TWO Scouting historians are compiling archives to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the movement in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester.

Weymouth first became a Scouting district, originally comprising 32 boys, in 1909 – two years after the first Scouting movement began at Brownsea island near Poole.

The first Dorchester Scout group was also established in 1909 and will be celebrating its first 100 years with camp outs in Dorset and an overseas trip.

Mike Greenham of the Weymouth Scouts and John Gage of the Dorchester Scouts are also preparing to mark the historical milestones by publishing histories on each area’s Scouting movements and arranging reunions for old Scouts and their families.

Mr Gage, 63, was a Scout leader for 40 years and still assists in running the Dorchester group.

He said: “Times have changed an awful lot but there are still a number of kids who like to get involved in Scouting as well as taking part in outdoors activities.

“I think it’s important to be able to look back at these things and that’s why I think it’s important to mark this anniversary.”

Mr Gage is currently seeking old scouts and their families to attend a service at St Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester on May 17 at 3pm.

Anyone wishing to attend should contact Mr Gage on 01305 267727.

Dorchester Scouts will also camp out at Crossways near Dorchester over the May Bank Holiday and will be taking a trip to Austria in July.

Mr Greenham has also been looking back over the history of Scouting in Weymouth and is trying to arrange a similar reunion for the Weymouth and Portland district.

Scouting archivist Mr Greenham, 58, says he is also looking to find people who have photographs and documentation from the district’s scouting past.

He said: “I think there’s a feeling of ‘once a Scout, always a Scout’ and lots of people have tried to compile these kinds of histories before.

“The problem is that bits and pieces end up all the over place, so it would be a great help for people to get in touch if they have any old photographs or archive materials from scouting in the area.”

Anyone with information or archive material on Scouting in Dorchester, or who wishes to attend the reunion, should call Mr Gage on 01305 267727.

Anyone with similar information on Weymouth and Portland should contact Mr Greenham on 01305 813244.

Mr Gage wished to thank fellow researcher Eileen Dickson for her help and Mr Greenham also extended his thanks to people who have helped him in his research.

A CENTURY OF HISTORY

The Dorchester Commercial Scout Troop was founded in May 1909 – the same year that the Weymouth and Portland First Scouts district was also established.

The Dorchester troop took part in the coronation celebrations for King George in June 1911 and the area’s first Wolf Cub pack was set up a year later.

The Second Weymouth Scout Troop was also formed in 1912, a year after a new scouting ‘rule’ for young members was also created.

Scouts in Weymouth held their first Gang Show in 1938 at the Alexandra Gardens.

The Dorchester troop stopped meeting for several years in the 1920s but was later started up again in the 1930s.

In 1942, war service patrols of Scouts aged 15 to 18 were instituted to complete advanced training in unarmed combat and the use of weapons in order to play a part in defending the county if necessary during the Second World War.

The Isle of Portland Air and Sea Scout Group was formed with 11 leaders in 1943.

Local Scouts assisted in the coronation of the Queen in 1953, roughly five years before the Weymouth District Rover Scout Group was registered.

In Dorchester the first amalgamation of the first and seventh troops was completed in 1974.