About

November 2008 marked the 100th anniversary of the 1st Purley (Princess Christian’s Own) Scout Group.

Boys living in Purley were organised by Frank Beckett into one of the world’s earliest Scout Troops.  In 1908, the Purley, Coulsdon and District Baden-Powells’ Scout Troop met in a disused barn at Stoats Nest Farm.  On 31st March 1909, they formed an escort to the Guard of Honour at the opening of Purley Cottage Hospital by Princess Christian (pictured left) a daughter of Queen Victoria.

Boys were encouraged to learn, practise and enjoy camp craft, woodcraft, first aid and signalling, also to be independent and to be useful community members in the true spirit of the Scout movement. On 29th January 1910, an express train crashed at Stoats Nest Station.  Scouts playing football nearby ran to help in whatever way they could—first aid, stretcher carrying, taking messages and generally doing anything that was required of them by the police or railway officials.  The boys were aged from 11—14.  The Chief Scout awarded the Movement’s Medal of Merit to the entire Troop.

So many boys wanted to join the Troop after this, that it became necessary to split it into three divisions.  The division that was to remain the 1st Purley moved to the Memorial Hall on the Brighton Road. From October 1910, Princess Christian allowed her name to be used in the Troop’s title—1st Purley (Princess Christian’s Own) Scout Group and a crown to be worn on the uniform.

The 1st Purley Scout Group moved to the current scout hut in Purley Park Road during the 1930s.  A Wolf Cub Pack was introduced for younger boys in 1916, with the Beavers starting in 1982 for boys aged 6—8.  Boys today still learn a lot of the same skills and values they were taught 100 years ago.

Information Courtesy of The Bourne Society

1st Purley (Princess Christian’s Own) Scout Group
– The first, the best AND approved by Royalty!!