London Assembly & New Years Day Parade
Centenary of Scouting
Thursday 25 January 2007
On the evening of Thursday 25th January, Dean Milton along with representatives from the County team, Chingford District and Hornchurch District, attended a reception in the presence of HRH Duke of Kent, at the London Assembly to mark the Centenary of Scouting in London.
The evening was hosted by Councillor Brian Coleman, Chairman of the London Assembly to recognise the tremendous voluntary work of the Scout Movement in providing education, skills and enjoyment to thousands of young Londoners.
The Chief Scout Peter Duncan was also in attendance and spent the evening “mingling” with the many young people and leaders who were invited.
New Years Day Parade in London
1 January 2007
The Scouting centenary was started in style with the London Jamboree Units taking part in the New Years Day Parade.
The 21st World Scout Jamboree being held at Hylands Park, Essex in the summer will be the first time in 32 years that the whole of the six London Counties will be taking part in an event together, the last being the London Gangshow in 1974.
On a cold winter’s morning, over 300 unit members and leaders gathered on the Embankment in full uniform and wearing UK Contingent scarves - presumably the first time so many have had an outing at once, to join in what would be the most memorable start to Scouting’s Centenary. The flags and banners of the Centenary, the Jamboree, the UK Contingent and the English, Welsh and Scottish nations were flown along with the Union Flag.
A procession of Scouts chanting “ogy ogy ogy” and singing campfire songs paraded the 2.2 mile route through the streets of London enjoying the incredible atmosphere and entertaining the crowds. Taking the lead of our parade was Enfield Scout Band led by bandmaster Richard Bennett. With the band playing and scouts singing you soon knew that the centenary had arrived.
Over 550,000 people lined the streets to watch the parade, more than 500 TV stations, in 50 countries were fed live coverage of the event via satellite – with many more watching live on the web.
London’s Scouting family certainly showed the world that the centenary is here!