7th Airedale (St. Margaret’s) have been scouting in Horsforth for over 100 years. The first mention of our Scout Troop was in 1909 and our first Scout Camp was in 1911, it is believed we are the oldest group that still exists in Shire Oak District. The Scout Troop was first registered with ”Imperial Headquarters” in January 1924 and comprised of 16 Scouts and 1 leader, they were joined by a Wolf Cub Pack of 16 Cubs and 1 leader in February 1927.
In 1928 Scouting was Formalised into Groups as it is today with the Scout Troop and Cub Pack combining under a joint registration to form 7th Airedale (St. Margaret’s) Scout Group under the leadership of a Group Scout Master (Later known as a Group Scout Leader and now known as a Group Lead Volunteer) comprising of 15 Cubs, 27 Scouts, 7 Rover Scouts, and 4 leaders.
Our First Group Scout Master was the local Reverend of St Margaret’s Church, and our group has retained an association with St Margaret’s church in our name ever since.
The Group has maintained a Scout Troop and Cub Pack continlously ever since they started, with the addition of a Beavers Colony in the 1990’s, in the Mid 1970’s there were 3 Cub Packs operating as part of the 7th and 2 Scout Troops for several years and from 1974 a Venture Scout Unit was added to the Group.
We would love to hear from anyone who has been associated with 7th Airedale (St. Margaret’s) over the last 100 years and in particular if you have any stories or photographs to share with us to enable us to expand this section, email history@7thairedalescouts.org.uk
Many Thanks to The Scout Association Heritage Department for proving details and documents for this page.
