Preface
“We are Birds of a Feather – Whitton Town is Our Home”. So runs the first line of one of Ralph Reader’s Gang Show songs. This song was adopted by the Group’s “Our Show” Gang as its anthem and sung in every one of our 62 shows. The term ”Birds of a Feather” epitomises what belonging to the 2nd Whitton Scout Group means and is as true today as it was eighty years ago. Every member who has worn the Green scarf with the White border has been proud to do so and has been united in their love for Scouting and the Scout Group to which they belonged.
It is a privilege to be able to write this short introduction and to be followed by my father’s preface which he wrote in the early Sixties – his words still ring true. Finally I pay tribute to Keith Hicks who wrote a history of the first thirty years and whose work is incorporated in this record.
Geoff Benge (Group President and former Group Scout Leader)
” It is because I believe that the present and future members of the 2nd Whitton Scout Group and their families should be informed and sometimes reminded of the wonderful effort, sacrifice and achievement which has been contributed by group members and a number of very loyal friends and parents in the past, to make possible the proud position which the group holds today, that I am writing this record of events and activities since the start in 1936 to the present day.
It is my hope that the record will be continued and form part of a log for the future when one can look forward to even greater achievements in the years which lie ahead”
Fred “Kim” Benge (Founder member and Group Scout Leader 1936-8 and 1949-67)
