First Birkirkara Scout Group's 90th anniversary celebrations

To mark its 90th anniversary this year, the First Birkirkara Scout Group held a reunion at its headquarters for its former Leaders and Scouts last month.

Founded in November 1916, the Group was inspected by Lord Methuen on August 18, 1918, and had its colours presented to it the following October 14.

Over time, many of the Birkirkara Scout Group's leaders went on to meet key figures of the Scout movement from the Commonwealth and beyond, particularly the founder Lord Baden Powell in 1937, and King George VI in 1943.

In February 1964, the then Chief Scout of the Commonwealth, Sir Charles Maclean, inaugurated the new Group headquarters.

In August 1985 the Birkirkara Scouts acquired new headquarters which were inaugurated on November 24, 1991, by President Censu Tabone. In addition, the Scout Group secured a lease of 49 years for a campsite at Bahar ic-Caghaq in the summer of 2002.

This year's reunion for the current Group members and the "old boys" was the perfect opportunity to reminisce about the good old days and talk about ongoing activities and training with the younger generation of Scouts.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, a district church parade was held. Scout groups from Siggiewi, Valletta, Dingli, Attard, St Venera and Hamrun took part, as well as the 23rd Birkirkara Girl Guides, the Hamrun Lyceum Scout Group and the St Augustine College Scout Group.

President and Mrs Edward Fenech Adami, the Chief Scout Vince Cassar and the Central District Commissioner Josef Custò attended the parade, which was followed by a Thanksgiving Mass at St Helen's Basilica, celebrated by the Provost, Canon Anton Cassar.