation, I say again, it was one of the finest Gang Shows I have ever seen". The 2006 show included 23 Cub Scouts and 62 Scouts

Scout Section (UK)

The Scout section is the direct descendant of the original Scout Patrols which formed The Scout Association of the United Kingdom in 1908. The section is open to both boys and girls between the ages of 10½-14 years, and are now formed into local Scout Troops.Scout Troops form part of a Scout Group...

and Leaders as the cast, and many others as production crew.

Knutsford

Knutsford

Knutsford is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in North West England...

Gang Show started in 1986.

1st Marple

Marple, Greater Manchester

Marple is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Goyt southeast of Stockport.Historically part of Cheshire, Marple has a population of 23,480 .-Toponymy:...

Scout Group, with Marple Guides, are involved in the Marple Gang Show in the Carver Theatre. This show has been running continuously for over 40 years, and is nationally recognised via the Red Knecker scheme.

The Mid-Cheshire Gang Show, covering the towns of Northwich

Northwich

Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...

, Winsford

Winsford

Winsford is a town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich, and grew around the salt mining industry after the river was canalised in the...

and Middlewich

Middlewich

Middlewich is a market town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is east of the city of Chester, east of Winsford, southeast of Northwich and northwest of Sandbach....

in Cheshire

Cheshire

is one of the newest Gang shows, starting in 2007. In March 2011, after the third bi-annual production, it was awarded the coveted Red Knecker.

St. Helens

St Helens, Merseyside

Gang Show held its first show at the Theatre Royal, St. Helens in 1964, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2004 and continues in the same location. It now has over 100 members of the Scout and Guide movement in the cast.

The Warrington

Warrington

Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...

Gang Show started in 1951. In 2008, it celebrated its 50th production along with the centenary of scouting. Up until 1992 Warrington Gang Show was performed at Crosfields Centenary Theatre in Warrington, but moved to Warrington's Parr Hall in 1991 when Crosfields was closed and demolished. This venue has been Warrington Gang Show's home since.

West Wirral Gang Show started in 1990.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Cumbria Scout County

The Rawnsley Shield

Cheshire Scout County

Alderley District Scout Band

Cheshire Water Activities

East Lancashire Scout County

Greater Manchester East Scout County

Greater Manchester North Scout County

Greater Manchester West Scout County

Merseyside Scout County

West Lancashire Scout County

Mountaineering

Greenland

International

Ashworth Valley Camp Site

Bispham Hall Scout Camp

Bowley Scout Camp and Activity Centre

Dunham Park Scout Camp

Ennerdale Scout Centre

Great Tower Activity Centre

Greater Manchester North Scout Association Camp sites

Linnet Clough Scout Camp

Middlewood Scout Camp

Moor Crag Water Activity Centre

Ratlingate International Camping Centre

Tawd Vale Scout Campsite

Waddecar Scout Camp

West Lancashire Scout Association District Campsites

Gang Shows

See also

External links