Calling all past Scouts

This year the Scouts Association of Malta celebrates 100 years of scouting. Lord Baden Powel first set up scouting for boys when he took the first group of young lads to Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, south of England, on July 25, 1907.

Helped by the already established Boys Brigades BP, as he became to be known, soon divided the boys, at his first camp, inpatrols with each patrol having a leader.

A year later, in 1908, when stationed in Malta, BP set up his first scout group outside the UK in Malta itself. And 100 years later in Malta, there are now 40 scout groups, all divided into patrols, with each patrol still led by a leader, as happened 101 years ago on Brownsea Island.

There are now over 2,300 members forming part of the Scout Association in Malta. These consist of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures and Rovers.

To mark these 100 years, the association is inviting all former scouts and leaders within the Scout Movement to take part in this year's annual rally, formerly known as the St George's Day Parade, which is being held on May 4 in Valletta.

If you are an Old Scout and wish to join your brothers, young and old, in this year's rally, you can e-mail admscout@bell.net.mt or dagodwin@onvol.net, stating the year/years you were a Scout and which group you formed part of. You may also send a letter to the Scout Association at Island Headquarters, E.S. Tonna Square, Floriana.

Once an application is received by IHQ, confirmation will be sent by return to be followed by instructions about the parade, which will be issued at a later stage.